15:04
jcreator
A female-dominated IndyCar Series team hopes to race in the 2016 Indianapolis 500.
Grace Autosport, the first self-described all-female IndyCar Series racing team, on Friday announced its plans to compete in the 100th running of the Indy 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From team owner to race engineers to aerodynamicists to the driver to marketing and public relations directors, the women of Grace Autosport will be on the grid for the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" on May 29, 2016.
The team hopes to also have at least some women on its over-the-wall pit crew.
Grace Autosport will spearhead a one-of-a-kind racing program with a focused educational initiative, which looks to create and inspire future champions and leaders in motorsport. The goal of this pioneering all-female racing team is not only to empower women in motorsport, but to encourage a new generation of women to pursue careers in STEM (science/technology/engineering/math). Grace also hopes its program and platform attract a new fan base to IndyCar racing and the Indianapolis 500 race, the largest sporting event in the world.
"The Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the scene for many automotive firsts," said Grace team principal Beth Paretta of The Paretta Company and former motorsports director for SRT Motorsports/Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. "It makes it so special to have the opportunity to launch our team here. For us, true success will be measured by how many girls and women we can encourage to pursue a STEM career. Having said that, we are here to win and our goal is within 10 years to make sure a woman's face will grace the BorgWarner trophy."
Katherine Legge, who has raced in two Indy 500s, will drive for the team in 2016. Legge's diverse racing history includes British Formula Fords, Toyota Atlantics, Champ Car/IndyCar, IMSA sports cars, DTM and Formula E racing.
"I am very proud to be a part of this new and exciting team," Legge said. "To me, it's more than just racing, it's the start of something much bigger; a movement within the sport. This is something I've been very passionate about for a very long time. Racing is my life-long passion and the drive to compete in the Indy 500 has been there since the very beginning.
"Being able to combine my enthusiasm for racing with the goal of empowering young women to pursue STEM subjects is a dream come true. It will be interesting to see it all unfold from the beginning and I have no doubt we will be successful."
Also on board with the start-up team are Catherine Crawford, aerodynamicist, principal of Crawford Composites and a team supervisor in the IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship; Lauren Elkins, motorsports engineer, track support technician and data analysis manager, who brings multiple years in IndyCar and sports car racing to the team; Jessica Rowe, a junior design engineer with a variety of race experience, both at track and in the design office; and Barbara Burns, a motorsport professional specializing in communications, public relations, event management and media training for young professional athletes and drivers.
"It is wonderful to see an inspirational team with such an impressive depth of experience and knowledge," said Michele Mouton, president of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission. "The fact the team is led by women in many of the key roles showcases the fact everyone can have a place in motorsport. Equality is there. Young women should be encouraged to seek the opportunities; this team again demonstrates that gender does not have to be a barrier in relation to success in all areas of racing."
Paretta said the team has sponsorship that will be announced at a later date.
"I think it's important to say, also, in no way is this us being feminists," Legge said. "We know we need the support of men and we're not being exclusive. We're just trying to be equal opportunity and in a positive way."
