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Lyn St. James is a professional race car driver and is one of seven women who have qualified for the Indianapolis 500. After coming up through the Sports Car Club of America amateur ranks in the 1970s, St. James captured attention wielding Mustangs in the Trans Am and IMSA GT classes, posting numerous victories and top-10 finishes. In 1985, Lyn St. James became the first woman to break the 200-mph barrier on an oval, when she drove a Ford Mustang Probe (GT Prototype race car) to an average lap speed of 204.223 mph at Alabama International Motor Speedway. In October 1988 at the Talladega Motor Speedway in the new shape Ford Thunderbird built by Bill Elliott Racing, Lyn set a women's closed-course world record of 212.577 mph.

Lyn later went on to race in the Indianapolis 500 seven times and became the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award in 1992. In 1995 she established a world record on closed-course for women reaching 225.722 mph during the Indy 500 qualification weekend, setting 31 international and national closed circuit speed records. Lyn has two GTO 1 class wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona, and one GTO Class win at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

In 1994, Lyn established the Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation, a 501(c)3 promoting programs for upcoming young, talented race car drivers. The Foundation's Annual Awards Celebration highlights the achievements of women in the motorsports and automotive industries. Since retiring from the top ranks of American racing, St. James has been an advocate, mentor and coach for women in all sports.

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Photo Credit: Ron Kimball