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Caitlyn Brown became the first female over-the-wall pit crew member to win the Indianapolis 500—not once, but twice—proving that grit, grease, and a whole lot of tire-changing skill can absolutely rewrite history.

EARLY YEARS

A Wilmington native and 2017 graduate of Wilmington High School, Brown grew up surrounded by racing. Her parents, Danielle and Joe Brown, own BTI Tire in Wilmington, and the family was deeply rooted in dirt track racing. As a teenager, she helped out at the family business and got her own taste of competition behind the wheel, racing four-cylinder cars on dirt tracks. She loved the rush, the competition, the smell of burning rubber—but eventually realized her real calling wasn’t in the driver’s seat. It was in the pit lane.

Brown attended Universal Technical Institute (UTI), where she trained as an automotive technician. It wasn’t just about learning how to fix cars; it was about learning how to fix them fast, under pressure, in the middle of a race. She brought with her a work ethic instilled by her family from an early age—one that didn’t care about shortcuts or excuses. Just results.

OTHER INTERESTS

When she wasn’t training for the Indy 500 or working full-time with Team Penske, Brown also worked three days a week at a go-kart track. Because apparently, one motorsports job isn’t enough when you’re that obsessed with speed.

EARLY SUCCESS

Brown’s path into IndyCar wasn’t a straight line—it was a hard-fought climb through one of the toughest teams in the sport. She spent seven years working her way up in the motorsports industry before landing at Team Penske. In 2021, she joined Paretta Autosport, a majority-female team competing in the Indianapolis 500. Alongside fellow UTI grad Madison Conrad and teammates Amanda Frayer and Mallorie Muller, Brown went “over the wall” as part of a historic four-woman pit crew—a first for the Indy 500. She worked the inside front tire, a position that demands precision, speed, and nerves of steel.

The experience with Paretta Autosport proved she could handle the intensity of the biggest race in IndyCar. In 2022, she joined Team Penske as an extra crew member assigned to tear-offs, working behind the scenes on Josef Newgarden’s No. 2 Chevrolet. By 2023, she was promoted to inside front tire changer—and made history as the first full-time female over-the-wall pit crew member for Team Penske in any series. She was 24 years old, and she was about to become a legend.

From day one, Brown’s crew chief Shaun Rinaman saw her potential. “Caitlyn, from day one, she’s been extremely coachable,” he said. “Knowing that, I knew she was going to develop into a good tire changer.” That coachability, combined with relentless work ethic, turned her into one of the most reliable members of Newgarden’s pit crew.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 2021: Went over the wall as part of the first four-woman pit crew in Indy 500 history with Paretta Autosport[1].
• 2023: Became the first female over-the-wall pit crew member for Team Penske and the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 as a tire changer on Josef Newgarden’s winning crew[2].
• 2024: Won her second consecutive Indianapolis 500 with Newgarden and Team Penske, solidifying her place in racing history[3].
• 2025: Part of the winning crew in the Oscar Mayer Pit Stop Challenge, showcasing her speed and precision alongside her teammates[4].

INSPIRATIONS

Brown’s family was her foundation. Racing was in her blood, and the work ethic her parents drilled into her shaped everything she did. She didn’t set out to break barriers or make history—she just wanted to be the best at her job. “Work hard,” she said. “Keep your head down. Gender, it doesn’t matter. The car doesn’t know what you are, who you are. It’s going to tell you what’s wrong with it.” That philosophy carried her through every challenge, every pit stop, every moment when she had to prove herself in a sport dominated by men.

REPUTATION

Brown earned her stripes the hard way—by being undeniably good at what she does. At Team Penske, one of the most demanding teams in IndyCar, she proved she could handle the pressure, the speed, and the scrutiny. She’s known for being coachable, relentless, and unshakable under pressure. When Josef Newgarden took the checkered flag at the 2023 Indy 500, Brown chugged milk from a bottle and wore an “Indy 500 champion” cap—not as a token or a novelty, but as a fully-fledged, essential member of a championship crew. And when they did it again in 2024, she cemented her reputation as one of the best in the business.

Her story resonates because it’s not about being a woman in motorsports—it’s about being damn good at your job, no matter who’s watching. She’s become a role model not because she asked to be, but because she showed up, worked harder than anyone, and delivered results when it mattered most.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

Brown continues to work as a full-time mechanic and tire changer on Josef Newgarden’s No. 2 car with Team Penske. Her focus remains on helping the team chase more wins, more championships, and more history. She’s also involved in initiatives promoting women in motorsports, though she’s clear about one thing: the goal isn’t special treatment—it’s equal opportunity. As she’s said before, the car doesn’t care who you are. It just wants to be fixed right, and fast.

REFERENCES

[1] History Made as Paretta Autosport Competes in the Indianapolis 500

[2] Penske’s Caitlyn Brown Becomes First Female Crew Member to Win Indy 500

[3] Exclusive: Team Penske Mechanic Caitlyn Brown on Women’s Representation in IndyCar

[4] Oscar Mayer Pit Stop Challenge Victory Gives Boost to Team Penske

The People of Work | Episode 3: Caitlyn Brown

Wilmington’s Caitlyn Brown Makes History During Indy 500 Win

Team Penske’s Brown Breaks Barriers with Dedication, Skill

Ready to Make History on Pit Lane – Team Penske

UTI Grads Join Female-Forward IndyCar Pit Crew

Indy 500 Winning Mechanic Caitlyn Brown | FanAmp Fast Lane

Making Indy 500 History About Pressure, Pride for Team Penske Pit Crew

Brown Breaks Big Barrier on Newgarden’s Winning ‘500’ Crew

Meet the Women Making Motorsports History at the Indy 500 – ESPN

Caitlyn Brown – Free Press Newspapers