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Seven-time Indianapolis 500 starter Lyn St. James hosted a panel discussion on Diversity in Motorsports. Also taking part in the discussion were: Kimberly Miller, Media Relations Coordinator for the Indy Racing League; Lowe’s Motor Speedway President and General Manager H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler; Dr. Jaques Dallaire of Human Performance International; and Indy Racing League and Championship Auto Racing Teams team owner Derrick Walker, who fields IRL cars for Sarah Fisher. The topic was creating opportunities for female drivers.
LYN ST. JAMES: “Opportunities do not happen enough for drivers from diverse backgrounds, but I think the ability is there to change that…We need to build a funding pool to fund females racing from grassroots racing, all the way to the top of the sport. We need to find the talent, support the talent and nurture the talent.”
DERRICK WALKER: “We were looking for a young, talented driver that would get cheaply. We knew we had a little budget. The name of Sarah Fisher came up by accident, but it was really Sarah that tipped me over to hiring her. I had heard about her driving, but when I met her, I could see the focus in her eyes. From that point on, it became a different approach to us going racing. We had to put together a diversity package, and we had to decide how to sell it and who to sell it to.”
HUMPY WHEELER: “When you go to talk to a sponsor, the sponsor is interested in winning. That sponsor is looking for experience. That sponsor is looking for someone who can run at the front of the pack.”
LYN ST. JAMES: “Opportunities do not happen enough for drivers from diverse backgrounds, but I think the ability is there to change that…We need to build a funding pool to fund females racing from grassroots racing, all the way to the top of the sport. We need to find the talent, support the talent and nurture the talent.”
DERRICK WALKER: “We were looking for a young, talented driver that would get cheaply. We knew we had a little budget. The name of Sarah Fisher came up by accident, but it was really Sarah that tipped me over to hiring her. I had heard about her driving, but when I met her, I could see the focus in her eyes. From that point on, it became a different approach to us going racing. We had to put together a diversity package, and we had to decide how to sell it and who to sell it to.”
HUMPY WHEELER: “When you go to talk to a sponsor, the sponsor is interested in winning. That sponsor is looking for experience. That sponsor is looking for someone who can run at the front of the pack.”
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