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Lyn St. James didn’t just race cars—she rewrote the rulebook for women in motorsports, becoming the first woman to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year at age 45 and spending decades proving that talent, not gender, determines who belongs behind the wheel.

EARLY YEARS

Born Evelyn Gene Cornwall on March 13, 1947, in Willoughby, Ohio, she was the only child of Alfred Cornwall, a sheet metal worker, and Maxine Rawson Cornwall, a homemaker who had contracted polio as a child and was told she’d never be able to have children. Her mother’s plan was simple: a good education and becoming “a nice lady.” Evelyn was an athletic teen who played basketball, volleyball, and tennis, and attended drag races that sparked something her parents hadn’t anticipated—a passion for speed.

OTHER INTERESTS

An accomplished pianist and published author, St. James wrote Car Owner’s Manual for Women in 1984, offering practical automotive advice that demystified car maintenance for female drivers. She’s also a sought-after motivational speaker and motorsports commentator, and worked with Ford engineers to develop the 1993 Probe and Lincoln Mark VIII. Her business acumen extended beyond racing—she understood that being fast wasn’t enough; you had to be strategic, visible, and willing to fight for every opportunity.

EARLY SUCCESS

At 32, Evelyn Cornwall made a decision that would define her life: she changed her name to Lyn St. James, quit her secretarial job, and became a professional race car driver. Starting in Florida’s SCCA Showroom Stock classes, she became the 1976 and 1977 Florida regional champion. She worked her way up through sports car racing, competing in 53 SCCA Trans Am races with seven top-five finishes and 62 IMSA GT races with six wins, 17 top fives, and 37 top tens. In 1985, she became the first woman to surpass 200 mph on a closed course, hitting 204.233 mph in a Ford Mustang Probe GTP Prototype. She won the GTO class at the 24 Hours of Daytona twice and the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1990, making her the only woman to win an IMSA GT race driving solo. She also set 21 international and national closed-circuit speed records along the way.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS

• 1976-1977: Florida SCCA regional champion in Showroom Stock classes.
• 1985: First woman to exceed 200 mph on a closed course (204.233 mph in a Ford Mustang Probe GTP Prototype).
• 1985: Won GTO class at the IMSA race at Watkins Glen.
• 1986: Survived a horrific crash at Riverside when her Ford Probe flipped violently into the air, with body panels torn apart and launched.
• 1990: Won GTO class at the 12 Hours of Sebring.
• 1992: First woman to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year at age 45.
• 1994: Qualified sixth for the Indianapolis 500—her highest starting position.
• 1994: Founded Women in the Winner’s Circle (WIWC) Foundation to create opportunities for women in motorsports.
• 1992-2000: Competed in 15 Indianapolis 500 races across CART Championship and Indy Racing League (raced in seven; bumped from two).
• 2000: Involved in early crash with rookie Sarah Fisher at Indianapolis 500 on lap 74.
• Career: Only woman to win an IMSA GT race driving solo; set 21 international and national closed-circuit speed records.

INSPIRATIONS

St. James took cues from tennis legend Billie Jean King in advocating for more opportunities for women in motorsports, understanding that breaking barriers required more than just talent—it demanded visibility, persistence, and a willingness to be a lightning rod for change. She bugged IndyCar team owner Dick Simon for three years before he gave her a shot in 1988, and her tryout went well enough to open the door to Indianapolis.

REPUTATION

St. James endured years of macho scorn in racing, but she never let it define her. She became a key mentor for Sarah Fisher and other rising female drivers, and her Complete Driver Academy, established in 1994, provided comprehensive education and training for talented women racers. The program has graduated more than 230 participants over 25 years, including future IndyCar drivers like Danica Patrick, who went on to become the first woman to lead laps at the Indianapolis 500 and the first to win an IndyCar race. In 2007, with support from Paul Newman and Newman’s Own, she launched Project Podium, a scholarship fund for women race car drivers. She served as executive director of the Women’s Global GT Series, an all-female racing championship conceived by the late Don Panoz, founder of the American Le Mans Series, which attracted interest from more than 200 women worldwide. Her influence extends beyond the track: she’s been inducted into multiple halls of fame, served as North American Representative on the FIA Women in Motorsports Commission from 2020-2024, and co-founded Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) in 2021 to unify efforts and share best practices for women across all forms of racing.

FUTURE GOALS/PLANS

St. James continues her work with WIMNA, focused on creating pathways for the next generation of female racers and industry professionals. She remains active in motorsports advocacy, mentorship, and building networks that support women breaking into—and succeeding in—racing at every level.

REFERENCES

Lyn St. James – Automotive Hall of Fame
Lyn St. James :: woa.tv
Lyn St James – International Motorsports Hall of Fame
Lyn St. James – Wikipedia
People Magazine 1993
Lyn St. James, a nearly-forgotten all-female racing series
Relentless Pursuit: Lyn St. James
St. James, Lyn 1947- | Encyclopedia.com
Sports Illustrated May 1993
Lyn St. James on Her Life, Career, and Passing the Keys to the Next Generation – Ford
Lyn St. James – Sports Car Club of America
Lyn St. James: Inspiring and Supporting the Next Generation – The Henry Ford
St. James Continues To Blaze Trails for Women in Racing – IndyCar
How Trailblazer Lyn St. James Conquered Sexism in Racing – Autoweek
About WIMNA – Women in Motorsports North America
Lyn’s Biography – LynStJames.com