Memorial Day Means Indy 500 Racing

When you grow up in Indiana there are two things that are a must to like -- basketball and the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race. The fanfare and traditions surrounding the start of the race are fun to watch. And for the past 30-plus years it's also been fun to watch women enter what for decades was an all-male sport.

Janet Guthrie was the first woman to break the glass ceiling in Indy-car racing. Vastly underfunded compared to the men, she held her own for three seasons, with her best Indianapolis 500 finish being 9th place in 1978. Guthrie raced from 1977 to 1979.

Desire Wilson passed Indianapolis 500 driver’s test on May 11, 1982, but failed to qualify for the race.

Lyn St. James raced at Indy from 1992 to 1997, and again in 2000. Her best start was from the 6th position in 1994. And her best finish was 11th, in 1992.

Sarah Fisher was the next woman to qualify for Indy, and is a fan favorite today. Fisher raced in 2000 to 2004, and from 2007 to today. Like other women before her, Sarah has not had the same access to money so needed to be a real competitor at the Indy 500. Race cars and teams cost millions of dollars, and women have traditionally had a hard time getting sponsorship.

And in fairness to these pioneers, Indy hasn't been all that kind to women who wanted to race. Janet Guthrie faced outright hostility from male drivers. And even the Hulman family didn't seem to know what to do with the "lady" driver.

And then along came Danica Patrick.

Indy car racing was in a bit of a decline, and Danica is hot. Not only is she a great driver, but she possess the sex appeal that was sure to bring the fans -- read men -- back to the track.

Indy knew it, and so did Danica.

I must confess to mixed feelings about it all. Danica Patrick is a competitor, and the only way for her to have a chance at Indy was to have a sponsor with deep pockets. Advertisers could see right away that Danica would attract attention, so the courtship was on.

The big question to ask is would the sponsors stuck around had she not been such a good racer? But she is, having won an Indy-car race last year. Not the Indianapolis 500, but a competition in Japan.

Danica has milked her appeal for all it's worth -- often striking a pose that seems more fitting for Playboy than for a race car driver.

Even going after the lesbian fantisy crowd. So what do you think of Danica Patrick's path to stardom?


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And I can't post something about the 2009 Indianapolis 500 without mentioning my admiration for Alex Lloyd. Lloyd is driving a pink race car, with word "her" in large letters. Now THAT's a guy secure in his masculinity!

A comment next to Lloyd's photo on the official Indy 500 web site says: "Pink is the new black! Get use to it, all you macho Pink-o-phobes, PINK, PINK, is here to stay!!"

What Pink Lloyd DOESN'T know at the moment is that his wife, who is expecting a baby (due today) is having contractions. She told an ABC sports reporter the team has decided not to let him know until after the race is over.

Best wishes for a healthy baby ... and a good race!