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Women drivers had a slow on-ramp into the racing world of the Indy 500. Janet Guthrie blazed the trail in 1977, changing the traditional invitation, “Gentlemen, start your engines,” to something more inclusive.
The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race is one of the largest single-day sporting events on earth. It was the brainchild of four local businessmen, Carl Fisher, James Allison, Frank Wheeler and Arthur Newby. They purchased 328 acres of farmland five miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis in the hopes of furnishing a superior proving-ground for the industry’s latest models.