Written by Silvia Cojocaru, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
Women have played an influential role throughout the history of motor racing. Many have taken to the wheels of motorsport machines, while numerous figures have worked tirelessly on the sidelines in various roles, shaping the racing world to the present day. Woman Spotlight Wednesday aims to take a look at the tales of these superwomen, who have surpassed various hurdles to reach where they are today.
From IndyCar to NASCAR, and from driver to team owner and businesswoman, Sarah Fisher has been sure to leave her mark in the motorsport community. Her lengthy list of achievements is nothing but impressive, and her determination and adaptability will continue to influence young women all around the world.
Born on October 4, 1980 in Columbus, Ohio, Fisher was raised into a family with a deep racing background as her grandparents owned a go-kart track in Richwood and her father, a mechanical engineer, often took part in go-kart events.
Despite trying multiple sports throughout her childhood, watching her father compete made it clear for Sarah that motorsport was the path she wanted to follow. Her parents supported this decision, and by the age of five, she started entering go-kart competitions.
She quickly joined the World Karting Association and ended up winning the Grand National Championship four times, in 1991, 1993 and 1994 before switching to endurance karting. The following year, her father bought her a sprint car, and as she entered more races, she was taught more about the technical aspects of racing cars.
Sarah’s efforts garnered the attention of Dale Pelfrey, the owner of an Indy Racing League team, Team Pelfrey, in 1999. She ended up signing with Pelfrey and went on to become the youngest racer to take part in an Indy Racing League Event, when she made her debut for the team at the Texas Motor Speedway.
Sarah Fisher continued to claim records when, in 2000, after signing with Walker Racing, she became the third and youngest woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500, being just 19 at the time.
Unfortunately, she was caught up in an accident after a restart of the race, and was forced to retire on lap 66. The media was quick to link Sarah’s poor result to her gender, but she proved everyone wrong now being the only woman to take part in the Indy 500 nine times, and also the fastest woman to ever qualify for the race.
She continued her second season by also becoming the youngest woman to achieve a podium and the youngest woman to lead a lap in the Indy Racing League event.
The following season, Sarah achieved her highest result in the series, finishing second at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. She even received a high-profile call-up t to drive a McLaren F1 car during free practice at the United States Grand Prix.
As a part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, Sarah raced throughout the entire 2005 West Series season, which landed her a deal with Bill McAnally Racing for 2006. This led to her turning down the 2005 Indianapolis 500, as she wanted to become more familiar with the new type of heavier cars she would drive that year.
Her first NASCAR season brought a highest qualifying position of third, multiple top-ten finishes and a final championship standing of 12th.
Fisher also led the first laps for a woman in a NASCAR West Series event at the Evergreen Speedway, being named NASCAR West Series Rookie of the Year. When her first NASCAR season ended, Fisher returned to Indycar with Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.
In 2007, Sarah married Andy O’Gara, a front left-tyre changer for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing, after the two of them had previously worked and befriended each other on the pit wall.
The following year, Fisher and O’Gara also came together to establish their own team, Sarah Fisher Racing, with Sarah serving as a part-time driver. Despite facing financial difficulties, Fisher continued to race, receiving financial support to enter several oval races, including her eighth Indianapolis 500 in 2009.
It was there where she received the Scott Brayton Award presented to the driver who best exemplifies "The character and racing spirit of the late driver Scott Brayton".
Fisher announced her retirement from racing in November 2010, looking to channel her energy on running the team instead. Only a year later, she was appointed to the National Women's Business Council, an advisory panel to the President of the United States and Congress on women's business issues.
Almost five years after her retirement, Sarah entered the Chili Bowl, a midget car race on dirt. In 2015, Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing merged with Ed Carpenter Racing, and their newly formed CFH Racing team had Josef Newgarden claim two wins that year.
Sarah also delved into other business matters apart from helping her racing team. She was part of a group who helped reopen the Whiteland Raceway Park in Indiana in 2018.
Since 2016 she also made several appearances as a pace car driver in Indycar, the most recent one being in 2022 as an honorary pace car driver. Currently, besides being an entrepreneur, she is a mother of two, her son and daughter, as they are starting their own motorsport careers.
Sarah Fisher is an example for everyone, as her hard work and determination helped to open many doors for young women in motorsport. Despite her undeniable influence, she told IndyStar's Nathan Brown:
“I cringe at the idea of taking credit for other girls getting into racing. Having had to work really hard to get to where I’m at, I don’t want to take credit for all the hard work they had to put in.”
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