Driver, pioneer

The first woman to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year (1992), St. James built on the work of inductees Janet Guthrie, Denise McCluggage and others to open doors for women at the highest levels of American racing. St. James won numerous sports car events, including IMSA GTO victories at Sebring (1990 — 6^th OA) and the Rolex 24 at DAYTONA (1987 — 7^th OA, 1990 — 5^th OA). Her best GTP finish was 3^rd at Watkins Glen (1984) with Howdy Holmes. She also competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. St. James made 16 Indy car starts (1992-2000), with a career-best 8^th at Walt Disney World (1996). She qualified 6^th for the 1994 Indy 500 (224.154 mph) edging Nigel Mansell. St. James was the first woman to lap an oval at over 200 mph (1985), later upping her women’s closed course speed record to 227.32 mph. One of the foremost female drivers of her era and an inspiration to others, St. James was named one of Sports Illustrated’s Top 100 Women Athletes of the Century.