By Steve Keating

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters] – While the Indianapolis 500 was once a land of opportunity, there won’t be any women racers on the Brickyard’s starting grid on Sunday.

Janet Guthrie was the pioneer woman who started the Indy 500 race in 1977. However, progress has been slow and not as fast as it used to be when it came to “Greatest Spectacles in Racing”.

IndyCar seemed to have embraced diversity in 2010 and 2011. In 2011, there were four women scattered across 33 fields.

Danica Patrick was the only female winner of an IndyCar race. She has become the sport’s most recognisable, marketable, and a cross-over star that appeals beyond the track.

This has meant that there have been no significant advances. Since 1999, the 2020 Indy 500 had been the first race without at least one female driver. This year will be the second consecutive shutout.

Patrick returns to Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a television commentator.

Sarah Fisher will be there on Sunday, behind the wheel in the pace car, to celebrate being the first woman winner of an IndyCar Pole.

Graham Rahal, who was married to Courtney Force and a drag racing veteran, said that there should be more women involved in the sport. “We must create more opportunities for sponsors to find and help us.”

Although there won’t be any female drivers on Indy 500, there will still be some women at IndyCar tracks.

Tatiana Calderon is a Colombian test driver for Alfa Romeo Formula One. Swiss Simona Del Silvestro is back at Paretta Autosport. This all-woman team will be competing in three events.

Carpenter told Reuters that they know their plans and have goals. He is a former Indy 500 pole sitter, who will be fourth Sunday.

“I believe it must be done in the right manner. Simply putting together a statement to state that a male has started the race, it doesn’t necessarily make sense.

“We will see what the Future holds.”

Della Penna Motorsports Next Gen Foundation sees carting as the starting point for sport.

Two advisory councils were established by the foundation to help it achieve its goal of empowering girls aged 5-16 years. This creates a talent pool that offers opportunities for motorsport careers on- and off-track.

Michelle Della Penna, founder of the organization, told Reuters that it is “definitely grassroots.” It is our goal to encourage girls into motorsport early on and show them the many possibilities that it offers.

Women are as fascinating to see as men, so I believe we’ll start seeing a change if they have access to sponsorship and advertising dollars.