Milka Duno LATEST Milka finished 21st at San Paulo, Brasil, in the first race of the 2010 IndyCar season. Bio Snippets Racing Highlights Photo Gallery Milka Duno Signs with Dale Coyne Racing Milka Duno’s Stock Car Racing Debut Affected By Power Issues And Major Pile-Up Milka Ready for Daytona Test Milka Duno to test stock car at Dayton Duno's Daytona Debut Marks Return of Braun Racing Duno to receive ALMA award Milka Duno's Story Awarded Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation Book of 2009 2010 IRL Race Schedule & Results 2009 IRL Race Schedule & Results 2008 IRL Race Schedule & Results and Standings 2007 IRL Race Schedul & Results and Standings Contact: Website , E-Mail, Danica & Duno Bio Name: Milka Duno Birthday: April 22, 1972 Birthplace: Caracas, Venezuela Profession: Naval Engineer with four Master's degrees, three of which were earned simultaneously. Fashion/glamour icon featured in numerous magazines including Vogue, Esquire and Selecta. Talent, beauty and youth are just a few of the many adjectives that define the image of Milka Duno. By education and training a Naval Engineer with four master’s degrees – in Organizational Development, Naval Architecture, Maritime Business and Marine Biology – Milka earned the last three simultaneously. The first Latin American women driver ever to be classified "expert", Milka's professional driving career reaches new heights each year. She has participated in many international races and has driven a wide selection of race cars, including the Porsche Supercup, Ferrari Challenge 355, Formula 2000 Dodge, Reynard Dodge 98E, Panoz GT-RA, Dodge Viper GTS, Coloni Nissan CN1/C, and Reynard-Judd 01-Q, the Lola B2K/40/Judd, Dome S-101/Judd, Dallara AES/Nissan and the Panoz LMP07. As “Venezuelan Auto Racing Driver of the Year” in 2000 and “American Le Mans Series 2001 Vice Champion Driver” in the 675LMP class, Milka has attracted the attention of motorsport fans worldwide - and from influential people in the organizational and competitive areas of motorsport in the USA and Europe. In 2002 Milka became the first woman in the history of sportscar racing to pilot the fastest and most technologically-advanced sportscar in the world – the Le Mans Prototype 900, and the first woman in history to pilot the fastest car in the Open Telefonica World Series – the last step on the ladder to Formula One. Combining beauty, brains and lightning-fast reflexes, Milka is arguably one of the most charismatic and talented drivers of her generation. This rising woman star is no slouch behind the wheel either - in her short career, the beautiful naval engineer has become one of the most popular drivers on racetracks all over the world, garnering considerable attention from the national and international motorsports and mainstream media. Milka began her racing career in Venezuelan club racing in 1996-1997, finishing 2nd in the Venezuelan GT Championship. In 1998, her first year of professional racing, Milka scored two podium finishes and placing 4th overall in the Venezuelan Porsche Supercup Championship. Milka also headed to the United States to compete in the Barber Dodge 2000 series. 1999 saw Milka competing in the United States and scoring 3rd overall in the Women’s Global GT Series Championship – and again in the Barber Dodge 2000. 2000 was a very busy year, and brought further success to Milka as she not only won her first race of the year – but the Panoz GT Series Championship as well. Moving up the ladder in the Barber series Milka raced the Barber Dodge Pro Series - with races on ovals all across America. Milka attended and excelled in the Derek Daly Academy Advanced Formula course and conducted several tests during the year in Formula 2000. Milka also scored a top podium finish in a Ferrari Challenge race at Road Atlanta in a Ferrari F-355 – becoming the first woman to ever win a Ferrari Challenge race in the United States – and the second in the world. It continued to be a stellar year for Milka with an additional two podiums in the Ferrari Challenge – and her debut in the prestigious American Le Mans Series. Milka competed in the ALMS in a Dodge Viper GTS and finished 3rd in class in the series’ 2000 season finale in Australia. At the very popular Homestead-Miami oval Milka participated in the Richard Petty Driving School. Well on her way to gaining international notoriety, Milka became the only female driver running a regular schedule in the 2001 ALMS Championship – piloting an LMP 675 – yet another step-up the racing ladder. In this very competitive class Milka won four races, including the 1000 Miles of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and ended the season as the “American Le Mans Series 2001 Vice Champion Driver” in the LMP 675 class. 2001 also had Milka competing in a Dodge Viper in the legendary Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona – finishing 6th in class. She also contested the most famous sportscar race in the world – the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. Also in 2001, her previous racing performances prompted invitations to participate in Open Telefonica, the most important single seat racing series in Europe - after Formula One. In this series, Milka drove a Coloni Nissan CN1/C with the Vergani Racing team, which finished second in the 2000 and 2001 championship. In her first season, she became the first woman ever to score points in this prestigious European series. 2002 was a very busy year for this truly international driver. Milka once again participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – being the only woman among 149 drivers. And in the 2002 American Le Mans Series, Milka became the first woman in history to pilot sportscar’s fastest race car – the LMP 900. Milka distinguished herself in the most competitive car – in the most competitive class – in the most competitive sportscar series in the world – by finishing an amazing 12th out of 54 drivers. Milka also continued in Europe’s Open Telefonica and at the end of that season Milka stepped-up in class in this series and raced in the last two races in the World Series category – becoming the first woman in history to ever do so. In 2003, Milka completed yet another season in Europe's World Series by Nissan. Milka was also invited by Porsche to compete as a VIP Driver in the Porsche Supercup race as part of the Formula One Grand Prix of Spain in May 2003, and by Toyota to compete in their 27th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity race as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April, 2003. In both of these prestigious events, Milka was the first Latina in history invited to participate. Milka is both proud and excited to be racing in 2004 with CITGO Racing and will compete full season in the Rolex Sports Car Championship Series with the highly accomplished Andy Wallace as her co-driver in the Howard Boss Motorsport #2 Pontiac Crawford Daytona Prototype - where the duo scored their first win at the Grand Prix of Miami this February. With this win Milka became the first woman in history to achieve an overall win in a major North American sports car race. Milka continues to distinguish herself on a variety of tracks - and in a variety of cars - and has proven to be well on her way to becoming one of the most skilled multi-diciplined drivers in the world. Source: www.milkaduno.com 2010 IRL Results (Grid/Finish/Qualifying Speed/Laps Completed/Status) Date Track Start Finish Qual Speed Laps Status 3/14 Streets of San Paulo, Brazil 24 21 1:36.0065 20/61 Contact 3/28 St Pete . . . . . 4/11 Barber Motorsports Park . . . . . 4/18 Long Beach . . . . . 5/1 Kansas . . . . . 5/30 Indianapolis . . . . . 6/12 Texas . . . . . 6/20 Iowa . . . . . 7/4 Watkins Glen .. . . . . 7/18 Toronto . . . . . 7/25 Edmonton . . . . . 8/8 Mid-Ohio . . . . . 8/22 Infeneon . . . . . 8/28 Chicagoland . . . . . 9/6 Kentucky . . . . . 9/18 Japan . . . . . 10/2 Homestead-Miami . . . . . 2009 IRL Results Date Track Start Finish Qualified at Total Laps Status at Finish 4/26/09 Kansas 12 16 208.537 195 Running 5/24/09 Indianapolis 30 20 221.106 199 Running 6/6/09 Texas Motor Speedway 20 23 211.601 1 Contact 7/5/09 Watkins Glen 19 17 129.501 58 Running 8/1/09 Kentucky 15 20 NA 165 Running 8/9/09 Mid-Ohio 20 21 109.057 56 Handling 8/23/09 Infeneon 22 17 99.150 70 Running 8/29/09 Chicago 21 21 211.465 155 Mechanical 10/10/09 Homestead-Miami 17 17 210.020 187 Running News Releases - 2008 Milka Duno makes Her Indycar Series Road Course Debut at Camping World Gran Prix at Watkins Glen - 7/8/08 Handling issues Force Milka Duno out Early at Iowa Speedway - 6/24/08 Milka Duno Finishes 17th at Bombardier Learjet 550K at Texas Motor Speedway - 6/9/08 Milka Duno finishes 19th at 92nd Indy 500 Race - 5/26/08 Milka Duno Qualifies for 92nd Indy 500 - 5/19/08 Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Completes Kansas Weekend - 4/29/08 Milka Duno's Strong Performance Cut Short due to Incident at Homestead-Miami Speedway - 3/31/08 Engine Problems Force Duno Out Early in Daytona - 1/28/08 Milka Duno scheduled to race in the 24 Hours of Daytona - 1/21/08 2007 Duno Finishes 15th at Chicagoland Speedway, Obstacles Along the Way - 9/9/07 Milka Duno Heads to Berlin for Role in "Speed Racer" Movie - 8/9/07 Fuel System Problems Forces Duno Out Early in Michigan - 8/6/07 CITGO Racing Unveils New Car; Tomas Enge Returns to Assist with Setup - 7/30/07 Milka Duno to Miss Nashville Race - 7/12/07 Milka Duno Finishes Early Due to Injury at Richmond International Raceway - 6/30/07 Duno Finishes Early at Iowa Corn Indy 250 - 6/24/07 Duno Finishes in 11th Place at Texas, Third Race for Rookie - 6/10/07 Duno Practice Session cut Shirt not driver issue - 6/7/07 Milka Receives Key to City of Indianapolis - 6/1/07 Milka Duno's Historic Indy 500 Run Cut Short 5/28/07 Milka Duno Qualifies for the 91st Running of Indianapolis 500 - 5/22/07 Duno's First Week at Indy - 5/10/07 Milka Duno Finishes Well in Debut Indycar Race - 4/29/07 Milka Duno Passes Indycar Rookie Test - 4/27/07 Milka Duno to Start Indycar Series with Two Keys - 4/4/07 Milka Duno Finishes 4th in Last Sportscar Race before starting IRL 3/24/07 Milka Duno Joins Indycar Series for part of 2007 Season 3/23/07 Milka Duno Third in Driver Point Standings after Mexico Race 3/5/07 Milka Duno Scores Highest Finish in 45 year history of the 24 Hours of Daytona Duno and Team to Start 5th Tomorrow at Rolex 24 Milka Duno Honored with Prestigious Venezuelan Sports Award Milka Duno to Receive 2006 FAMA Award Citco Racing's Salt Lake City Race Report Duno takes 8th at the 24 Hours of Dayton, 2006 2005 Season Franchittis Team with Duno, McGarrity for Daytona 24 Mechanical Problems End Rolex Season for CITGO Racing Triple Rolex Series Race Winner Featured in CITGO Billboard Campaign Milka's So Fast, She's in Seven Cities at the Same Time First in 24 Years Wallace, Duno Ready for California Challenge Wallace, Duno and Lammers Take First Win of 2005 Wallace, Duno Charge to Fourth at Fontana Related Issue: Women Racers Directory, Women in Racing, Women Racers, More Women in Racing, Race Schedules, Notable Women Rolex Series Schedule-2006 Snippets Milka Duno has joined Dale Coyne Racing for the full 2010 IndyCar season. *     *     * Milka started the ARCA Daytona 200 around 36th and got caught up in a big crash on lap 6 that took out 8 other cars including Leilani Munter. Milka finished 43rd.   *     *     * Milka's 2-lap Qualifying for the 2010 ARCA Racing Series at Daytona February 6th, placed her 36 out of 47 and 4th out of 6 women. *     *     * Milka Duno is the first Venezuelan Athlete to be inducted into the Latin Americna International Sports Hall of Fame. *     *     * Milka tested a Toyota stock car in ARCA Racing Series with Braun Racing at Daytona. tested for the 2010. She was the 3rd fastest woman and 17th out of 60 drivers. *     *     * Milka was gridded 17th at Homestead and finished 17th. She finished a partial season in 24th overall.   *     *     * IndyCar Series driver Milka Duno has been selected as a Special Achievement Honoree in the sports category as part of the NCLR ALMA Awards. *     *     * Milka gridded 21st at Sonoma and finished 16th. *     *     * Milka started 15th at Kentucky and finished in 20th. *     *     * Milka was gridded 19th at Watkins Glen and finished 17th. *     *     * Milka was gridded 20th at Texas Motor Speedway and finished 23rd out of 24 cars when Graham Rahal took her out on the second lap.. *     *     * In her first race of the year (2009), Milka gridded 12th and finished 16th of 22 cars at Kansas Speedway. *     *     * Milka started in 18th position and ended in 21st after an accident at Kentucky Speedway *     *     * Milka is gridded 26th at Mid-Ohio , about 5 mph slower than the pole. She finished in the 23rd position. *     *     * Milka gridded 16th and finished 17th at Nashville. Next week, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course *     *     * Milka was knocked out at Watkins Glen with only 12 laps to go. Her next race will be at Nashville Superspeedway July 12. *     *     * Milka was gridded 22nd at Iowa Speedway but was black-flagged and finished in last place. *     *     * Milka is gridded 22nd for the next race at Iowa Speedway . Positions were determined by points standings since qualifying was rained out. *     *     * Milka was gridded 27th for the Texas Motor Speedway and finished 17th. The next race is at Iowa Speedway. *     *     * Milka is gridded 27th for the Texas Motor Speedway with a qualifying speed of 213.238. *     *     * All three women were knocked out of the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 . Buddy Lazier took out Milka Duno, Tony Kanaan took out Sarah Fisher, and Ryan Briscoe knocks out Danica Patrick. Milka started 27th and finished 19th. *     *     * Milka has a bit role playing competitor Kellie Gearbox in Speed Racer which is in theaters now. Bump Day starts Saturday. *     *     * Milka ran a 223.614 during Practice 4 for the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 9th. *     *     * Milka completed 122 laps before being involved in an accident in the first race of the season at Homestead. Duno, who started the race from the 16th position, drove a flawless first half of the race, climbing as high as 12th position out of the 25-car field. After two pit stops, Duno was comfortably running in 15th before the incident with Perera. She finished 20th of 25 cars. Duno’s next scheduled race is at Kansas Speedway, Sunday, April 27. *     *     * Milka is taking over Sarah Fisher's spot at Dreyer & Reinhold Racing for a part-time effort for the 2008 IRL season. *     *     * Milka won't be at Sonoma for this weekend's race. We haven't heard anything from her camp since August 9th when she headed to Berlin for a week to appear in Speed Racer, a new movie. She ranks 20th of 34 drivers in points for the year with only 6 starts. *     *     * Milka was due to race at Kentucky Speedway but had a chance to appear as Gearbox in a racing movie to be filmed this week and was grateful to her sponsor and to the IndyCar Series for allowing us to withdraw from the Kentucky event at the last minute. She is expected to be back for the next two races - Infineon Raceway and Chicagoland Speedway *     *     * Milka gridded 19th at Michigan International, went out with mechanical problems early and finished in 19th. Standing 19th overall. Her next race will be Kentucky Speedway , then Infineon and Chicago. Milka didn't race this weekend at Mid-Ohio. Her next IRL race will be Michigan, then Kentucky, Infineon and Chicago. *     *     * Milka started 19th at Richmond. She finished 19th and stands 19th in the standings. Duno exited at lap 80 as a result of an injury from a crash the day before during practice. It became clear that her right wrist and elbow were affected and she could not maintain the strength necessary to finish the 250 lap event. *     *     * Milka had sever handling problems at the Iowa Corn Indy 250 and withdrew after 60 laps of the 250 lap race. *     *     * Milka started 19th of 20 and finished 11th at the Texas Motor Speedway. *     *     * Milka's car slid out from under her on the 66th lap knocking her out of the Indy 500. She finished 31st. *     *     * Milka Qualifies for the Indy 500. Milka severely damaged her car in practice for the 2007 running of the Indianapolis 500. The crew got it back together and she qualified 29th in the 33 car field as well as the fastest rookie. This will be the first time in the 500's history that three women will race in the final field. *      *     * Milka announce that she will be competing in 10 IRL races this year including the Indianapolis 500. She also plans to compete at Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Watkins Glen, Nashville, Mid Ohio, Michigan (MIS), Kentucky and Chicago. *     *     * Milka improves from 8th in 2006 to take 2nd over-all with teammate Patrick Carptentier, Darren Manning (and Ryan Dalziel?) in the 24hrs of Daytona. It was the highest finish be a female driver in the event's history, and the highest finish ever by a female in a major race at Daytona International Speedway. She was one of two women in the 70-car race, and finished just 1 minute and 14.749 seconds behind the winner. They lead 74 laps and, at 24 hours and 668 laps, they were the only other car on the lead lap. *     *      * Milka Duno completed a two-day test December 7 at her "hometown track" of Homestead-Miami Speedway with teammate Patrick Carpentier in preparation for the first race of the 2007 Rolex Sports Car Series season - the Rolex 24 At Daytona in late January, 2007. *     *     * Milka Duno started the race in the 14th position and finished 7th out of 27 cars in class in the 2 hour and 45 minute Rolex Series at Laguna Seca on May 7, 2006. The race included 20 GT cars which made for a lot of passing excitement. *     *     * Milka Duno Signs with Dale Coyne Racing Duno to Compete in Full 2010 IndyCar Series Championship Schedule   LOS ANGELES, California (March 4, 2010) – IZOD IndyCar® driver Milka Duno has signed with Dale Coyne Racing for the full 2010 IndyCar Series Championship schedule. While this will be Duno’s fourth consecutive season in IndyCar – it will mark her first full-schedule season. “I look forward to competing with Dale Coyne Racing. I’ve had the chance to speak with Dale and the team to discuss goals for the season and we are in harmony in all areas," said Duno. “For the past three seasons I’ve only run partial schedules and I’m anxious to be competing in all the races this year. Doing so builds momentum and maintains consistency that I feel is a key factor to good results. The full schedule includes seven races at tracks that I have yet to compete on so I will be doing my absolute best to learn these new tracks as quickly as possible. This full season will be challenging – but I’m very thankful for the opportunity!” Duno will contest all seventeen races on the 2010 schedule beginning with the Sao Paulo Indy 300 in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 14, 2010. “We are very excited about the challenges and rewards that lie ahead for Milka,” commented Team Owner Dale Coyne. “We have seen Milka’s competitiveness on the ovals and now we look forward to focusing on the road course effort on a full time basis in 2010.” Milka has won on road courses before in other categories, but 2010 represents her most serious attack at the road courses of Indy Cars. The team has planned an extensive testing program for the coming season with a focus on road and street circuits. The team now prepares for its two car entry at the first race of the season in Brazil on March 14th. An announcement of Milka’s team mate driving the #19 car will be made next week. (Alex Lloyd) About Milka Duno Duno is the first Hispanic woman, in the 93-year history of the race, to qualify for and compete in the Indy 500. She’s also the first Hispanic woman to lead an IndyCar Series race. In 2004, she became the first woman in history to win a major race in the USA when she won the Rolex Series Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway. She also scored a 2nd place overall finish in the legendary 24 Hours of Daytona – earning the highest finish ever by a female driver in the 45-year history of the race. She has eight major race wins to her credit and many minor wins as well. Duno became the first Venezuelan athlete to be inducted into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame at their 35th Anniversary Induction Ceremony in January, 2010. A qualified Naval Engineer, Duno has four master's degrees - in Organizational Development, Naval Architecture, Aquaculture and Maritime Business – earning the last three degrees simultaneously. Six years ago she created the “Milka Way” Program - whose mission it is to inspire children and students to “Aim for the Stars” and achieve academic excellence. Duno has taken this message to children and students at all school levels around the world to help inspire and motivate them and help them understand the importance of education – and how a strong academic background will benefit them their entire life – in all aspects of their life – and in any career they choose. Go, Milka, Go! - a book about Duno’s life and racing career, was awarded the Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation Book of 2009 at the 11th Annual International Latino Book Awards. The prestigious awards honor literary excellence within the Latino community in a variety of categories. Source: http://www.dalecoyneracing.com/release030410.html Duno's Daytona Debut Marks Return of Braun Racing (12-28-09) Caracus, Venezuela's Milka Duno was among nine women who took their shot at Daytona Int'l Speedway during the three-day ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards open test in preparation for the upcoming season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 Saturday, February 6, LIVE on SPEED at 4:00 pm. In the 2005 season Milka has already scored her third Rolex Series overall win at the 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Canada and is currently seventh in the Driver's Point Standings - out of a total of 129 male drivers. Milka won both Rolex Series races in 2004 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. When Milka won the first race last year at Homestead-Miami Speedway she became the first woman in history to win a major sports car race in North America. Milka is the first woman to race in the fastest class of the Rolex Series - the Daytona Prototype. Milka finished the 2004 Rolex Series with 2 wins, one 2nd place finish, one 3rd place finish and she finished 5th in the Driver Point Standings - out of a total of 80 male drivers - and in her very first year racing in the top class Daytona Prototypes. 2004 Grand American Rolex Series Caracas, Venezuela. Named "Venezuelan Auto Racing Driver of the Year" in 2000, and "American Le Mans Series 2001 Vice Champion Driver," Duno is now in her second year of competition in the Rolex Sports Car Series (similar to the ALMS), where she drives a CITGO-sponsored Pontiac Crawford Daytona Prototype. In September she tested a Champ Car at Sebring International Raceway for HVM Racing. So who knows where she'll end up in 2006? Milka has four Master’s degrees - Organizational Development, Navy Architecture, Maritime Business and Marine Biology, the last three earned simultaneously. But that’s all work and no play - so she decided to try driving racecars for fun. After a few laps, she was hooked, and at 25, she had a new career, finishing a remarkable second in the Venezuelan GT Championship. In 1998, her first year as a professional driver, Milka competed in the Venezuelan Porsche Supercup Championship, with two podium finishes finishing fourth overall. She went on to compete in the Barber Dodge series in the United States simultaneously competing in the Women’s Global GT Series Championship where she placed third overall. In 2000, Milka captured the Panoz GT Series Championship. She moved up from the Barber Dodge series to the Barber Dodge Pro, and made her debut in the American Le Mans series where she placed third in the season finale in Australia. In addition, Milka celebrated becoming the first woman in the United States and second in the world to ever win the Ferrari Challenge race at Road Atlanta, along with being named the “Venezuelan Auto Racing Driver of the Year”. As the only woman running a regular schedule in the American Le Mans series in 2001, Milka achieved four wins. These included the 1000 Miles of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and Milka was also named “American Le Mans Series 2001 Vice Champion Driver”. Milka competed in the renowned Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the most famous race in the world - the 24 hours of Le Mans in France. This led to invitations to vie in the Open Telefonica series in Europe with the Vergani Racing Team where she became the first woman ever to score points in the most important single seat racing series in Europe aside from Formula One. With the sponsorship necessary to make it big in the racing world, the future looks even brighter for Milka. If there are limits to her potential performance, no one knows what they might be. In 2004, Milka captured a first place finish with teammate, Andy Wallace, becoming the first woman in history to achieve an overall win in the Grand American Road Racing Series, and then in Ohio stood on the podium again with a second place finish. From road courses to ovals, from open cockpit cars to closed cockpit cars, Milka continues to distinguish herself on a variety of tracks - and in a variety of cars. An icon in her native Venezuela, Milka is well on her way to becoming one of the most skilled multi-disciplined drivers in the world. All of this without even breaking a nail. Milka is the centerpiece in Pontiac's largest-ever Hispanic marketing campaign and is the first Latina to be featured in the advertising launch of the new Pontiac G6. Since September, Milka has been appearing in a four-page print ad and two new Spanish language television ads as part of the launch of Pontiac's all-new entry. The in-language, culturally relevant ads are part of Pontiac's largest Hispanic marketing campaign ever. As Pontiac's spokesperson for the Hispanic market, Milka has appeared in the Pontiac exhibit at various auto shows around the country to meet fans during public autograph sessions. Talent, beauty and youth are just a few of the many adjectives that define the image of Milka Duno. By education and training a Naval Engineer with four master’s degrees – in Organizational Development, Naval Architecture, Maritime Business and Marine Biology – Milka earned the last three simultaneously. The first Latin American women driver ever to be classified "expert", Milka's professional driving career reaches new heights each year. She has participated in many international races and has driven a wide selection of race cars, including the Porsche Supercup, Ferrari Challenge 355, Formula 2000 Dodge, Reynard Dodge 98E, Panoz GT-RA, Dodge Viper GTS, Coloni Nissan CN1/C, and Reynard-Judd 01-Q, the Lola B2K/40/Judd, Dome S-101/Judd, Dallara AES/Nissan and the Panoz LMP07. As “Venezuelan Auto Racing Driver of the Year” in 2000 and “American Le Mans Series 2001 Vice Champion Driver” in the 675LMP class, Milka has attracted the attention of motorsport fans worldwide - and from influential people in the organizational and competitive areas of motorsport in the USA and Europe. In 2002 Milka became the first woman in the history of sportscar racing to pilot the fastest and most technologically-advanced sportscar in the world – the Le Mans Prototype 900, and the first woman in history to pilot the fastest car in the Open Telefonica World Series – the last step on the ladder to Formula One. Combining beauty, brains and lightning-fast reflexes, Milka is arguably one of the most charismatic and talented drivers of her generation. This rising woman star is no slouch behind the wheel either - in her short career, the beautiful naval engineer has become one of the most popular drivers on racetracks all over the world, garnering considerable attention from the national and international motorsports and mainstream media. Milka began her racing career in Venezuelan club racing in 1996-1997, finishing 2nd in the Venezuelan GT Championship. In 1998, her first year of professional racing, Milka scored two podium finishes and placing 4th overall in the Venezuelan Porsche Supercup Championship. Milka also headed to the United States to compete in the Barber Dodge 2000 series. 1999 saw Milka competing in the United States and scoring 3rd overall in the Women’s Global GT Series Championship – and again in the Barber Dodge 2000. 2000 was a very busy year, and brought further success to Milka as she not only won her first race of the year – but the Panoz GT Series Championship as well. Moving up the ladder in the Barber series Milka raced the Barber Dodge Pro Series - with races on ovals all across America. Milka attended and excelled in the Derek Daly Academy Advanced Formula course and conducted several tests during the year in Formula 2000. Milka also scored a top podium finish in a Ferrari Challenge race at Road Atlanta in a Ferrari F-355 – becoming the first woman to ever win a Ferrari Challenge race in the United States – and the second in the world. It continued to be a stellar year for Milka with an additional two podiums in the Ferrari Challenge – and her debut in the prestigious American Le Mans Series. Milka competed in the ALMS in a Dodge Viper GTS and finished 3rd in class in the series’ 2000 season finale in Australia. At the very popular Homestead-Miami oval Milka participated in the Richard Petty Driving School. Well on her way to gaining international notoriety, Milka became the only female driver running a regular schedule in the 2001 ALMS Championship – piloting an LMP 675 – yet another step-up the racing ladder. In this very competitive class Milka won four races, including the 1000 Miles of Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, and ended the season as the “American Le Mans Series 2001 Vice Champion Driver” in the LMP 675 class. 2001 also had Milka competing in a Dodge Viper in the legendary Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona – finishing 6th in class. She also contested the most famous sportscar race in the world – the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. Also in 2001, her previous racing performances prompted invitations to participate in Open Telefonica, the most important single seat racing series in Europe - after Formula One. In this series, Milka drove a Coloni Nissan CN1/C with the Vergani Racing team, which finished second in the 2000 and 2001 championship. In her first season, she became the first woman ever to score points in this prestigious European series. 2002 was a very busy year for this truly international driver. Milka once again participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – being the only woman among 149 drivers. And in the 2002 American Le Mans Series, Milka became the first woman in history to pilot sportscar’s fastest race car – the LMP 900. Milka distinguished herself in the most competitive car – in the most competitive class – in the most competitive sportscar series in the world – by finishing an amazing 12th out of 54 drivers. Milka also continued in Europe’s Open Telefonica and at the end of that season Milka stepped-up in class in this series and raced in the last two races in the World Series category – becoming the first woman in history to ever do so. In 2003, Milka completed yet another season in Europe's World Series by Nissan. Milka was also invited by Porsche to compete as a VIP Driver in the Porsche Supercup race as part of the Formula One Grand Prix of Spain in May 2003, and by Toyota to compete in their 27th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity race as part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach in April, 2003. In both of these prestigious events, Milka was the first Latina in history invited to participate. Milka is both proud and excited to be racing in 2004 with CITGO Racing and will compete full season in the Rolex Sports Car Championship Series with the highly accomplished Andy Wallace as her co-driver in the Howard Boss Motorsport #2 Pontiac Crawford Daytona Prototype - where the duo scored their first win at the Grand Prix of Miami this February. With this win Milka became the first woman in history to achieve an overall win in a major North American sports car race. Milka continues to distinguish herself on a variety of tracks - and in a variety of cars - and has proven to be well on her way to becoming one of the most skilled multi-diciplined drivers in the world. Visit Milka Duno’s web site at www.milkaduno.com and www.milkaduno.com/news/050725.htm or info@milkaduno.com or milkaduno@milkaduno.com For All Commercial and Personal Management Inquiries Please Contact: For All Media & Public Relations Inquiries and Requests Please Contact: Adrian Sussman/Clare Caudwell, CSS Stellar /Gem Group, 2801 Youngfield, Suite 210, Golden , CO 80401, 303.237.0616 phone or 303.237.0609 fax Harry Capehart, RacePR, 626.852.9606 or Fax 626.852.9656 or hcapehart@hotmail.com Duno to receive ALMA award IndyCar Series driver Milka Duno has been selected as a Special Achievement Honoree in the sports category as part of the NCLR ALMA Awards (8-10 p.m. EDT Sept. 18 on ABC). Duno also will co-present the Male Actor/TV Comedy award with Rainn Wilson from the TV show "The Office." The 11th NCLR ALMA Awards, co-hosted by film and television actors Eva Longoria Parker and George Lopez, pays tribute to Latino heritage in film, music, television and sports. September is National Hispanic Heritage Month. Milka Duno's Story Awarded Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation Book of 2009 Go, Milka, Go! - The Life of Indycar Driver Milka Duno - Wins at the 11th Annual International Latino Book Awards. LOS ANGELES (June 4, 2009) - Go, Milka, Go! - the book about the life of IndyCar Series driver Milka Duno, was awarded the Best Young Adult Sports/Recreation Book of 2009 at the 11th Annual International Latino Book Awards. The ceremony, held in New York City on Thursday, May 28, 2009, took place during BookExpo America, the largest publishing event in North America. The prestigious awards honor literary excellence within the Latino community in a variety of categories. In recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide, Latino Literacy Now, created the Latino Book Awards in 1999. Due to the dramatic increase in recent years in nominations of literary works from Mexico, Central and South America and Spain, the title of the awards was changed to the International Latino Book Awards in 2006. Latino Literacy Now is a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community. "Getting the award for this book was a wonderful surprise and a cherished honor," said Milka. “We set out to hopefully tell a story that children would find both entertaining and inspiring. I feel that we accomplished the goal and to have it confirmed with this award is truly fantastic! Bringing the book to fruition was a very creative journey and I'm happy that my first effort has been so well-received. I am happy as well for those I worked with on this project - Raquel Benatar, Adrian Rubio and all the people at Renaissance House.” Inspired by Milka’s life, the book was a longtime dream and a true labor of love for Milka, who was involved in every step of the process - from creation to production. Race car driver Milka Duno is a playful, studious, and mischievous child as she races and competes through the inspiring pages of this children's book. Milka shares her most tender early childhood memories, her desire to learn and achieve, and the dedication necessary to succeed, from the first school days in Caracas, Venezuela, to the competitions at racing circuits all over the world. Through the story, young readers are inspired by Milka's message: the value of education, the pleasure of competing and winning, the importance of a team effort, and that determination, solidarity and generosity are the main ingredients to a successful life. She demystifies popularity as it is understood today in schools; and above all, she supports hard work, discipline, perseverance and self-confidence as the path to fulfilling dreams. Duno is the first and only Hispanic female driver in the IndyCar Series, competing with the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team in the #23 CITGO-sponsored car. Off the track, Duno is a certified Naval Engineer who holds four master’s degrees, earning the last three simultaneously. Duno is also working through her “Milka Way” program to inspire youth to “Aim for the Stars” and achieve academic excellence. Duno appeared in the May 2008 Warner Bros. movie, “Speed Racer.” For more information, please visit www.milkaduno.com . Duno Scores Highest Daytona 24 Finish in Rolex Era At Daytona last weekend is the highest finish for a female driver in the Rolex Series era. Duno also joins an elite list of only five women to finish in the top-ten overall in the event's 44-year history. Duno, Dario Franchitti, Marino Franchitti and Kevin McGarrity took their No. 7 CITGO/SAMAX Pontiac-powered Riley Mk XI as high as second overall before a drive-shaft failure and a broken right-rear suspension put them behind the wall 7 hours and 55 minutes into the 24-hour race. After 55 minutes in the garage for repairs the team was back on track and charging hard to regain position. The four drivers shared their duties equally for the 24-hour classic - driving six hours each. Duno was behind the wheel for the final stint and took the checkered flag eighth overall. Duno joins Lyn St. James, Lilian Bryner, Kathy Rude and Kim Hiskey as one of only five women to finish in the top-ten overall in over four decades of 24 Hours of Daytona competition. Duno, in only two Rolex Series seasons, has three career Rolex Series overall wins, six podiums, nine top-five finishes and seventeen top-ten finishes. When Duno won the Rolex Series Grand Prix of Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Feb 2004 she became the first woman in history to score an overall win in a major sports car race in North America. She scored her second overall win at the same track nine months later - in Sept 2004 and scored her third overall win last year at Mont-Tremblant. Duno finished the 2004 season 5th in the Driver Point Standings and the 2005 Season 8th in the Driver Point Standings. She is the only regular full season female competitor in the highest class of the Rolex Series and is the first woman to drive and score points in the Daytona Prototype class. Source: www.milkaduno.com/news/060201.htm Franchittis Team with Duno, McGarrity for Daytona 24 Rolex Series regular Milka Duno of Venezuela will be reunited with two of her co-drivers in last year's Rolex 24, Scots Dario and Marino Franchitti, plus Irishman Kevin McGarrity, in the No. 7 Citgo-backed, Pontiac-powered Riley Mk XI at this month’s 24 Hours of Daytona, scheduled for January 28-29 at the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway infield road course in Daytona Beach, Fla. Duno, a triple Rolex Sports Car Series winner, is the first woman to win a major North American sports-car race and the first woman to score points in the highest Rolex Series class – the Daytona Prototype. Dario Franchitti, now residing in Nashville, Tenn., has won 14 races in the IRL Indy Car Series and CART Championship Series. His brother Marino, of Bathgate, Scotland, has excelled in endurance racing, with results that include the fastest Rolex 24 GT test speed in 2002 and a record P2 pole in the 2004 12 Hours of Sebring. McGarrity has raced at the top in both open-wheel and sports cars. He set the fastest straight-line speed in the 24 Heures du Mans in 2004. "Daytona is magical – the environment, the people, the fun – and the Daytona 24-hour is an amazing race," Duno said. "I'm very happy to race again with Dario and Marino because we raced last year and I learned so much from them. We'll return with Kevin for a podium this year!" Marino Franchitti believes the quartet could be even stronger this year. "We were so competitive last year; we were fast enough to win the race. It's something to build on again for this year. I think it's going to be even more competitive – the level just keeps going up – but we've certainly got the car and the drivers to do it, so we'll try our best." The Franchitti brothers partnered with Duno and Dan Wheldon of St. Petersburg, Fla., in the 2005 Rolex 24 and were running fourth when contact with a wayward Porsche ended the strong run after 18 hours. "It is an added bonus to have my good friend Kevin McGarrity on the team this year,” Dario said. “I think we will have a lot of fun, but ultimately we are here to try and win some watches!" The Riley will be prepared by Florida-based SAMAX Motorsport. Mechanical Problems End Rolex Season for CITGO Racing Historic Mexico City event results in disappointing finish for Wallace, Duno Mexico City, Mexico (November 6, 2005) -- The Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series brought the curtain down on the 2005 season with an historic first-ever event at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez. Unfortunately, the race and the season did not finish like the #2 CITGO Racing Team wished. Mechanical problems forced the CITGO Racing Team to retire after only 22 laps and resulted in a 20th-place finish in the Daytona Prototype class. "I had really good start and was able to advance four positions from my qualifying time," Duno stated. I could sense that something was not entirely right with the steering and at about lap 10 it became even more pronounced. I fought hard to maintain my position while waiting for pit instructions from the team. The steering problem started to get worse and really affected my lap times. We finally had no choice but to make a green flag pit stop on lap 19." "Andy got in the car and after only one lap brought it back in due to the steering. The team rushed to make the repairs that they could and Andy then headed back out. After only one lap again he brought the car back and this time the team knew that they needed to take the car behind the pit wall for more extensive and time-consuming repairs. Andy then took it back out for what turned out to be our final lap - as the car was retired due to the steering problems." "I can't tell you how much we wanted a good result here. We all worked so hard to deliver a great season-ending finish for the team, CITGO and the incredibly supportive fans here in Mexico, Milka added. "I have never felt so encouraged and so supported as I have felt this week. The Mexican fans are truly amazing -- they give their heart to you. The people of Mexico City have welcomed us with such open arms and incredible enthusiasm that it is hard to describe -- but you feel it -- you definitely feel it! To the fans here in Mexico -- you have my heart. I absolutely can't wait to race here again!" "It's really unfortunate that we had the problems with our car today," Wallace added. "I know that everyone on the CITGO Racing Team wanted to come to Mexico City and end the 2005 season with a strong performance. I'm disappointed for the team because of their hard work and effort all year. It's a tough way to end the season." Source: milkaduno.sexysportschicks.com/ Racing Highlights 2005 - Rolex Sports Car Series Championship with CITGO Racing Currently twelve races into the fourteen race schedule - 8th in Driver Point Standings Earned 3rd Rolex Series overall win at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Quebec 2004 - Rolex Sports Car Series Championship with CITGO Racing 5th in Driver Point Standings, 2 Wins, 5 Top-Five Finishes, 10 Top-Ten Finishes First woman to win overall a major international sports car race in North America outright in 24 years when she triumphed in the second round of the 2004 Grand American (GrandAm) Sportscar Series at Homestead on 28 February 2004 First woman to twice win overall a major sports car race in North America First woman to drive the fastest cars in the Rolex Series - the Daytona Prototype American Le Mans Series Championship Class Win - Petit Le Mans LMP 2 Class First woman with two class wins at Petit Le Mans 2003 - Europe’s World Series Light by Nissan Championship VIP Driver - Porsche Supercup race as part of Formula One Grand Prix of Spain 2002 - American Le Mans Series Championship - LMP 900 Class First woman to drive the fastest cars in the American Le Mans Series - LMP 900 The 24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans, France Europe’s World Series Light by Nissan Championship Europe’s Open Telefonica World Series First woman to race the fastest cars in the Open Telefonica World Series 2001 - American Le Mans Series Championship - LMP 675 Class Vice-Champion Driver - LMP 675 Class 4 wins - including first woman to win the prestigious Petit Le Mans Europe’s World Series Light by Nissan Championship. First woman in history to score points in this prestigious series The 24 Hours of Le Mans, Le Mans, France The 24 Hours of Daytona, Daytona Beach, Florida 2000 - Champion - Panoz GT Series Championship Barber Dodge Pro Series Ferrari Challenge First woman to win a Ferrari Challenge race in the USA American Le Mans Series GTS Championship Photo Gallery Photos: Mazda Laguna Seca, May 5-7, 2006. Gordon Clay  *     *     * WomenInRacing.org ©1996-2010 by of Gordon Clay