TERRE HAUTE —
Janet Guthrie broke down the barrier. Lynn St. James made her mark. The spotlight is always on Danica, but Sarah Fisher has really set the bar for women in open-wheel racing. She is the only female owner/driver currently in the IZOD IndyCar series and only the second woman owner/driver to field an entry in the Indianapolis 500.
Fisher shares some qualities with her role model Guthrie. She is smart, well educated and determined. Guthrie became the first woman to qualify and start the Indy 500 in 1977 and fielded her own entry in 1978 where she finished 9th. Over 30 years later, Fisher’s team that she started on a shoe string budget in 2008, is growing.
In fact, last November the team began moving the shop to a much larger facility nearby. The new shop tripled the size of the old one. “As you grow, you need more space for more stuff,” she said. “We have two transporters now. We have double the people, double the equipment. Even though it is not for a full season, we still have to have that equipment.”
Adding a second driver to the program brought the need for the space. Fisher signed 2006 Indy Lights champion Jay Howard to drive a second car in four races this season, and just announced a fifth. Fisher’s number 67 car has a nine-race schedule, but at St. Petersburg and the Grand Prix of Alabama, Fisher brought in Graham Rahal to driver her car and added Long Beach as well. Rahal finished ninth in St. Pete, 17th in Alabama and 22nd in Long Beach.
One of Fisher’s deciding factors in bringing a teammate had to do with the Indy 500. “I think it has been quite some time since anyone has won the Indy 500 that hasn’t had a teammate.” The last time a single car team took the checkered flag at Indianapolis was 1995 when Jacques Villeneuve did it driving for Team Green. Villeneuve went on to become the 1997 Formula One World Champion.
“It’s just a proven fact that two cars can learn more than one,” she said. “As we grow the business, the only way to grow one car is to add a second, in some respects.” The team has been able to add staff as well, which is helping both programs.
Fisher had Howard in mind for awhile. She knew him when he drove for Roth Racing. Howard had signed to drive a full season for Roth Racing, but actually saw little race time due to both lack of sponsorship and his seat being turned over to John Andretti for some of those races. After Roth Racing folded, the Indy Lights front runner found himself seat less. “He seemed to have it together off of the track and we’ve been there,” said Fisher. “We wanted to see if we could work with him and put something together for the future.”
Like many drivers, Fisher‘s path is packed with highs and lows. In 1999, Fisher made her IndyCar debut at the series finale at Texas Motor Speedway. The following year, Fisher at age 19, made her first Indianapolis 500 start with Walker Racing. That year she finished 31st. However in her seventh race for Walker that year, Fisher finished third at Kentucky Speedway, leading nine laps and becoming the first woman to stand on the podium. In 2002 at Kentucky, Fisher set the track qualifying record at 221.390, a record she still holds. Also in that year, Fisher qualified for Indy at 229.439, the fastest female qualification four-lap average.
Despite her accomplishments, Fisher’s racing career proved difficult to maintain. In 2002-03, she drove for Dreyer and Reinbold, but in 03, the team stats were disappointing. She drove just one IndyCar race, Indianapolis, in 2004. Like other open-wheel drivers, Fisher tested the waters of NASCAR. Bill McAnally and Richard Childers Racing signed her to run the NASCAR Grand National West series in 2005. She finished 12th in the points, scoring four top 10 finishes.
Fisher returned to IndyCar in 2006 for just two race, but drove a full season for Dreyer and Reinbold in 2007. Fisher announced early in 2008, she would become Sarah Fisher Racing. At age 27, she became the youngest team owner and first and only female owner/driver in the series. Last year, Fisher competed in six races, finishing 25th in the points with a best finish of 12th at Kentucky Speedway.
Throughout everything, Fisher has remained a favorite of the fans. IndyCar fans voted her Most Popular Driver four times. Her autograph line is usually one of the longest, and she realizes how important connecting with the fans can be. “It is so neat to have people in support of what we are doing. I’m just glad that fans can be a part of that directly.”
In 2008, Fisher’s sponsor for the Indy 500 failed to fulfill the contract. That made a difficult situation almost insurmountable. When word got out of what happened, fans began coming by the garage and giving her donations. Cash and checks of all amounts came in. A few last minute, one race sponsors stepped up to keep Fisher’s dream of an Indy 500 as a car owner alive. “It was awesome.”
The race itself ended early for Fisher as she was collected in Tony Kanaan’s crash. However, even with the emotional month and disappointing race, Fisher found the time to thank the fans. Those who she had addresses for got a piece of the side pod and a hand-written thank you note from Fisher. “It was a lot of writing, but it was really worth it.”
Being a race car driver, by nature, one would think that ownership would be the worst part of the business, but for Fisher, she revels in it. “I enjoy that part. I’m constantly learning. She has be able to shadow some successful CEOs and to watch how they do business.
She attributes her current success to a simple formula. “I think at the end of the day, I love racing. I love the people I get to work with. It’s so important that everyone on our shop floor contributes. To work with such good successful people who really have the passion and heart to see this team succeed, it just makes it a lot of fun.” She says she doesn’t have to strive to make it work, it is working because she wants to make it work.
Adding to the dynamic of the team, it is a family business. Her father in law John O’Gara is her co-owner and husband Andy O’Gara is her chief mechanic. “Working with my husband is fantastic. We have our bouts, but at the end of the day it is a very unique situation and we’re having a great time. We both love what we do and we don’t know any other way.”
Fisher added a new accomplishment just this month with the publication of her first book, “99 Things Women Wish They Knew Before Getting Behind the Wheel of Their Dream Job.”
The book is part of the “99 Things” series that addresses situations and what readers need to know about it. Fisher’s book is full of ideas, stories and tips for women wanting to and how to get what they really want in a career. CEOs Bea Perez (Coca Cola) and Angela Braley (Wellpoint) are contributors, as well as actress Ashley Judd. “Essentially it hits upon different things I’ve learned on my journey in the racing industry, things I wish I would have know and done a little differently.”
At just age 29, Fisher will attempt her ninth start at Indianapolis, to date the most by any woman. “It’s real. It’s my team. It’s my life and I love it.”
Auto Racing
Fisher leads way for female drivers/owners and she's loving it
- Auto Racing
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Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat
And the crowd went wild.
Not only did Ed Carpenter win the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, he is the hometown son. Carpenter, the stepson of Tony George, completed his rookie orientation in 2004 and has spent the last several years, proving he deserved to be the IZOD IndyCar Series. There is no questioning his credentials now. -
Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole
Ed Carpenter is on the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.
The native of Marshall, Ill., earned the No. 1 spot for the May 26 race with a strong run in the Fast Nine competition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday. He is the first American driver on the pole since 2006. -
TRACKSIDE: Rain still a pain for Wabash Valley racing organizers
Soggy weather conditions, which have rightfully drawn the ire of Wabash Valley race fans and crews in recent days, continue to plague promoters where it hurts the most — their pocketbooks.
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TRACKSIDE: Tough to rise from sprint-car racing, especially in challenging financial times
Open-wheel sprint-car racing, whether it be at the national or local level, has earned a reputation over the years of generating its share of thrills and excitement for its fans and a valuable training ground for drivers seeking to hone their skills that someday might elevate them to the “major leagues” of their sport.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rose baseball wins another thriller
Rose-Hulman earned its third victory in its last at-bat in the last five days with a 6-5 win over Franklin in Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball Tuesday night at Art Nehf Field.
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East gets jump at SUMAR Classic
In his relatively brief but successful racing career, young Bobby East has at times unfairly been labeled as a driver who could master the pavement ovals but one who was still a work in progress on the dirt.
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Hurtubise, Sumar races on Action Track slate this weekend
Championship racing is scheduled this weekend at the Terre Haute Action Track with U.S. Auto Club features set for today and Saturday.
One USAC championship will be decided and the spread in the other division could widen or tighten up as a result of the races.
The Jim Hurtubise Classic for sprint cars is today. Only 26 points separate three drivers in the point totals. -
TRACKSIDE: Chase Stockon hopes momentum stays with him in Terre Haute
Momentum, an element that can be as elusive to a race driver as that perfect setup, can spell the difference in winning or running at the rear of the pack.
It’s a force difficult to achieve and maybe even harder to maintain. One learns quickly to make the most of the opportunity when it comes his way.
It’s something Chase Stockon will carry with him coming into today’s Jim Hurtubise Classic at the Terre Haute Action Track.
Only days following the biggest victory of his young and promising career, the $10,000-to-win USAC feature at Lawrenceburg, Stockon followed that up with another rich payday this past weekend at Tri-State Speedway. -
IndyCar celebrates return to Pocono
IndyCar driver Ed Carpenter had the chance to take a drive around Pocono Raceway, and promptly handed the car keys to racing great Mario Andretti.
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METRO ROUNDUP: Rain forces postponement of Jim Hurtubise Classic
Rain and the chance of inclement weather forced postponement of the Jim Hurtubise Classic scheduled for Saturday evening at the Terre Haute Action Track.
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METRO ROUNDUP: USAC points leader Levi Jones out for season
Levi Jones, the five-time and reigning United States Auto Club (USAC) National Sprint Car champion, will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday to repair two herniated discs in his neck. While a full recovery is expected, the 12-week rehabilitation period will not allow for Jones to finish out the 2012 season, where he has competed in the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car and TRAXXAS Silver Crown divisions for Tony Stewart Racing (TSR).
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TRACKSIDE: Stockon takes giant step forward in USAC
One of the more impressive and welcomed storylines of the recently completed Indiana Sprint Week was the emergence of area driver Chase Stockon on the national sprint car scene.
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JJ joins hero Mears among four-time winners of Brickyard
Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Jimmie Johnson is a master at the Brickyard.
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Hamlin wins Brickyard 400 pole position
Denny Hamlin captured his first ever pole for the Curtiss Shaver 400 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.
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Keselowski gives Penske first stock-car win at IMS
Brad Keselowski made history Saturday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as he took the checkered flag at the inaugural Indy 250 NASCAR Nationwide race.
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Bordais, Popow take checkered flag after downpour
While it never rained a drop during the month of May at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Super Weekend at the Brickyard certainly saw its share Friday as both the inaugural Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the Rolex Sports Car Series met with the wet stuff.
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TRACKSIDE: Indiana Sprint Week rises above heat, rain, poor economy
The 25th annual version of Indiana Sprint Week is now officially in the record books and the latest chapter will go down as one of the most successful in recent years.
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Red-hot Hunter-Reay goes for fourth straight at Edmonton
Ryan Hunter-Reay goes for his fourth straight victory Sunday in IZOD IndyCar Series action in Canada.
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Clayton wins at Don Smith Classic
They call Daron Clayton, “The Modern Day Cowboy.”
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The King of Speed
Born in Terre Haute, Roger Curtis grew up on Franklin Street, moved to Riley with his family when he was in sixth grade and attended Thornton Elementary School and Honey Creek Junior High before graduating from Terre Haute South High School in 1985.
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Jones occupies driver’s seat: Six-time THAT winner leads Sprint Week series
When you think of USAC’s Indiana Sprint Week, thoughts of Levi Jones shouldn’t be far behind.
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TRACKSIDE: Late models may have no long-term future in Indiana
Reflecting on what was billed as the biggest week of the summer for dirt-track stock-car racing … while preparing to shift gears for the busiest week of the year for non-wing sprint-car racing in the Wabash Valley.
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Kenny Wallace realizes Action Track dream
Kenny Wallace won the UMP modified feature, leading flag-to-flag for the victory on Thursday night at the Terre Haute Action Track.
Wallace, a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver from 1990-2008, couldn’t have more thrilled to become part of a racing revival at the venerable dirt oval. -
TRACKSIDE: Summer heat has made this ‘The Hell Tour’
It is fittingly billed as “The Hell Tour” for many of the Midwest’s leading late model stock car drivers and their crews.
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Franchitti mired in post-Indy 500 slump
Dario Franchitti hopes to get back on track in IndyCar Series action Sunday in Canada.
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TRACKSIDE: Retired driver LaJoie spreads the word of safety
In his roles as past driving champion and television analyst, Randy LaJoie has rightfully earned the reputation as a major contributor to the sport of auto racing.
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Trackside: Stanbrough on track at midseason
When veteran driver Jon Stanbrough ushered in a new season in Florida back in February, he found himself facing a pair of unfamiliar challenges.
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Atchison, Virgilio win weekend races at Crossroads Dragway
Troy Atchison and Tony Virgilio won feature races in weekend racing at Crossroads Dragway.
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TRACKSIDE: Clauson bucks the IndyCar trend
On the surface, the distance from the dirt oval at Lincoln Park Speedway to the massive, paved Indianapolis Motor Speedway may appear only a few miles apart.
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Stewart Racing driver hangs on in final laps
Tony Stewart Racing’s Levi Jones passed Robert Ballou with 11 laps to go and held off a charging Jon Stanbrough to take the Hoosier Tire Midwest Sprint Car Series’ 25-lap feature Tuesday at the Terre Haute Action Track.
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