Janet Guthrie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Janet Guthrie |
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Guthrie at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2011
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| Born | March 7, 1938 Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. |
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| Champ Car career | |||||||
| 11 races run over 5 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 15th (1979 (USAC)) | ||||||
| First race | 1976 Trenton 200 (Trenton) | ||||||
| Last race | 1979 Tony Bettenhausen 200 (Milwaukee) |
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| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 33 races run over 4 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 23rd (1977) | ||||||
| First race | 1976 World 600 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 1980 Coca-Cola 500 (Pocono) | ||||||
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Janet Guthrie (born March 7, 1938) is an American former racing driver. She made history as the first woman to qualify and race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. She achieved this incredible feat in 1977. Before her racing career, Janet was an aerospace engineer. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1960 with a degree in physics.
Janet Guthrie competed in three Indianapolis 500 races between 1977 and 1979. She also became the first woman to lead a lap in a NASCAR Cup Series competition. Her pioneering spirit opened doors for many who followed. On January 19, 2024, she received the NASCAR Landmark award for her significant contributions to the sport.
Contents
A Pioneer in Racing
Early Life and Education
Janet Guthrie was born in Iowa City, Iowa. Her parents, Jean Ruth Guthrie and William Lain Guthrie, were both pilots. Janet was the oldest of five children. When she was three, her family moved to Miami, Florida, because her father took a job with Eastern Air Lines. Following in her parents' footsteps, Janet earned her own pilot's license at just 17 years old.
After college, Janet worked with Republic Aviation as an aerospace engineer. This background in science and engineering gave her a unique understanding of speed and mechanics, which would later help her in racing.
Breaking Barriers on the Track
Janet Guthrie started her racing journey in 1963. She began competing in the SCCA circuit, driving a Jaguar XK140. By 1972, her passion for racing grew, and she became a full-time professional driver. Her skills in sports car racing led her to win two class victories in the famous 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race.
In 1976, Janet made her debut in a NASCAR Winston Cup superspeedway race, the World 600, finishing fifteenth. This made her the first woman to compete in such an event. The next year, she raced in her first Daytona 500. She finished twelfth, even though her car had engine problems near the end. For her strong performance, she was honored as the Top Rookie.
Memorable Races and Achievements
Janet Guthrie competed in 33 NASCAR races over four seasons. Her best finish was an impressive sixth place at Bristol in 1977. This achievement stood as the best finish by a woman in a top-tier NASCAR race for many years, now shared with Danica Patrick from 2014.
Janet also made history at the Indianapolis 500. She qualified and competed in the 1977 Indianapolis 500, though she finished 29th due to engine issues. She returned in the 1978 race and finished ninth. Amazingly, she achieved this while driving with a fractured wrist, an injury she kept secret from race officials! Overall, she competed in 11 Indy car events, with her best finish being fifth place.
During her first attempt to qualify for the 1976 race, Janet faced unfair comments from some male drivers. They suggested she couldn't qualify because she was a woman. This upset three-time race winner A. J. Foyt, who lent Janet his backup car for a test. Her practice lap in Foyt's car was fast enough to qualify, proving her skill. Despite her talent, Janet struggled to find enough corporate sponsors, which eventually led to her retirement from racing.
Facing Challenges and Inspiring Others
The Fight for Fair Play
Janet Guthrie often spoke about the difficulties women faced in motorsports, especially when trying to secure sponsorships. She explained that while women drivers could attract a lot of attention, many corporations still preferred to sponsor male drivers. This showed how challenging it was to break into a sport that had traditionally been dominated by men.
The struggle for female drivers to get funding continued even after Janet's career. For example, in 2020, there were no women drivers in the Indianapolis 500. Janet expressed her disappointment about this, highlighting that the path for women in racing was still tough.
A Legacy of Hope
Janet's perspective on speaking out about these challenges changed after she qualified for her first Indianapolis 500 in 1977. During a parade, she saw fathers holding their young daughters, waving at her as if she represented hope for their future. This moment made her realize the importance of her role as a trailblazer.
In 2011, Janet supported the right of women in Saudi Arabia to drive by signing a petition. This petition asked the Saudi King to support a Saudi Women's Grand Prix, promoting human rights and equality.
Her racing career was featured in "Qualified," an episode of ESPN's 30 for 30 series, which aired on May 28, 2019. In the episode, she shared a powerful message: "You can go back to antiquity to find women doing extraordinary things, but their history is forgotten. Or denied to have ever existed. So women keep reinventing the wheel. Women have always done these things, and they always will."
Personal Life and Recognition
Life Outside the Track
Janet Guthrie married Warren Levine, a charter airline pilot, in 1989. Warren passed away on December 30, 2006. A movie about Guthrie's life, titled Speed Girl, was released in 2025, sharing her inspiring story with a wider audience.
Honored for Her Contributions
Janet Guthrie's impact on motorsports and her role in breaking barriers for women have been widely recognized. She has been inducted into several prestigious halls of fame:
- International Women's Sports Hall of Fame (1980)
- International Motorsports Hall of Fame (2006)
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame (2006)
- Automotive Hall of Fame (2019)
- Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (2021)
- NASCAR Hall of Fame (2024)
Her 2005 autobiography, Janet Guthrie: A Life at Full Throttle, has also received great reviews. Her helmet and race suit are proudly displayed in the Smithsonian Institution, preserving her legacy for future generations.
