MILKA DUNO BECOMES FIRST LATINA TO LEAD INDYCAR SERIES RACE AT CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY SEPTEMBER 7    

JOLIET, IL (September 7, 2008) – Best things sometimes finish last, as the final race of the 2008 IndyCar Series resulted in Milka Duno’s top finish in the Peak Antifreeze &  & Motor Oil Indy 300 at Chicagoland Speedway.  Racing in her #23 CITGO Racing Dallara Honda, Duno finished 14th and became the first Latina to lead an IndyCar Series race.

"This has been a great race for me and my Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team,” said Duno.  “I’m very grateful for my coach, Robbie Buhl, Larry Curry, teammates and engineers, who believed in me throughout the season.  We showed that we have the potential and will continue to work towards next year and look for the necessary resources to improve and develop our team.”

Throughout the IndyCar Series finale, Duno stayed competitive and managed to lead the race for five laps.  Some of her speed was compromised, however, due to a short sixth gear.  Ultimately, Duno finished her best of 2008 at 14th with 28 cars running.  Duno’s teammate, Buddy Rice, was taken out early by an incident in the pits with another car and finished at 25.  

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.”  She also launched a bilingual children’s book, “Go, Milka, Go!” in April 2008.  For more information, visit www.milkaduno.com.

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