Indianapolis 500 Fun Facts
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Indianapolis 500 Fun Facts

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Women of the Indianapolis 500

Nine women have made the field to participate in the Indianapolis 500, starting with Janet Guthrie in 1977. This section goes into their details as well as provides interviews and clips highlighting their Indianapolis 500 achievements.

Women of the 500

Fierce Females of the Indianapolis 500

In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a tribute to the barrier breaking #FierceFemales of the #Indy500.

Janet Guthrie on pit road in 1977

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

Interview with Janet Guthrie

Janet Guthrie is interviewed at her experience with being the first women to race in the Indianapolis 500 at the 2009 Centennial Gala.

Desiré Wilson on pit road in 1982

Desiré Wilson

  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 11, 1982
  • Failed to qualify for the Indianapolis 500

Lyn St. James on pit road

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

Sarah Fisher on pit road in 2010

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

Interview with Sarah Fisher

Sarah Fisher sits down with IMS to share her journey to the Indianapolis 500.

Danica Patrick on pit road in 2018

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 leads the Indianapolis 500

Danica took the lead on Lap 172 and stayed there until Lap 185, when Dan Wheldon passed her. On a restart on Lap 190, Patrick passed Wheldon for the lead in Turn 1, bringing the huge crowd to its feet in a roaring crescendo.

Milka Duno signs autographs on pit road in 2009

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

Ana Beatriz on pit road in 2013

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

Simona de Silvestro on pit road in 2021

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

Interview with Simona de Silvestro

Simona de Silvestro sits down with IMS to share her journey to the Indianapolis 500.

Pippa Mann on pit road in 2019

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

Katherine Legge being interviewed in 2023

Katherine Legge

  • Passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test: May 18, 2012
  • Career Indianapolis 500 starts: 3 (2012-13, 2023)
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 start: 29th in 2023
  • Best career Indianapolis 500 finish: 22nd in 2012
  • Indianapolis 500 career earnings: $630,430

Get to know Katherine Legge

Get to know Katherine Legge in this video spanning her career and plans for the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500.

Quick Facts / Records

  • Fastest one-lap qualification lap: 231.627 mph – Katherine Legge (2023)
  • Fastest four-lap qualification average: 231.070 mph – Katherine Legge (2023)
  • Highest starting position: 4th – Danica Patrick (2005)
  • Highest finishing position: 3rd – Danica Patrick (2009)
  • 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)