The world of racing is completly changing, and Lyn St. James couldn’t be more thrilled.

The first woman to enter a car race was in 1903, and it would take 74 years for a woman to appear on the Indy track. Fifteen years later, St. James became the second woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500. After 107 years, an astonishing four women will compete Sunday in this year’s race.

Sunday marks the 94th Indy 500, yet the century-old race will have some new faces on the field. Of the women competing in this year’s race, veteran Danica Patrick, is the only one with significant Indy 500 experience. Fellow American Sarah Fisher and Switzerland’s Simona de Silvestro are on the lineup as well. Ana Beatriz of Brazil clocked an average time of 224.243 mph and will be the front runner of the women.

St. James has been in the racing community since her start in 1973. She didn’t assume an Indy career was part of her future, but she’s always enjoyed driving, and not only driving, but driving incredibly fast.

Minor adjustments to her 1972 blue Ford Pinto — a roll bar, five-point seatbelt and fire extinguisher — allowed St. James to enter amateur car races. 

After turning pro, Ford Motors got wind of St. James’ performance and offered her a one-year sponsorship contract.

Eleven years later, with the Ford logo stamped on her back, St. James proudly accepted the Rookie of the Year award where she was also the oldest, at 45, and first woman to get the award.

Being a female in a male dominated sport has undeniable challenges.

“Yes, [Indy] is considered a male-dominant sport, but the car doesn’t know the difference,” St. James said.

St. James said being a driver requires more than turning left.

“You literally become one with the car. You’re processing the information [about] grip, what you’re feeling about RPM’s,” St. James said.

She said the thought process while driving is about taking space. A driver’s automatic response is to take the space of the car in front of them until there are no cars left.

“The best way to describe what it’s like to drive a race car is if you get on an exercise bike with a warm-up suit on, and you get your heart rate up to 85 percent of your max, [and] you hold two 10-pound weights out in front of you. You have a helmet on and you get your legs pumping. And then you sit there, no iPod, no music,” St. James said.

She said you’re basically concentrating and making decisions, processing information and the whole time you have the weights out there with nothing to rest your elbows on and you’re constantly turning left and you have someone with a [hammer] just beating over you the whole time because that’s the amount of vibration you’re absorbing in the car.

St. James had her last Indy 500 run in 1992, but still stays connected to the racing world. In 1994 she started the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation, whose mission includes creating an environment for women to grow in the motorsports fields.

The Complete Driver Academy offers young drivers a means to show their potential and develop skills required to succeed at racing. Patrick and Fisher both attended the exclusive academy, where St. James said both girls showed great promise in their driving.

While at Carb Day Friday, St. James spoke with Iowa State’s sports communications class. Carb Day is an event, traditionally held the Friday before the race. Drivers often take apart and rebuild their cars, making them better able to handle the demanding speeds and distance.

Carb Day is the first time drivers get on the track, after qualifying the previous weekend. Practice lasts a mere one hour, and is the last and only run before race time Sunday.

Although the excitement of Indy is undeniable, the drivers and fans alike have one common question: Who will take home the first place trophy?

St. James made her predictions.

“You know, I would have to bank on Helio [Castroneves]. There might be a surprise, though. I don’t know who that surprise will come from, but I still think it will be Helio,” St. James said.