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 | Janet Guthrie 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 on March 7, 1938, is a famous American former racing driver. She made history as the first woman to race in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500 in 1977. She first tried to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1976. She competed in the Indianapolis 500 three times, from 1977 to 1979. Janet Guthrie was also the first woman to lead a lap in a NASCAR Cup Series race.
Before becoming a racer, Guthrie was an aerospace engineer. She earned a physics degree from the University of Michigan in 1960. After graduating, she worked for Republic Aviation. In 2024, she received the NASCAR Landmark award for her contributions to the sport.
Contents
Janet Guthrie's Racing Journey
Early Days in Sports Car Racing
Janet Guthrie started her racing career in 1963. She competed on the SCCA circuit, driving a Jaguar XK140. By 1972, she was racing full-time. Her sports car career included two class wins in the famous 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race.
Breaking Barriers in NASCAR
In 1976, Guthrie finished 15th in the World 600 race. This made her the first woman to compete in a NASCAR Winston Cup superspeedway race. She raced in four more NASCAR events that season. The next year, she competed in her first Daytona 500. She finished 12th, even though her car had engine problems near the end. For her strong performance, she earned the "Top Rookie" honor.
Overall, Guthrie competed in 33 NASCAR races over four seasons. Her best finish was sixth place at Bristol in 1977. This was the best finish by a woman in a top-tier NASCAR race for many years. Danica Patrick later tied this record in 2014.
Competing in the Indianapolis 500
Janet Guthrie qualified for the 1977 Indianapolis 500 and raced in it. She finished 29th due to engine issues. She competed in two more Indianapolis 500 races. In the 1978 race, she finished ninth. She achieved this amazing feat while driving with a fractured wrist. She had injured it in a charity tennis event just two days before. She kept her injury a secret from race officials.
In total, she competed in 11 Indy car events. Her best finish in these races was fifth place. When she tried to qualify for the 1976 race, some male drivers said she couldn't qualify because of her gender. This made three-time race winner A. J. Foyt angry. He lent Guthrie a backup car for a test. Her practice lap in Foyt's car was fast enough to qualify for the race. However, she struggled to find enough money from sponsors. This eventually forced her to retire from racing.
A Lasting Legacy
Even though she faced challenges, Janet Guthrie secured her place in history. In 1979, she was featured on a Supersisters trading card. Her racing helmet and suit are now displayed in the Smithsonian Institution. She was also one of the first people chosen for the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. Her 2005 autobiography, Janet Guthrie: A Life at Full Throttle, received great reviews.
Overcoming Challenges in Motorsports
The Struggle for Sponsorship
In 1987, Janet Guthrie spoke about the difficulty female drivers faced in getting sponsors. She noted that men often received sponsorships, while women did not. She explained that sponsors want publicity from racing. A successful woman driver could get much more attention than a man. However, she felt that a "good ol' boy network" often prevented women from getting these opportunities.
The challenge for female drivers to find sponsors continued for many years. In 2020, Pippa Mann could not find funding to enter the Indianapolis 500. This meant no women drivers were in the race that year. Guthrie expressed her disappointment about this situation.
Inspiring Future Generations
Guthrie was at first hesitant to talk about sexism in racing. But her view changed after she qualified for her first Indianapolis 500 in 1977. During a parade, she saw fathers holding their young daughters on their shoulders. They were waving as if she represented hope for the future. This moment showed her the importance of her role.
In 2011, Guthrie supported the Women to drive movement in Saudi Arabia. She signed a petition asking the Saudi King to sponsor a Saudi Women's Grand Prix. This idea came from human rights activist David Keyes.
Her racing career was featured in an ESPN 30 for 30 episode called Qualified. It aired on May 28, 2019. In the episode, she said that women have always done amazing things. But their history is often forgotten. She believes women will continue to achieve great things.
In 2019, Janet Guthrie was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame. She was the fifth woman to receive this honor for her achievements in motorsports.
Janet Guthrie's Personal Life
Janet Guthrie was born in Iowa City, Iowa. Her parents, Jean Ruth Guthrie and William Lain Guthrie, were both pilots. She is the oldest of five children. When Janet was three, her family moved to Miami, Florida. Her father had taken a job with Eastern Air Lines. Janet herself earned her pilot's license when she was 17 years old.
In 1989, Guthrie married Warren Levine, who was a charter airline pilot. He passed away suddenly from a heart attack in 2006. A movie about Guthrie's life, titled Speed Girl, is expected to be released in 2025.
Awards and Honors
Janet Guthrie has been recognized with many awards and inductions into 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)
Images for kids
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Janet Guthrie's Wildcat 3-DGS, which she drove to ninth place in the 1978 Indianapolis 500
