Who was the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500?

Janet Guthrie was the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.

Guthrie achieved the milestone in 1977, breaking through a barrier in a sport that had long been dominated by men. She qualified a car entered by Rolla Vollstedt and became the first female driver officially placed in the Indianapolis 500 field.

Her breakthrough followed an unsuccessful attempt to qualify in 1976. Mechanical problems and limited funding made that effort difficult, but she returned the following year and secured her place through qualifying speed. She ultimately completed only part of the 1977 race because of engine trouble.

Guthrie continued competing at Indianapolis, finishing ninth in the 1978 race despite driving with a fractured wrist. She also made history in NASCAR, becoming the first woman to compete in the Daytona 500 in 1977. Lyn St. James, Sarah Fisher, and Danica Patrick all competed at Indy later, but none was the first woman to qualify.