Adapted from IndyCar.com
Swiss female driver Simona de Silvestro made a strong impression during the opening round of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar season held on the temporary street circuit of St. Petersburg.
The former Formula Atlantic competitor had an entertaining duel with veteran Tony Kanaan and then scored her career-best fourth-place finish. The 22-year-old sophomore IZOD IndyCar Series driver from Switzerland enjoyed a spirited battle for third place in the closing 15 laps of the race. De Silvestro, who started 17th in the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Energy/HVM Racing car, ran as high as second to eventual race winner Dario Franchitti following a lap 13 restart. Running fourth after her final service stop, de Silvestro rode the gearbox of Kanaan’s No. 82 GEICO KV Racing Technology-Lotus entry into the corners of the 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit but couldn’t overtake the 2004 series champion. "I would have never thought we would have finished like we did," said de Silvestro, whose previous best was eighth at Mid-Ohio in August. “It’s the first time really competing like that against Tony Kanaan. It's pretty crazy for me because I've been watching him since I was growing up and to be right there racing him now is pretty cool." "I used every single strength and experience I had to hold her off," said Tony Kanaan, who was making his debut with the Jimmy Vasser-led team.
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