LYN ST JAMES
Birthplace: Willoughby, Ohio
Residence: Phoenix, Arizona
Daughter: Lindsay Lessman
Education: Graduate of Andrews School for Girls in Ohio and majored in business
Earned a piano-teaching certificate - the St. Louis Institute of Music
Debut in Racing: 1973 Amateur Sports Car Club of America
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First Indy Race: 1992 Indianapolis 500
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Indy Racing Career Achievements:
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1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of The Year (first woman to win)
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Seven Indianapolis 500 starts in nine years, including six consecutive starts (1992 - 1997)
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Highest qualifying: sixth - 1994 Indy 500; Finish – eleventh, 1992
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Set world record on closed-course for women reaching 225.722 mph during the 1995 Indy 500 qualification weekend
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Oldest Driver in the field (53) of the 2000 Indy 500
Raced in 15 Indy races including CART Championship and Indy Racing League. Scored 2 Top-10 qualifying spots; 1 Top-10 Finish
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National & International Racing Career Highlights:
Held 31 international and national closed circuit speed records over a 20-year period.
Raced twice (`89, `91) in the Biggest Endurance race in the World; The 24 Hours of Le Mans (France)
Two wins in The 24 Hours of Daytona (winning GTO Team Driver in `87 & `90).
Raced (9 times) in the famous 12 Hours of Sebring Endurance race (winning GTO Team driver in `90).
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Lyn St. James Profile:
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Raced in 53 SCCA Trans-Am races with 7 Top-5 finishes and raced in 62 IMSA GT races with 6 wins and 17 Top-5 and 37 Top-10 finishes.
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Only woman to win an IMSA GT race driving solo (85 Watkins Glen)
Raced in the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit Revival & Festival Meetings in England in 2001, 2005, 2006, and 2007.
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Life & Business Achievements:
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Invited to the White House to meet with Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and William Clinton.
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Sports Illustrated for Women Top-100 Women Athletes of the Century
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Consumer Adviser for Ford Motor Company between 1981 and 1996.
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Working Woman Magazinemone of The 350 Women who changed the world between 1976-1996
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2010 Automotive News One of theTop 100 Women in the Automotive Industry
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2010 NASCAR Industry Ambassador Award
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2009 SEMA Businesswomens Network Athena Award
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2008 Automotive Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award
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2006 Northwood University Distinguished Woman of the Year
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2002 Office Depot Visionary Sportswoman of the Year
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2001 Guiding Woman in Sports Award from the National Association for Girls & Women in Sports
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Inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame
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Guest appearances on The David Letterman Show (CBS), The Today Show (NBC), Good Morning America (ABC), Bob Vila Show, CNN, Lifetime, Oxygen, PBS, TNN, FOX, Speedvision.
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Sports Commentator for ESPN / ESPN2, Indy Car Racing Analyst for ABC, Pit Reporter for ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, Sports Video for ESPN, Showtime (nominated for Ace award).
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Founder, Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation, a 501c3 organization for the education, training, and advancement of women in automotive fields.
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Featured in most recognized womens publications including: More, Working Woman, Cosmopolitan, Allure, Elle, Shape, Living Fit, Glamour, Women's Sport & Fitness, Entrepreneurial Woman, Lears, Harper's Bazaar, as well in: Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated for Kids, People, Time, Life, USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post, New York Post, L.A. Times and numerous other national & international publications.
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Presentations to & Endorsements with top American corporations, sporting authorities and business associations including: Ford Motor Co., JC Penney, Lifetime Television for Women, Merrill Lynch, Yellow Freight Corporation, Northern Telecom, U.S. Olympic Committee, American Institute of Banking, GTE, Walt Disney World, NIKE, NAFE, HSBC, etc.
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President of the Womens Sports Foundation (1990-93).
Active on the following Boards: Kettering University Board of Trustees, founding board member of Human Performance International, OÕvarComing Together Ovarian Cancer Advisory Board, Indiana Fever Advisory Board, the Indianapolis Woman Magazine Board of Advisors, NASCARs Diversity Council and Race Commission, Vice Chair of Indiana GovernorÕs Council on Physical Fitness & Sport, founding board member of the Indiana Motorsports Association.
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Lyn St. James and the New Millennium:
Actively promoting the 501c3 foundation; Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation to provide training and educational opportunities for women in the motorsports and automotive industries as well as celebrate their achievements.
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Launched Project Podium, an endowed scholarship fund.
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Created a traveling exhibit on women in racing in partnership with The Henry Ford Museum. It debuted in January 2009 and is scheduled to tour venues such as the Arizona Science Center, Indiana State Museum, The Womens Museum through 2014.
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Published May 2005: "Oh By The Way, A letter from my mother" with a second issue "Only This Morning YouÕre All Grown Up" published by Sourcebooks in 2006.
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Released May 2002: "Ride of Your Life- A Race Car Drivers Journey", published by Hyperion.
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Released August 2010: "Lyn St. James: An Incredible Journey", published by LSJ Press.
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Host of Accelerate, a syndicated internet based informational automotive series targeted to female consumers.
