MECHANICAL FAILURE ENDS RACE FOR MILKA DUNO AT MEIJER INDY 300 AUGUST 9

SPARTA, KY (August 13, 2008) – After achieving one  of her best qualifying spots of the season at 18th, Milka Duno was positioned for a respectable finish at the Meijer Indy 500 at Kentucky Speedway last Saturday, August 9. 

Duno was running a solid race, and it was evident that the testing she did at the facility the week before and the lessons from her Dreyer & Reinbold team paid off.  But when the left front suspension failed during Lap 131, even her strong effort to keep control of the car wasn’t enough and the #23 CITGO Racing Dallara Honda hit the wall at Turn 2.

“For the majority of the race, we had a good car,” said Duno.  “I was running flat and gaining momentum.  It was during Lap 131 that I felt something break.  I had no way to control the steering.  The left front suspension broke, which is why I hit the fence on Turn 2.  If this would not have happened, I am confident we would have had a good result at the checkered flag." 

Duno’s teammate, Buddy Rice, earned his sixth top-ten of the season with tenth place. 

From the Bluegrass State, Duno will have two weeks off before heading with her Dreyer & Reinbold Team to Motor City for the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix on Sunday, August 31.

Duno is the only female Hispanic to be racing in the IndyCar Series and was the only female driver to finish at the 2008 Indianapolis 500.  Off the track, Duno is a certified Naval Engineer who holds four master’s degrees.  Duno recently partnered with MANA Milka Way to inspire Hispanic youth to “Aim for the Stars” and achieve academic excellence and appeared in the May 2008 Warner Bros. movie, “Speed Racer.”  For more information, visit www.milkaduno.com.

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