Ferreira Nets Fifth-Place Finish for BHA at Iowa Speedway

Ferreira Nets Fifth-Place Finish for BHA at Iowa Speedway

Topics: Duarte Ferreira, Sukup 100

Ferreira Nets Fifth-Place Finish for BHA at Iowa Speedway

Andrew Herta
Bryan Herta Autosport
June 25, 2011

NEWTON, Iowa – Angolan driver Duarte Ferreira recorded his best finish to date in Firestone Indy Lights competition with a fifth-place drive this afternoon in the Sukup 100 at Iowa Speedway. Ferreira continues to impress on his learning curve posting his third top-10 result of the season aboard the #28 LS Sports/Sonangol/BHA entry.

Ferreira also recorded his best qualifying effort of the year at the 0.875-mile bull-ring oval. His two-lap average of 40.6018 seconds (158.535 mph) placed him fifth on the grid and just 0.25 seconds outside the front row.

“Duarte did a great job all weekend,” said team co-owner Bryan Herta. “He was on pace in both practice and qualifying and earned his first top-five finish. Milwaukee was obviously disappointing for us when we were eliminated on the first lap, but Duarte kept his head down these past two days, stayed focused and determined. This is great momentum for everyone on the team heading into the second half of the season.”

Ferreira dropped two positions at the start of the 115-lap race but settled into a consistent pace and moved into fourth place on Lap 46. As the top three pulled away from the rest of the field, Ferreira was unchallenged until Lap 80 when he was unable to hold off a charging Victor Garcia.

“It was a good day,” said Ferreira. “I was very happy to finish my first race on an oval and to have my first top-five finish. The team won this race last year, and I knew in coming here that we would have a good car. The start was a little crazy but I was able to make up the positions that I lost. I want to thank everyone at BHA for the great job and my sponsors for supporting me.”

Race Results:
1. Josef Newgarden – Sam Schmidt Motorsports
2. Gustavo Yacaman – Team Moore Racing
3. Bryan Clauson – Sam Schmidt Motorsports
5. Duarte Ferreira – Bryan Herta Autosport

Bryan Herta Autosport will return to racing action on the streets of downtown Toronto, Canada, on July 10.