Simona De Silvestro has the unquestioned respect of fellow IZOD IndyCar Series competitors on and off the racetrack. The Swiss-born driver and her manager, Imran Safiulla, are working on the commercial end to achieve the "first gender-neutral athlete in a multi-gender sport."
How female athletes are marketed globally is among the story lines of "INDYCAR 36," featuring the KV Racing Technology driver who will compete in her fourth Indianapolis 500. NBC Sports Network will broadcast the show at 10:30 p.m. (ET) May 24.
Producer Sean Belby leads the viewer behind the scenes with De Silvestro during the race weekend in early May in Brazil, weaving in an interview with her father, Pierluigi, who provided video footage of De Silvestro's early karting events, with a discussion of her being a role model as part of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiatives through her car's primary sponsor.
Other segments of the show include interviews with team co-owner Jimmy Vasser and teammate Tony Kanaan, race footage and a look at the logistics of moving the entire IZOD IndyCar Series to and from Sao Paulo by SOS Global Express.
"This is the most rewarding 'INDYCAR 36' I've produced to date," Belby said.
The show closes NBC Sports Network's coverage of Coors Lite Carb Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (11 a.m.-4 p.m.), which highlights the final IZOD IndyCar Series practice session on the 2.5-mile oval, the 40-lap Firestone Freedom 100 live and the Pit Stop Challenge. Bob Jenkins is the host.
Watch the entire "INDYCAR 36" featuring Charlie Kimball: