Milka Duno Working Her Way Up to Speed at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS - (May 8, 2009) The weather conditions proved to be difficult at times at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. And the CITGO Dreyer & Reinbold Racing team did a lot of head scratching Friday at the Speedway, as driver Milka Duno attempted to work her way up speed during Friday's practice runs.

With threatening rain all day, the track proved to be difficult for teams to judge as qualification runs draw closer. The first round of qualifying is set noon on Saturday, May 9. Duno, the personable Venezuela driver of the No. 23 CITGO Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Honda Dallara, is in her third year at the Indianapolis 500, and her experience at the track is growing with each practice session. On Friday, Duno clocked a best speed of 219.699 miles per hour. She recorded 39 laps Friday.

Duno, a former winner in sports-car racing, returned to the IndyCar Series for the first time in 2009 at Kansas Speedway, qualifying 12th and finishing 16th. Now, the famed Indy 500 is the next event for Duno after racing here the past two years. Duno, Sarah Fisher and Danica Patrick make up this year's female entry list in the Indy 500. Duno is working with her teammates John Andretti, Davey Hamilton and Mike Conway to assist in chassis setup for the No. 23 car. Milka, whose children's book, "Go Milka Go," nomination for a Latin Book Award.

What they have to say...

MILKA DUNO, No. 23 CITGO Dreyer & Reinbold Honda Dallara:

"We hoped to go a bit faster today, so I’m a little disappointed. We made a lot of changes in hopes of making the car respond. Tonight we will look over the data and try again for tomorrow."

About Dreyer and Reinbold Racing

Dreyer & Reinbold Racing enters its 10th season of full-time competition in 2009, making it one of the longest-tenured teams in Indy Racing League competition. Current co-owners, Dennis Reinbold and Robbie Buhl, first teamed in full-time competition at the Walt Disney World Speedway in January of 2000. With Buhl behind the wheel, the two owners tasted victory in their debut race. The 2009 IndyCar Series season-opener on the streets of St. Petersburg on April 3-5 will mark Dreyer & Reinbold Racing's 200th series start. In its history, the team has boasted a championship list of alumni drivers. Besides Buhl, the team has run Indianapolis 500 winners Al Unser Jr., Buddy Lazier, and Buddy Rice, along with IndyCar Series race winner Ryan Briscoe. The team has one of the longest lines of heritage in American open-wheel racing and the Indianapolis 500 as Dennis Reinbold's grandfather, "Pop" Dreyer, built leading roadsters that raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

More information on the team can be found at www.dreyerreinboldracing.com.

More information on the IndyCar Series can be found at www.indycar.com.