Ana Beatriz

Ana Beatriz Caselato Gomes de Figueiredo, known as both Ana Beatriz and Bia Figueiredo (born March 18, 1985), is a racing driver from Brazil. Figueiredo has previously raced in the IndyCar Series and Stock Car Brasil, and was the first woman to win a race in the Indy Lights series.

Career

Early career

Figueiredo started her career in karting at the age of eight.^[2]

At the age of twelve, racing coach Nailor Campos – who had previously worked with Tony Kanaan, Rubens Barrichello, Enrique Bernoldi and Andre Ribeiro – became her coach and chief mechanic. When Figueiredo's family could no longer fund her racing endeavors at the age of 15, Campos helped her attain sponsorship from the Medley pharmaceutical company, owned by former racer Xandy (Pollini) Negrão, father of racer Alexandre Sarnes Negrão.^[2]

With formal sponsorship, Figueiredo finished as runner-up in a variety of karting championships and won the Sorriso Petrobrás Kart Cup championship in 2003.

After three seasons in the Brazilian Formula Renault championship, Figueiredo started competing in Formula Three Sudamericana in 2006, driving for the Cesario Formula team. In 2006, she also drove a Volkswagen Touareg for PPD Sports, owned by Pedro Diniz.

Indy Lights

2008

In 2008, De Figueiredo began racing in the American Indy Lights Series for defending championship-winning team Sam Schmidt Motorsports under the name Ana Beatriz.^[3] Prior to racing in the United States, she was referred to as "Bia" (a nickname for Beatriz), not Ana, causing some confusion in the media.^{[citation needed]}

De Figueiredo placed fifth in the Freedom 100 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on 23 May 2008, the highest finishing position by a female driver in that race.^[4] On 12 July 2008, she led the most laps and won her first Indy Lights race at Nashville Superspeedway, becoming the first woman to win a race in Indy Lights.^[5][6]

"Everybody is making that comparison [with Danica Patrick]... But I always say that I'm always going to be Bia. I'm never going to be Danica... I hope there is a place for a Bia now."

— Beatriz after becoming the first woman to win a race in Indy Lights, July 2008.^[7]

De Figueiredo was awarded Rookie of the Year honors as well as the Tony Renna Rising Star Award.^{[citation needed]}

2009

De Figueiredo returned to the No. 20 Sam Schmidt car for 2009. She was forced to miss the Milwaukee Mile race following a hard crash in the Freedom 100 the prior week. On 20 June 2009, De Figueiredo won her second Indy Lights race at Iowa Speedway.^[8][9] She skipped the final race of the season due to funding issues, finishing eighth in points despite missing the two races.

IndyCar

2010

De Figueiredo's official Portuguese language site revealed on 23 February 2010 that she would drive a third car for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the São Paulo Indy 300 in March 2010.^[10] Further participation in the 2010 IndyCar Series season was confirmed and announced on May 12, 2010.^[11] De Figueiredo qualified for the 2010 Indianapolis 500 but was involved in an accident with Ryan Hunter-Reay and teammate Mike Conway on the final lap of the race.

2011

For the 2011 IndyCar Series season, De Figueiredo competed full-time for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in the No. 24 car.^[12] De Figueiredo broke her wrist in the opening laps of the first race at St. Petersburg, causing her to miss the next race and requiring her to compete with a brace for the large part of the season.

2012

On March 8, 2012, De Figueiredo tested for Andretti Autosport, driving James Hinchcliffe's car No. 27 during a session of the open test at Sebring, with an eye to her running that team's fourth car at April's IndyCar Series event in her home town of São Paulo.^[13] On April 5, it was announced that she would compete in the 2012 São Paulo and Indianapolis races for Andretti Autosport with assistance from Conquest Racing.

Stock Car Brasil

In 2014, De Figueiredo began competing in Stock Car Brasil.^[14] Competing in around 120 races, she scored two top-five race finishes and a best championship result of 24th in 2018 before taking maternal leave. De Figueiredo returned to racing full-time in 2023 via the Copa Truck series.^[15]

In June 2020, De Figuereido's husband and father-in-law were charged with embezzling BR$9 million from the Lagos Rio Health Institute, around a sixth of which was alleged to have funded her career in Stock Car Brasil.^[16]

Motorsport results

Career summary

American open–wheel results

(key)

Indy Lights

IndyCar Series

Indianapolis 500

Complete Stock Car Brasil results

^† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as she completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete Copa Truck results

References

1. ^ Dagys, John (16 November 2018). "2019 Preliminary Driver Ratings Released". Sportscar365. John Dagys Media. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
2. ^ Wagner, Phillip. (30 July 2008) Is Bia Brazil's Danica Patrick (Part 1) Archived September 22, 2008 at the Wayback Machine Motorsport.com. Accessed 31 July 2008.
3. ^ Knapp Schilke, Nancy. (1 January 2008) Schmidt gives opportunity to Beatriz-Figueiredo Archived July 22, 2009 at the Wayback Machine Motorsport.com. Accessed 1 January 2008.
4. ^ Lewandowski, Dave. (1 January 2008) Battistini holds off Antinucci at the Yard of Bricks^{[dead link]} IndyCar. Accessed 24 May 2008.
5. ^ IndyCar.com. (12 July 2008) History -- Again^{[dead link]} IndyCar. Accessed 12 July 2008.
6. ^ "Beatriz takes lead at Indy Lights race, becomes first female winner". ESPN. 12 July 2008.
7. ^ Braun, Travis. (16 July 2008) Beatriz looks to carve out own image among women racers USA Today. Accessed 3 August 2008.
8. ^ DesMoinesRegister.com. (20 June 2009) [1]^{[dead link]} Des Moines Register. Accessed 20 June 2009.
9. ^ Lewandowski, Dave. (June 20, 2009) SSM Sweep^{[dead link]}, IndyCar. Accessed 16 October 2009.
10. ^ BiaFigueiredo.com (23 February 2010) Fórmula Indy: Ana Beatriz fecha com a equipe Dreyer & Reinbold Racing Archived February 28, 2010 at the Wayback Machine BiaFigueiredo.com. Accessed 23 February 2010.
11. ^ GPUpdate.net (12th May 2010) Beatriz to compete in 500 with Dreyer & Reinbold GPUpdate.net. Accessed 30 January 2011.
12. ^ Dreyer & Reinbold Racing names Ana Beatriz as driver Archived March 9, 2011 at the Wayback Machine, AutoWeek, March 3, 2011, Retrieved 2011-03-03
13. ^ The Indianapolis Star, March 9, 2012, edition
14. ^ "Ana Beatriz"
15. ^ "Bia Figueiredo to race in Brazilian Copa Truck". Racers: Behind the Helmet. 19 January 2023.
16. ^ "Bia Figueiredo linked with embezzlement case in Brazil". Motorsport.com. 28 June 2020.
17. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2008 Firestone Indy Lights Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
18. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2009 Firestone Indy Lights Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
19. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
20. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
21. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
22. ^ "Ana Beatriz – 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
23. ^ "Ana Beatriz". Champ Car Stats. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
24. ^ "Ana Beatriz – Indianapolis 500 Career". Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
25. ^ "Ana Beatriz Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
26. ^ "Ana Beatriz Results". motorsportstats.com. Retrieved November 11, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Ana Beatriz at IndyCar.com
• Torcida Bia Figueiredo fan site
• New York Times feature on Bia, October 2006
• IndyCar 11 in '11 video