MILKA DUNO FINISHES 19TH AT 92ND INDY 500 RACE;
IS ONLY FEMALE TO TAKE CHECKERED FLAG ON SUNDAY, MAY 25

INDIANAPOLIS (May 26, 2008) - Milka Duno survived a hectic final 100 miles at the 92nd running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race and showed great spirit and determination to become the only female driver to see the checkered flags.

On lap 168 of the 200 lap race, Duno driving the #23 CITGO Honda Dallara IndyCar, was running comfortably on the lead lap when she was forced onto the grass by 1996 Indy 500 winner Buddy Lazier, who was three laps down. Duno was dropped back at her pit by the safety crew while the Dreyer & Reinbold Racing CITGO pit crew quickly worked on the #23 car back in the garage. She then sprinted back to the garage, jumped back in her car and returned to the track on lap 182 to eventually finish the race in 19th place taking top honors for the female drivers in the race.

"For my second time at the Indianapolis 500, I am excited to have finished this classic race. Throughout the race, we were in good contention and made routine pit stops and tire changes. It was during Lap 168 that the No. 91 car (Buddy Lazier) essentially forced me to go on the apron. His tire made contact with my front wing and tires. I was able to control the spin and no major damage was done to the car. The CITGO car was brought back to the garage, and I took off running through the pits to meet the team. The guys did a tremendous job to getting the car back out. Their efforts allowed us to gain two positions back on the track to finish 19th."

Duno is the only female Hispanic to be racing in the IndyCar Series. In addition to racing the 2008 Indy 500, Duno raced at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Kansas Speedway. Her remaining schedule includes eight more races, beginning with Texas Motor Speedway scheduled June 7.

Her list of accomplishments in racing is as important as her vast education. Duno is a certified Naval Engineer who holds four master’s degrees. Off the track, Duno appeared in the recently released Warner Bros. movie, “Speed Racer” and launched a new, bilingual children’s book, “Go, Milka, Go!”

____________________________