Women Make History at the Indianapolis 500
By Isra Haider
Last Sunday, we witnessed history as Simona De Silvestro became the first woman from a woman-
owned team to start in the Indianapolis 500. De Silvestro is a Swiss racecar driver whose first
Indianapolis 500 start was in 2010 where she was named Rookie of the Year. This year, she
qualified for her sixth Indianapolis 500 start and broke barriers as she raced with Paretta
Autosport. Owned by Beth Paretta, the Paretta Autosport team had a woman owner, woman
driver, and majority-woman pit crew. Overall, about 70% of the team staff was made up of
women, making history last weekend as the first woman-dominated team to start in the Indy 500.
Although a traditionally male-dominated race, women have earned many remarkable
accomplishments at the Indy 500. In 1929, Maude Yagle was the first woman car owner to win
the Indy 500 when driver Ray Keech won the race. In 1977, Janet Guthrie became the first
woman driver to start, 66 years after the first Indy 500. Other accomplishments include Lyn St.
James being named Rookie of the Year in 1992 and Danica Patrick becoming the first woman to
lead a lap in 2005. However, with only 9 women drivers and 2 Black drivers to ever compete in
the Indy 500, the Paretta Autosport team is part of a bigger effort to promote diversity and
inclusion in motorsports.
The “Race for Equality and Change” initiative from Team Penske was designed to encourage
diversity in INDYCAR and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As part of the initiative, Team
Penske provided technical support to Paretta Autosport to help them prepare for the Indy 500.
The initiative also supports Force Indy, a new team that hires and trains Black drivers, engineers,
mechanics, and staff in motorsports. Paretta describes the initiative as “a commitment to gender
equity in sport, to encourage women to work hard so they can earn their seat at the table or spot
on the grid.”
De Silvestro ultimately finished 31st on Sunday after facing issues with brakes during her last pit
stop. Although this was not the finish they had hoped for, the Paretta Autosport team was still
very proud of their historic accomplishment and hopes to empower women interested in STEM
and motorsports. In a recent letter to the Indianapolis 500, De Silvestro shared, “I hope that
young girls everywhere will see our team and realize that they too can compete in racing.
Wherever they are. Behind the wheel, changing tires, turning wrenches, or engineering the car. I
hope we can show them that if they can see it, they can be it.”
