500 Facts About the Indy 500-- Part 27: Rookies and Women

137.  IF YOU COUNT THE FIRST RACE, EIGHT ROOKIES HAVE WON THE INDY 500.

1911--  Ray Harroun
1913--  Jules Goux
1914--  Renee Thomas
1926--  Frank Lockhart
1927--  George Souders
1966--  Graham Hill
2000--  Juan PabloMontoya
2001--  Helio Castroneves

(Of course, we now know that rookie Alexander Rossi won the 100th Running this past May.)

138.  JANET GUTHRIE WAS THE FIRST WOMAN TO QUALIFY FOR THE 500.  She qualified for the '77 race with a speed of 188.403.

139.  SHE WAS ALSO THE FIRST WOMAN TO QUALIFY FOR THE DAYTONA 500.  Later, Danica Patrick also accomplished this, and to date the only two women to qualify for both.

140.  GUTHRIE FINISHED 9TH IN 1978.  That was the highest finish for a woman at the 500 until 2005.

Speed, Give Me Speed.  --RoadFlash