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Women of the Indianapolis 500

Indianapolis 500
Janet Guthrie
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 17, 1976
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 3 (1977-79)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 14th in 1979
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 9th in 1978
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $58,792
  • First woman to start in Indianapolis 500
Janet Guthrie
Desire Wilson
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 11, 1982
  • Failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500
Desire Wilson
Lyn St. James
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 2, 1992
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 7 (1992-97, 2000)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 6th in 1994
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 11th in 1992
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $1,175,974
Lyn St. James
Sarah Fisher
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: April 11, 2000
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 9 (2000-04, 2007-10)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 9th in 2002
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 17th in 2009
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $2,065,325
Sarah Fisher
Danica Patrick
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 8, 2005
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 8 (2005-11, 2018)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 4th in 2005
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 3rd in 2009
  • Career Indianapolis 500 laps led: 29
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $2,865,240
  • First woman to lead a lap in Indianapolis 500
Danica Patrick
Milka Duno
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 6, 2007
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 3 (2007-09)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 27th in 2008
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 19th in 2008
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $815,675
Milka Duno
Ana Beatriz
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 16, 2010
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 4 (2010-13)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 13th in 2012
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 15th in 2013
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $1.073,660
Ana Beatriz
Simona de Silvestro
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 16, 2010
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 6 (2010-13, 2015, 2021)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 18th in 2015
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 14th in 2010
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $1,505,645
Simona de Silvestro
Pippa Mann
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 12, 2011
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 7 (2011, 2013-17, 2019)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 25th in 2015
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 16th in 2019
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $1,516,385
Pippa Mann
Katherine Legge
  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 18, 2012
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 2 (2012-13)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 30th in 2012
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 22nd in 2012
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $528,430
Katherine Legge
Quick Facts, Records
  • Fastest one-lap qualification lap: 229.675 mph – Sarah Fisher (2002)
  • Fastest four-lap qualification average: 229.439 mph – Sarah Fisher (2002)
  • Highest starting position: 4th – Danica Patrick (2005)
  • Highest finishing position: 3rd – Danica Patrick (2005)
  • Most laps completed, single race: 200 – Danica Patrick (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011); Sarah Fisher (2009); Ana Beatriz (2013); Simona de Silvestro (2013, 2015); Pippa Mann (2019)
  • Most laps completed, career: 1,404 – Danica Patrick (2005-2011, 2018)
  • Most laps led, single race: 19 – Danica Patrick (2005)
  • Most laps led, career: 29 – Danica Patrick (2005-2011, 2018)
  • Most races running at finish: 6 –Danica Patrick (2005-2007, 2009-2011)
  • Most earnings, single race: $763,305 – Danica Patrick (2009)