IndyCar 2025 Rankings Reveal Gender Gap: No Female Drivers in Full-Time Field

September 9, 2025

by Jack Benyon // from www.the-race.com

• The comprehensive IndyCar 2025 driver rankings covering all 27 full-time competitors reveals a stark reality: zero female drivers made it to the top tier despite ongoing conversations about diversity in motorsports. While the rankings debate everything from Alex Palou’s dominance to which rookie deserves their seat, the complete absence of women from the conversation speaks volumes about barriers still facing female racers.
• The analysis shows teams prioritizing budget and development over pure talent in some cases, with drivers like Nolan Siegel keeping seats despite underwhelming performances while promising female talent remains stuck in lower series. When McLaren chooses a driver who “only fractionally improved” over proven winners like Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire, it raises questions about what criteria actually matter for advancement.
• Several drivers in the bottom half of these rankings hold rides primarily due to funding rather than results, highlighting the pay-to-play dynamics that disproportionately impact female drivers who often lack the same sponsorship opportunities. The fact that we’re ranking 27 men while talented women compete in development series shows the sport still has work to do in creating pathways to the top level.

championship series, driver rankings, fastest woman in indycar, motorsports diversity