page_title: Simona de Silvestro
section_title: 2012
hierarchical_section_title: Simona de Silvestro / Racing career / 2012
caption_attribution_description: English: Simona De Silvestro HVM Racing - Lotus 2012 Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
context_page_description: Simona de Silvestro is a Swiss race car driver, she is currently employed by Porsche as a factory driver. She has previously driven for Amlin Andretti in the 2015/16 season of the FIA Formula E Championship as well as several years competing in the IndyCar Series. Her nicknames are the "Iron Maiden" and "Swiss Miss."
context_section_description: De Silvestro returned to HVM Racing for the 2012 IndyCar Series season, piloting the No. 78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy sponsored Dallara-Lotus.  The entry was one of five cars to start the season powered by the new Lotus engine.  The Lotus proved to be significantly underpowered compared to the Chevrolet and Honda engines used by the rest of the field.  By the end of May, all entrants other than de Silvestro's No. 78 had abandoned the Lotus powerplant and switched to either Chevy or Honda.  De Silvestro was saddled for the entire season with the inferior Lotus.  The underpowered engine made it impossible for de Silvestro to be competitive, resulting in consistently poor qualifying and race results.  On several occasions the car was black flagged for failing to maintain the minimum safe speed, including the 2012 Indianapolis 500.  For the season, de Silvestro qualified for all 15 races on the schedule, started 14, and finished 6.  Her best finish was 14th at Detroit and Iowa.  She finished 24th overall in the series standings.
caption: De Silvestro at the 2012 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix
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