Janet Guthrie

Janet Guthrie is a famous woman. Do you know why? Because she is the first woman racecar driver to ever compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500.

Before Janet was a racecar driver, she was a pilot, flight instructor, an aerospace engineer, a technical editor, and a pubic representative for some of the country’s major corporations. Janet was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on March 7, 1938. Her family moved to Miami, Florida when she was three. She attended Miss Harris’ Florida School for Girls for all but one of her elementary through high-school years; then graduated from the University of Michigan in 1960 with a B.Sc. in Physics. Meanwhile she had purchased a Jaguar XK 120 Coupe, and began competing in gymkhanas, field trials and hill climbs. This led to the purchase of a Jaguar XK 140 for competition in Sports Car Club of America races. We want to say a special thanks to Janet for letting us use a picture from her website.

These are some of Janet Highlight:

  • Ninth, Indianapolis 500, 1978, out of 92 entrants, 33 starters
  • Fifth, Bettenhausen 200, Milwaukee, 1979
  • Qualified 4th to A.J. Foyt, Danny Ongais, and Johnny Parsons, Pocono 500, 1979
  • Set fastest time of day on opening day of practice, Indianapolis 500, May 1977; set fastest time of any driver the second weekend of qualifications
  • Holder of women’s world closed-course speed record from 1976, raised to 191.002 mph while qualifying for Indy 500, 1978. First woman to enter the 500 and pass the rookie test (1976). First woman to qualify for and race and in the Indianapolis 500 (1977, 1978, 1979).
    •

    Image courtesy of http://www.janetguthrie.com/ 

    for more information:
    http://www.janetguthrie.com/ 
    http://www.nascar.com/2002/kyn/women/02/02/Guthrie/
    http://www.answers.com/topic/janet-guthrie-1 

    By Frankie, Alquan, & Michael

    Last modified 05/07/2007

    BACK