Ferreira Out of Luck After Climbing from 14th to 5th at Indianapolis

Ferreira Out of Luck After Climbing from 14th to 5th at Indianapolis

Topics: Duarte Ferreira, Firestone Freedom 100

Ferreira Out of Luck After Climbing from 14th to 5th at Indianapolis

Andrew Herta
Bryan Herta Autosport
May 27, 2011

Indianapolis, Ind. – Duarte Ferreira, from Luanda, Angola, showed promising form in today’s Firestone Freedom 100, Round Four of the Firestone Indy Lights Championship, rising from 14th on the grid to fifth in the Bryan Herta Autosport #28 LS Sports/Sonangol car before being involved in an accident on Lap 29.

Ferreira displayed his intentions during an abbreviated practice session yesterday morning when he posted the second fastest time. Unfortunately, the onset of a steady rain caused qualifying to be canceled. Starting positions instead were set according to championship positions, which consigned Ferreira to 14th on the grid.

He immediately began to work his way forward in today’s 40-lap race, moving into the top 10 inside five laps and then rising as high as fifth, during a caution period, on Lap 25. Soon after the restart on Lap 29, Ferreira lost control while attempting to make a move for fourth position and was clipped by another car. Both drivers were unhurt in the incident.

Race Results:
1. Josef Newgarden – Sam Schmidt Motorsports
2. Esteban Guerrieri – Sam Schmidt Motorsports
3. Victor Garcia- TMR-Xtreme Coil Drilling
13. Duarte Ferreira – Bryan Herta Autosport

Duarte Ferreira: “The car was good. It was fast. I like the ovals. It’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to qualify [yesterday] because the car was good and I had a lot of work to get to the front. It was going well. I made the car a little bit softer, because it was understeering a bit. After that I went inside to try to pass [Victor] Garcia [in Turn Two], so I took a little tighter line through the corner and the car got loose and I spun. I thought I was going to be OK but then [Brandon] Wagner clipped the front of my car and that was it. I have to thank the team and everybody for doing a great job. This is my first year and I am working hard to learn for next year.”

Bryan Herta: “He was doing a great job for his first oval race, even though the result doesn’t show it. He was fast in practice and moved up well in the race. He learned a lot and continued his learning curve.”