Hilary Swank stars as Indy 500's first woman racer in upcoming movie on Janet Guthrie
The newspapers called her “Miss Guthrie" and the fact there was a "Miss" in the hunt for a starting spot in the Indianapolis 500 was unbelievable to most. Janet Guthrie faced wide discrimination that included some naysayers questioning her intentions.
An article May 29, 1976, in the Indianapolis Star, referred to Guthrie as “the first woman to ever enter the IMS pits in a driver’s uniform instead of after one.”
There was a lack of confidence by media that a woman could have the skill it took to drive a racecar.
“Easy now, Janet. A.J. Foyt seems to be musing whether the whole idea of letting (Guthrie) drive his car seems to be a good one," the caption on a photograph of Guthrie read in 1976. "Janet allayed his fears, and brought the machine back in one piece.”
More: From sleeping in her car to the Indy 500: How Janet Guthrie changed racing for women
The remarkable story of Guthrie -- and the discrimination she overcame as the first driver who was a woman to earn a starting spot in the Indy 500 -- is coming to Hollywood.
Guthrie will be played by two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank.
“This is an incredible true story about female empowerment and going after your dreams,” Swank told Autoweek.com. “When I was approached with Janet Guthrie’s story, I immediately said yes. I can’t wait to bring her inspiring life to the screen.”
The movie will be titled "Speed Girl" and is based on a Stephan Talty book by the same name.
"'Speed Girl' chronicles the story of how Guthrie triumphed over hostility, chauvinism -- even sabotage -- to become the first woman to finish the Indianapolis 500," the book description reads. "To racing’s good ol’ boys, she’s a threat."
When Guthrie made her bid for Indy in 1976, the other drivers "slammed her mercilessly, even suggesting she was really a man," Talty writes.
"Fans heckling her, hoping she’ll crash," he writes. "Guthrie smiles through the pain and qualifies for Indy in 1978. She finishes in the top ten."
Guthrie's road to the Indy 500 didn't come easy. In her first year, 1976, Guthrie's car had mechanical problems. The night before the first day of qualifying, her team announced Guthrie would have to withdraw.
She came back the next year and not only qualified, but set the fastest time of the day on May 7 and May 22 of 1977. Then in 1978, finished ninth in the race, a record for the highest finish by a woman until 2005 when Danica Patrick placed fourth.
Guthrie did get some push back and there were naysayers in the racing community.
“The press coverage was rather a bell-shaped curve with a little enthusiasm on one end, an enormous amount of skepticism in the middle and a little hostility on the other end," Guthrie, now 84, told IndyStar in 2018. “But, it was mostly skeptical.”
A release date for the movie has not been scheduled.
Follow IndyStar sports reporter Dana Benbow on Twitter: @DanaBenbow. Reach her via email: dbenbow@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hilary Swank stars as Indy 500's first woman racer Janet Guthrie
