( CNN ) -- Pippa Mann is hoping to make history after becoming the first female British driver to enter the prestigious Indianapolis 500 race . The Londoner is among 42 entries for the 100th anniversary of the U.S. motorsport event next month , and joins three other women vying for one of 33 available grid slots . 2010 IndyCar Rookie of the Year Simona De Silvestro of Switzerland , Brazilian Ana Beatriz and American Danica Patrick will also be among competitors going through a series of qualifying tests the week before the May 29 race . The 27-year-old Mann will make her debut in the 500-mile IZOD IndyCar Series , it was announced on Tuesday , driving the number 36 car for the Conquest Racing team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway . Mann , who made her first test in an IndyCar in March , will be joined by Colombian driver Sebastian Saavedra to complete Conquest Racing 's line-up for the event . `` I 'm really excited to be entering the Indy 500 , '' Mann told CNN . `` Obviously it 's always good to be the first to do something . If I can encourage other British women to compete at this level , then that 's an added bonus . `` There are a lot of entries for the race this year , so it 's a somewhat interesting time to be a rookie , but my qualifying record on super speedways is good and I 'm definitely up for the challenge . '' Conquest Racing team owner Eric Bachelart said Mann is a `` natural '' on oval track racing , and proved her competency when she tested for Conquest in Texas earlier this year . Mann was the 2010 Freedom 100 pole-sitter , and the first and only woman to win a pole position at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway . The U.S. resident joins the IZOD IndyCar Series following a successful Firestone Indy Lights campaign with Sam Schmidt Motorsports in 2010 , where Mann earned three pole positions , finishing fifth in the drivers ' championship .
Pippa Mann hoping to become the first British woman to race in U.S. 500 . The Londoner will attempt to qualify for Conquest Racing team March . Conquest Racing is one of 33 women and 42 overall entries in Indy 500 's centennial edition . She believes her qualifying record on super speedways will help earn one of 33 places .