Even though it has been 14 years since she last raced at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Lyn St. James will once again race on the fabled 2.5-mile speedway in this weekend’s Sportscar Vintage Racing Association’s Vintage Racing Invitational.
St. James, who is now 67, will race in two different classes in one of the premier vintage racing events in the country, which runs from Friday through Sunday and is expected to draw a record 700-plus vintage cars and racers.
Cars in competition will date as far back as the early 1900s, as well as prototypes and former championship-winning rides.
The Ohio native will race in the “Indy Legends” Pro-Am race, driving a 1970 Ford Mustang Boss 302, and will compete against fellow legends including Al Unser Jr., Buddy Lazier, Scott Goodyear and Davey Hamilton, according to a report in the Indianapolis Star.
St. James, the first woman to win Indy 500 Rookie of the Year honors in 1992, will also drive a 1977 Chevron Atlantic in the Group 9 open-wheel event, as well.
While she spends most of her days now as a motivational speaker, according to the Star, she is far from being retired from behind the wheel.
“The word (retired) sort of gets my back up because I’m just a retired IndyCar driver (but) I’m still racing,” St. James told The Star. “People love to put that word because that’s what life to them is like. They have a job, and then they retire, but this is our job, and it’s also our passion.”
St. James has a compelling question-and-answer session with The Star that long-time race fans will likely find very interesting.
One highlight we wanted to point out, is St. James’ response when she was asked if she still gets the urge to “jump in a car whenever you’re at a race track?”
“I can only be at a race track for a few days if I’m not racing,” St. James said. “But if I’m running, I could stay there forever. It’s who I am. I still get the same feeling, the juices flow inside, it elevates all your senses — sound, smell, everything is elevated.”
To read the interview, click here.
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