Milka Duno has a solid record of results in a variety of racing series. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

In the Rolex Sports Car Series, Duno had three overall wins – twice at Homestead-Miami Speedway and once at Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant in Quebec. During her time competing in the Rolex Series Duno earned seven podium appearances, 10 top-five finishes and 18 top-ten finishes.

In the American Le Mans Series, Duno was the first woman to drive the fastest car in the series – the Le Mans Prototype 900 – now called the P1. While competing in the ALMS, Duno had five wins in the LMP 675 class – including the prestigious 10-hour Petit Le Mans. She got a second Petit Le Mans class win in 2004.

Duno has several starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Duno made the step up to the IndyCar Series in 2007. Her debut came at Kansas Speedway and it came with a lot of rolled eyes from fans and even some other competitors.

But even though she qualified last, she steered clear of trouble and finished 14th. That was eight spots behind Patrick but ahead of veterans like Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti.

A month later, Duno drove in her first Indianapolis 500, finishing 31st after crashing on lap 65.

Since then, Duno has driven in 25 more IndyCar races with a best finish of 11th at Texas Motor Speedway in 2007.

Now 37 years old, Duno’s plans for 2010 were in limbo when she began talking to Todd Braun, whose Braun Racing is the most successful independent team in the Nationwide Series, over the current off season.

They decided to put Duno in Braun car for the recently-concluded ARCA test at Daytona.

Braun indicated that if Duno wants to ever try NASCAR, the first step is an ARCA test.

And?

It was different, she said.

“Not an easy car to drive,” Duno said of the 3,400-pound ARCA car. “It’s a car that is very heavy. It is moving a lot, has no downforce. It is more about the driving, about the driver. All these things make if very difficult. The car is moving all the time and you don’t know where the car is going, you know?”