Swiss Star Simona De Silvestro Sensational

Open wheel racing in America got off to a brilliant start. An interesting twist occurred in the warm sunshine of St. Petersburg, Florida. In what maybe was a glimpse of an up-and-coming superstar, a woman competed with some of the best in IndyCar and had an incredibly competitive fourth place to show for it. And her first name wasn't synonymous with women and motorsports; so no, it wasn't Danica Patrick who had a hard time getting into the top 10 all day. Instead, it was Simona de Silvestro. Yeah, I know, Simona who?

Coming within a car length of a podium finish in just her 18^th race in IndyCar, Simona de Silvestro showed off some great skill and yet patience to secure a sensationally solid top five finish in IndyCar's first race of the season on the streets of St. Pete. I'm a huge motorsports fan and have followed IndyCar steadfastly (as both a fan and the business side) since its inception as the IRL and except for a couple times when I thought Sarah Fisher might be ready, I've not been as impressed with a woman driver as I am with de Silvestro.

This is Simona's second season in IndyCar, having driven a full season last year for HVM Racing. HVM Racing's owner, Keith Wiggins, just may have found a new shiny diamond in the rough. De Silvestro, from Switzerland, is all of 22 years of age. They don't get much newer than that. And sponsor Nuclear Clean Air Energy (Entergy) may happily be getting more exposure than they figured on.

"Great job girl"

Her cool but excellent driving pushed the oldest and best veteran driver on the circuit, Tony Kanaan (who finished third), to the edge with even Kanaan stating to Speed Channel: "Great job girl," said the veteran, "Next time take it easy on the old guy here." The Swiss star impressed.

Because she qualified 17^th, except for right at the beginning of the race, which had a big wreck in the first turn of the first lap, de Silvestro was aggressive all day and stayed in the front pack from just after the crash-marred start.

The winner, Dario Franchitti (pole-sitter Will Power was second), pretty much dominated the race from start to finish. The network coverage (which received best ratings in four years) watched Danica early on (no surprise), viewing the troubles that Danica had all day including replacing two front wings, while stuck in the middle of the pack. Danica finished 12^th, two spots ahead of one more up-and-coming woman driver, Ana Beatriz. But when it became apparent there was another young woman knocking down one spot after the other and now in the top five, all eyes (including the networks) were glued to Simona as she tried in vain to get around crafty Kanaan in the final laps.

Danica who?

Having started racing at the age of six, Simona showed off skills very few drivers have at her age, whether man or woman. Her fourth place showing in Florida wasn't de Silvestro's best showing overall in the states as she won an Atlantic race at Long Beach in '08 - at yes, the tender age of 19. She accumulated five wins in all of three seasons in the Atlantics. She had shown a few glimmers last year obtaining a couple of Top 10s, plus Rookie of the Year at the INDY 500 and a respectable 14^th finish.

As with any young driver, there are going to be some rough patches and less than sparkling races in her near future. One race at St. Petersburg does not make a driver but anyone who saw Simona race nose to tail with Tony Kanaan and others, must have come away impressed. And remember, although HVM Racing puts a spirited team on the track, this is not a sensational team by any stretch of the imagination.

Thinking about it for a moment though, the Swiss star just may be smoothing out those rough edges and shining more brightly as possibly the next up-and-coming sensation. A diamond in the rough? Maybe, as we well could be seeing the future of open wheel racing looking more brilliant with this budding superstar.