Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

Last week we wrote a post about a record four women vying for a start at this year’s Indianapolis 500. And now that number jumps to five.

It’s been 33 years since Janet Guthrie became the first woman to start a race at the famed Brickyard, and for most of that time, Guthrie stood virtually alone. From Guthrie’s breakthrough moment in 1977 until 1999 only one other woman, Lyn St. James, qualified for Indy’s 33-car starting grid. No more than two women were entered in any 500 from 2000-06. Now those numbers are rapidly changing.

This year’s potential female starters at Indy consist of Danica Patrick, the first woman to win an IndyCar race; Sarah Fisher, the first woman to win an IndyCar pole; fan favorite Milka Duno and two relatively unknown but promising rookies, Brazil’s Ana Beatriz and Switzerland’s Simona de Silvestro. Newcomer Beatriz has raced on Indy’s historic 2.5-mile oval previously, as part of IndyCar’s developmental series and she was the highest finishing rookie and the highest finishing woman in her IndyCar debut at this year’s season-opener in Brazil. If each makes the May 30 field, it would mark the first time any has been part of a race featuring five women.

While fans and officials welcome the influx of women, the times haven’t always been so cordial. When Guthrie started her quest to qualify at Indy, she became the target of a letter-writing campaign to keep her out. Guthrie’s calm, eloquent demeanour helped stop those arguments, even though it wasn’t until 2001 that Fisher noticed dads starting to bring their daughters to the track.

Four years later, Patrick joined the circuit and her emergence changed the sport again. After a fourth-place finish at Indy in 2005, the questions were no longer about whether Patrick belonged in IndyCars but how long it would take her to win. Patrick has been one of the series most popular drivers since that race, and her success had a huge impact for future generations of women. Sponsors that once backed away from Guthrie saw the obvious marketability of having Patrick pitch their products and started lining up to get on Patrick’s team.

The 72-year-old Guthrie never doubted this day would come when women would be an integral part of racing. She just wasn’t sure she’d be around long enough to see it. What Guthrie likes most, though, is seeing a whole new generation of women drivers doing their thing, their way.

“I’m perfectly delighted, especially with Ana and Simona because they’ve both shown terrific talent in the lower levels and they deserve a chance at the top spot,” Guthrie said. “Having five women start at Indy? That would be spectacular. I’d love it.”

Rain has delayed practice for the 500 this week and rookie drivers, such as Simona de Silvestro and Ana Beatriz, had about only one of their scheduled four hours of practice last weekend. More rain is expected which would leave drivers with only three full days of practice before qualifying begins Saturday.

The race is a go for May 30th so check back to see which women are at the starting line. Their success getting to this point is another victory lap in a sport long controlled by men.

Related Posts:
Danica Patrick designs new Hot Wheels car
Life in the Fast Lane: Indy starts for Danica, Milka & Sarah
Female racers have long history at Talladega

Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

• Motorsports
• Sports
• Auto Racing

This post is related to an ongoing story:

• indy 500

View Original Post at prettytough.com

View jschonb's Full Profile