Lyn St. James

Lyn St. James is one of the most successful and pioneering female racecar drivers in history, best known as the first woman to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in 1992 and the only woman to win an IMSA GT race solo.

EARLY YEARS

Born in 1947 in Willoughby, Ohio, Lyn St. James came of age during the musclecar era—a time when horsepower was currency and the local dragway was the place to be. She hung out with street-racers, absorbed the culture, and didn’t just watch from the sidelines. “I drag-raced a buddy’s car and brought home a trophy,” she recalls, a moment that hinted at what was coming. But it was seeing the 24 Hours of Daytona in person that flipped the switch. The endurance, the strategy, the sheer spectacle—it planted a seed that would grow into a decades-long career.

In 1973, she made her amateur debut with the Sports Car Club of America, racing a Ford Pinto. The following year, she attended race driving school, earned her competition license, and became an SCCA member. What drew her in wasn’t just speed—it was the idea of racing cars that looked like something you’d see on the street. “Intrigued by the idea of racing what looked like a street car,” she said, “I’ve never looked back since.”

OTHER INTERESTS

Beyond the track, St. James built a second career as a motivational speaker, commentator, and motorsports ambassador. She’s authored two memoirs and founded the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation in 1994, an organization dedicated to promoting women leaders in automotive and motorsports industries. She also created the Women’s Sports Foundation Project Podium Scholarship Grant, cementing her role as a mentor to the next generation of female racers. Her advocacy work has earned her recognition including the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for her pioneering efforts and induction into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2023. In 2014, she received the Rolex Award of Excellence at Group 2B Mazda Raceway.

EARLY SUCCESS

St. James turned professional in 1979, finishing second in her debut race in the IMSA American Challenge Series. It was the beginning of a relentless climb. By 1981, after writing letters to over 150 companies, she secured a factory sponsorship deal with Ford Motor Company—a breakthrough that gave her credibility, media attention, and the equipment she needed to compete. “Getting a factory to sponsor you gives you credibility; the media pays attention. You get good equipment,” she explained. That same year, she began racing in the SCCA Trans-Am series, where a bonus for being the top female driver helped fund her next race. “I could pay to be able to get to the next race,” she said—a small margin that kept her in the game.

In 1984, she was named IMSA Camel GT Rookie of the Year. The following year, she won the IMSA Norelco Driver of the Year award and made history at the 1985 Serengeti 500 at Watkins Glen, becoming the only woman to win an IMSA GT race solo. “I raced the whole race myself and I won,” she said. That same year, she also took victories at Road America and Daytona in the IMSA GTO class. She was fast, she was consistent, and she was rewriting the rules about who could win.

Her first professional win came at Elkhart Lake, and in 1978, she came within 0.79 seconds of victory at Road Atlanta in a Plymouth Volare. Over her career, she raced more than 100 times, including over 50 races in both SCCA Trans-Am and IMSA GT. In Trans-Am, she logged 53 races with seven top-five finishes. In IMSA GT, she appeared in 62 races, earning six wins, 17 top-five finishes, and 37 top-ten finishes.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1979: Class win at 24 Hours of Nürburgring in AMC Spirit (team first and second in class).
• 1984: Named IMSA Camel GT Rookie of the Year.
• 1985: Named IMSA Norelco Driver of the Year; solo win at Serengeti 500 at Watkins Glen (only woman to win IMSA GT solo); IMSA GTO victories at Road America, Watkins Glen, and Daytona.
• 1987: IMSA GTO victory at Daytona; 24 Hours of Daytona GTO class win (team driver).
• 1989: Competed in 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• 1990: 24 Hours of Daytona GTO class win (team driver); 12 Hours of Sebring GTO class win with Calvin Fish and Robby Gordon.
• 1991: Competed in 24 Hours of Le Mans.
• 1992: First woman to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year; highest finish 11th; first Indy 500 start.
• 1994: Qualified sixth for Indianapolis 500 (highest qualifying position).
• 1995: Eighth place finish at Orlando (IndyCar); qualified at 225.722 mph for Indy 500.
• 1996: Established own race team.
• 2000: Competed in Indianapolis 500 at age 53 (oldest driver in field).
• Career: Seven Indianapolis 500 starts over nine years (1992–97 six consecutive, plus 2000); 15 Indy races total (11 CART, 5 IRL); two top-ten qualifying spots and one top-ten finish; held 21 international and national closed-circuit speed records over 20 years; first woman over 200 mph on track; set 227.32 mph closed course record for women in Ford Thunderbird at Talladega Speedway; factory driver for Ford Motor Company from 1981; raced 24 Hours of Daytona twice (winner), 12 Hours of Sebring nine times (winner once), 24 Hours of Le Mans twice.

INSPIRATIONS

The 24 Hours of Daytona was the spark. Seeing that race for the first time shifted everything for St. James—it wasn’t just about going fast, it was about endurance, teamwork, and grit. When she finally won the race in 1990, the moment came full circle. “When I won that race, I was remembering that the first sportscar race I ever saw was the 24 Hours of Daytona. To finally stand on the podium, it was unreal,” she said. That same race also shaped her ambitions in another way. Indianapolis felt impossible at first—”I would think, ‘wouldn’t it be so cool to just drive an Indy car someplace, someday?’ But the thought of actually racing it at the speedway was so over the top of my mind,” she admitted. Yet she got there. And when she did, she called it “a beautiful thing.”

REPUTATION

Lyn St. James didn’t just race—she broke barriers and set records that forced the motorsports world to pay attention. As the first woman to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year and the first to qualify for the race since Janet Guthrie, she proved that women could compete at the highest levels of IndyCar racing. Her 225.722 mph qualifying speed in 1995 and her record as the first woman to exceed 200 mph on track made it clear she wasn’t there for show. With two 24 Hours of Daytona wins, a 12 Hours of Sebring victory, and six IMSA GT wins—including that solo triumph at Watkins Glen—she built a resume that speaks for itself.

But her legacy extends beyond lap times. Through the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation and her mentoring work, she’s opened doors for the women who came after her. She fought through rejection after rejection to secure sponsorship, proving that persistence and credibility could crack open an industry that wasn’t always welcoming. Media coverage has consistently highlighted her perseverance, and her public persona is that of an inspiring figure determined to support the next generation. She’s not just a driver—she’s a pioneer, an advocate, and a symbol of what’s possible when talent meets relentless determination.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

St. James continues her work as a motivational speaker and mentor, focusing on inspiring and supporting young women in motorsports and beyond. Her foundation and advocacy efforts remain active, ensuring that the path she helped carve stays open and accessible for the next wave of female racers.

References:

Lyn St. James Official Biography
SEMA News – Relentless Pursuit: Lyn St. James
Automotive Hall of Fame – Lyn St. James
Racing Archives – Cameron R. Argetsinger Award: Lyn St. James
Wikipedia – Lyn St. James
APB Speakers – Lyn St. James
The Henry Ford – Lyn St. James: Inspiring and Supporting the Next Generation
Road Racing Drivers Club – Members