Lyn St. James
Gave up a potential career as a piano teacher to become legendary proponent for bringing women into racing. First appeared on the radar screen when she placed second in an IMSA Kelly American Challenge race , IMSA GTO class wins at Road America, Watkins Glen and Daytona in 1985, then the 1987 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Her Watkins Glen win was the first solo GT race win by a woman. Second woman in history to race in Indianapolis 500. Indy 500 Rookie of the Year in 1992 after an 11th place finish; her first of seven starts. Qualified sixth there in 1994, highest start for a woman in America’s most-fabled race. Set a female driver world record closed course speed of 225.722 during the 95 race’s qualifying. Holds 31 international and national closed circuit records, two starts in 24 Hours of Le Mans, 53 SCCA Trans-Am starts and 62 in IMSA GT classes. Honored as Sports Illustrated’s top 100 women athletes of the 20th Century. Selected by Working Women magazine as one of 350 women who changed the world between 1976-96. Recipient of the 2001 Guiding Women in Sports award from the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports. Frequent television talk show guest and commentator on ESPN and ABC-TV. 1990-93 President of the Women’s Sports Foundation and active on a lengthy list of national advisory boards. Currently heads her Lyn St. James Foundation and working on Women’s Driver Development Programs. Her autobiographical book, ‘The Ride of Your Life,’ was published in 2002.
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