NASCAR Cup Series

IndyCar might run another race in Brazil in 2012

Published Apr. 29, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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The IndyCar series might have a second race in Brazil next season, likely in the south near the border with Argentina and Uruguay.

Authorities in the city of Porto Alegre have met with IndyCar officials to discuss the possibility and earlier this week signed a letter of intent to host a street race in September 2012.

The goal is to attract fans and sponsors from nearby Argentina and Uruguay, as well as from other South American countries in the region.

Porto Alegre Mayor Jose Fortunati and Rio Grande do Sul state Gov. Tarso Genro said they will start seeking federal and corporate funding for the event.

The goal is ''to keep the race in Porto Alegre'' for a long time, Fortunati said.

The Sao Paulo 300 on the streets of South America's biggest city would remain on the IndyCar calendar in May. IndyCar came to Sao Paulo for the first time last year. The CART series raced in Brazil from 1996-2000.

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INSPIRING KIMBALL: IndyCar driver Charlie Kimball, whose career was sidetracked for a year while he was being treated for diabetes, opened the doors of his team's garage to host some Brazilian kids who have the same illness.

Seven kids from a local diabetes association visited the American driver on Friday as he prepared for Sunday's Sao Paulo 300. Kimball showed them his car and explained how he is still able to race at a top level despite having diabetes.

''It's important to show them at an early age that it's possible to live a normal life and participate in sports,'' said Kimball, of the Novo Nordisk Chip Ganassi Racing team.

The 26-year-old Californian, who drove in Europe earlier in his career, had to quit racing after he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

Now he has special equipment adapted to his car so he can constantly check his blood sugar level during races. Whenever needed, he'll just drink orange juice he carries with him in the car.

At the end of the visit Kimball received a gift from the kids - a box full of dietetic treats.

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CONFIDENT SIMONA: The IndyCar race in Brazil brings good memories for Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro, who made her debut in the series at the Sao Paulo 300 last year and had a great run.

She is hoping the track will help her relive her good performance of this year's season opener in St. Petersburg, where she ran strong all day and finished fourth despite starting in 17th place.

''We can run up front, we showed that in St. Pete when we were running second and were keeping the pace,'' she said. ''That just gives you a little bit of confidence.''

De Silvestro followed her good performance with a ninth-place finish in Alabama and a disappointing 20th-place result in Long Beach two weeks ago.

''The field is so talented and we are so close to each other in lap time, so when you miss a little bit you easily fall back,'' she said. ''I just have to try to minimize the mistakes for the race here.''

She is confident about her chances with the HVM Racing car on Sunday.

''We had a strong car here last year so I think we should be pretty good,'' de Silvestro said. ''I like the track a lot. I think if everything goes right we can have a pretty strong weekend.''

She led four laps and ran near the front for a good part of the race last year until being caught up in the rain and falling to a 16th-place finish.

De Silvestro arrives in Sao Paulo this season ninth in the drivers' standings, 56 points behind leader Dario Franchitti.

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