List of female Indianapolis 500 drivers

Lyn St. James, Patrick, and Simona de Silvestro have all won the Rookie of the Year Award.

[citation needed] In 1935, Amelia Earhart was selected to serve as the "Honorary Referee," a ceremonial position for a dignitary at the race.

[citation needed] In 1974, Johnny Rutherford's wife Betty scored for him in his team's pit area.

Rutherford won the race, and Betty's presence drew some media attention, leading many other wives to follow suit in future years.

On the final day of time trials, Guthrie was loaned a back-up car owned by A. J. Foyt.

She earned a 9th-place finish in 1978 and later revealed she drove with a broken wrist sustained during a charity tennis match earlier that week.

Due to a services contract with Ford, St. James was initially relegated to the older, under-powered Cosworth DFX engine, and she had trouble getting up to speed.

Later in the month, the team secured a Chevrolet engine, and St. James recorded a qualifying speed of over 220 mph.

In 2010, four women (Patrick, Fisher, Ana Beatriz, and Simona de Silvestro) started the race, while a fifth (Milka Duno) failed to qualify.

After complaints and consideration, on race morning, Tony Hulman recited the following: In company with the first lady ever to qualify at Indianapolis, gentlemen, start your engines.In 2017 and 2018, Tony George recited the call as "Drivers, start your engines," but reverted to "Lady and Gentlemen..." for the 2019 race.

The first professional female competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was not an automobile race, but the LPGA 500 Ladies Classic in 1968.

Four women (Mishael Abbott, Cyndie Allemann, Ana Beatriz, and Pippa Mann) have participated in the Freedom 100, a Firestone Indy Lights race held at IMS on the Friday before the 500.

[12] Twice, a woman has driven the pace car at the start of the race: Elaine Irwin Mellencamp (2001) and Robin Roberts (2010).

At the time, it was common for celebrities and dignitaries to ride as passengers in the pace car, and Cole is believed to be the first woman ever to do so.

Only two female drivers have ever attempted to qualify for NASCAR's Brickyard 400, the other major event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval.