The Race Is On for Indy Women

For the first time in the Indy 500’s 96-year history, three women will be among the 33 drivers racing this Sunday. That alone may make this year’s race worth watching, even for non-fans like myself. But if you ask any one of the three female drivers, they’ll tell you the same thing: while the attention is nice, they just want to win.

Danica Patrick is the most recognizable name of the bunch, having started her first Indy race in 2005. But she has yet to win a race in 34 starts in the IndyCar Series.

Sarah Fisher has raced in five Indy 500s but has never finished higher than 21st. At age 35, Venezuelan Milka Duno is making her first start at Indy this weekend. The three ladies follow in the footsteps of Janet Guthrie, who was the first woman to race at Indy in 1977, and Lyn St. James, who raced the course seven times and last participated in 2000.

Most of their male counterparts don’t seem to mind that these ladies are entering the male-dominated world of auto racing. Two-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves, told the New York Times that he doesn’t care who’s racing in front of him. “If it’s in front of me, I need to pass it.”

Sam Hornish, Jr., the defending champion who used to race go-karts with Patrick and Fisher when they were all kids, thinks the women are good for the sport and have proven, at least to him, that they belong. “They got here because they’ve got talent,” he told the New York Times. “I don’t care how good looking you are, or what sex you are. The only way you stay in racing is if you have talent.”

The Pressure Is On for Patrick

After making a splash at the Indianapolis 500 two years ago when she became the first woman to lead the race and wound up finishing fourth, racer Danica Patrick is feeling some pressure to win more races, according to an Associated Press story. Since 2005, Patrick has never finished better than fourth despite winning three poles during her rookie season. She is currently eighth in IRL points this season and had her best finish of seventh at the Kansas Speedway a few weeks ago.

No one expects more of Danica Patrick than Patrick herself. Often we are our own worst critics. It must be difficult to try to live up to the initial hype as well as perform up to the level you know you’re capable of. Add being an attractive woman in the public eye, and the scrutiny must be downright harsh sometimes. But Patrick is not making any excuses. She knows what she is up against as she prepares for the Indy 500 later this month.