The Indianapolis 500 Mile Race has seen nine different women compete as drivers, but an initiative announced today at Indianapolis Motor Speedway would see participation expanded in 2016 to the first all-female team focused on drawing women into all areas of the sport.

Grace Autosport is the brainchild of Beth Paretta, former marketing director for SRT Motorsports/Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. She has formed a core group that includes driver Katherine Legge, a two-time Indianapolis 500 starter, aerodynamicist Catherine Crawford, motorsports engineer Lauren Elkins, junior design engineer Jessica Rowe and motorsports public relations veteran Barbara Burns.

“This is a very visible campaign for women’s empowerment,” said Paretta. “Motor racing is one of the few sports where men and women can compete side by side and win.”

The initial plan, Paretta said, is to have the team ready to race in the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 in May 2016. Longer-term goals include a full-season entry in the Verizon IndyCar Series and eventual expansion into other forms of motorsports.

“We will work hard to compete at the highest level,” Paretta said, “and our goal is that, by the end of the decade, a woman's face will grace the Borg-Warner Trophy (for winning the ‘500’).”

Just as important, Legge added, is developing a path for young women interested in any area of motorsports – driving, engineering, mechanics, management and more. Legge has been a proponent of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education as a spokeswoman for the Girl Scouts of the USA.

“What we're trying to do is make it a positive thing, get rid of the stigma of being a woman in motorsport and make it something that everybody is very proud of,” Legge said. “It's going to be very successful. So I'm very much looking forward to the challenge to seeing it from the beginning, from an idea, kind of turn out and bloom into something very special.”

Paretta said a sponsor is lined up and will be announced at a later date. She expects the team to pair with a current Verizon IndyCar Series team for next year’s Indianapolis 500 before eventually becoming its own entity.

An interested observer to the announcement was Lyn St. James, a nine-time Indianapolis 500 starter and 1992 “500” Rookie of the Year. St. James founded the nonprofit Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation in 1994 to promote the professional development of young women in racing.

“The time is right,” St. James said. “I was trying to do things like this back in the ‘90s, but it didn’t stick or land right. … They (Grace Autosport) are creating the identity and the image – living examples of females involved in the Indianapolis 500 across the board. This story will go far and wide because it’s centered on the Indianapolis 500.”

Indianapolis Colts take in action at the Speedway

David Thornton, Indianapolis Colts director of player engagement, escorted the team’s 2015 rookie class for a tour of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. First-round draft pick Phillip Dorsett waved the green flag to start the "Fast Friday" practice session.

“This is exciting. What an honor to have an invitation to come out to the track just to give these guys a glimpse of what the true Indy culture is all about," said Thornton, a former linebacker with the team.

Added Dorsett, from the University of Miami: “The (cars) were flying. I’m not that fast. It definitely is cool. I always wanted to be the guy who goes out and touch the community, touch anyone I can. I’m happy I can do it in Indianapolis. It’s different from Miami. It’s definitely a place I like and enjoy.”

New trophy for Louis Schwitzer Award unveiled

The 49th winner of the award will be announced May 16. The winner's name(s) are added to the trophy that is on permanent display at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The $10,000 award is sponsored by BorgWarner and presented to the winning engineer(s) by the Indiana Section of SAE International.

Steve Holman, chairman of the Louis Schwitzer Award committee, unveiled a new trophy at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The award memorializes Louis Schwitzer, an automotive pioneer, engineer and professional race car driver. Schwitzer won the first auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1909 and designed the "Marmon Yellow Jacket" engine that powered the Marmon Wasp to victory at the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911.

After working in the automotive industry for many years, he founded Schwitzer Corporation, which produced innovative cooling fans, water pumps and turbochargers. Schwitzer Corporation joined BorgWarner in 1999. Throughout his career, Louis enjoyed numerous technological accomplishments, supported higher education, led the IMS technical committee and maintained a strong association with SAE.