INDIANAPOLIS, USA (AFP):  Venezuela's Milka Duno could give this month's Indianapolis 500 an unprecedented three women drivers if she can find enough speed during weekend qualifying for the May 27 race.

Milka Duno. AFP PHOTO

Just three weeks after competing in her first Indy-car race and finishing 14th, the 25-year-old South American will try to join US racers Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher in the 33-car field for the 91st Indy showdown.

"I have confidence we will have a good car. The focus now is to have a good car for qualifying on Saturday," Duno said.

Brazil's Helio Castroneves captured the pole position last Saturday with Brazilian Tony Kanaan and Scotsman Dario Franchitti joining him on the front row for the oval classic.

The final 11 starting spots will be up for grabs on Saturday while Sunday will feature bumping, with rival racers trying to surpass the slowest qualifiers and replace them on the grid.

The slowest so far in the field are Fisher at 221.960 mph and Buddy Lazier, on the "bubble" at 221.380 mph.

Duno has the sixth-fastest lap times among non-qualified drivers but has struggled to reach top speed in recent days.

"Something is not right, but I have confidence in my team that they are going to find and fix what is happening," Duno said.

Joie Chitwood, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, was hopeful Duno would succeed in her quest for Indy history.

"I think it's special. Any time you can do something that's never happened before, people take notice," Chitwood said. "I think Sarah and Danica are outstanding racing talents and do a good job.

"Milka did a very good job at her first race at Kansas and in the practice speed she showed she was very good here early. Hopefully she's going to be getting up to speed and comfortable and she'll make a good run at it Saturday."

Two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jnr, fellow Americans John Andretti and Roger Yasukawa and Frenchman Stephan Gregoire were among the drivers hoping to book a berth in the field Saturday.

Andretti, a seven-time Indy 500 starter, has not raced in the event since 1994. His best finish was fifth in 1991. The nephew of legend Mario Andretti hopes to join cousin Michael Andretti and his son Marco, last year's Indy 500 runner-up, in the race.

There were three Andrettis starting at Indy in six prior years when Mario was active along with Michael and John.