JANET GUTHRIE
Name: Janet Guthrie
Born: March 7, 1938 Iowa City, Iowa
Janet Guthrie (born March 7, 1938 in Iowa City, Iowa) is a race car driver and
the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the
Daytona 500.
Guthrie was originally an aerospace engineer and after graduating from the
University of Michigan, she worked with Republic Aviation. She began racing in
1963 on the SCCA circuit in a Jaguar XK 140 and by 1972, she was racing on a
full-time basis.
In 1976, Guthrie got her first big break in racing, being invited to drive at
Indianapolis Motor Speedway for team owner Rolla Vollstedt, but failed to
qualify. The same year, she was invited to compete in NASCAR as well. She
competed in the 1976 World 600, finishing 15th, becoming the first woman to
compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup superspeedway race. Guthrie would go on to
compete in four more races that season. The following season, she competed in
her first Daytona 500, finishing 12th when her car's engine blew two cylinders
with ten laps to go. For the race, though, she still earned the honor of Top
Rookie. Overall, Guthrie went on to compete in 33 races in NASCAR over four
seasons, finishing as high as sixth place.
Guthrie qualified for and competed in the 1977 Indianapolis 500, but finished 29th
with engine troubles. She would compete in two more Indy 500s, finishing as high
as ninth in the 1978 race. Overall, she competed in 11 IndyCar events finishing
as high as fifth.
Nevertheless, Guthrie's place in history was secure. Her helmet and race suit
can be found in the Smithsonian Institution and Guthrie was one of the first
elected to the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. She was inducted into
the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on April 27, 2006. Her 2005
autobiography, "Janet Guthrie: A Life at Full Throttle," has received critical
praise in such publications as Sports Illustrated.
Name: Janet Guthrie
Born: March 7, 1938 Iowa City, Iowa
Janet Guthrie (born March 7, 1938 in Iowa City, Iowa) is a race car driver and
the first woman to qualify and compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the
Daytona 500.
Guthrie was originally an aerospace engineer and after graduating from the
University of Michigan, she worked with Republic Aviation. She began racing in
1963 on the SCCA circuit in a Jaguar XK 140 and by 1972, she was racing on a
full-time basis.
In 1976, Guthrie got her first big break in racing, being invited to drive at
Indianapolis Motor Speedway for team owner Rolla Vollstedt, but failed to
qualify. The same year, she was invited to compete in NASCAR as well. She
competed in the 1976 World 600, finishing 15th, becoming the first woman to
compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup superspeedway race. Guthrie would go on to
compete in four more races that season. The following season, she competed in
her first Daytona 500, finishing 12th when her car's engine blew two cylinders
with ten laps to go. For the race, though, she still earned the honor of Top
Rookie. Overall, Guthrie went on to compete in 33 races in NASCAR over four
seasons, finishing as high as sixth place.
Guthrie qualified for and competed in the 1977 Indianapolis 500, but finished 29th
with engine troubles. She would compete in two more Indy 500s, finishing as high
as ninth in the 1978 race. Overall, she competed in 11 IndyCar events finishing
as high as fifth.
Nevertheless, Guthrie's place in history was secure. Her helmet and race suit
can be found in the Smithsonian Institution and Guthrie was one of the first
elected to the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. She was inducted into
the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on April 27, 2006. Her 2005
autobiography, "Janet Guthrie: A Life at Full Throttle," has received critical
praise in such publications as Sports Illustrated.