Female engineers play key roles on IndyCar teams

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Auto Racing

Female engineers play key roles on IndyCar teams



Danielle Shepherd, at right with the clear sheet in her hand, in the pit for auto racing driver Alex Palou during the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama auto race on April 18 at Barber Motorsports Park., in Birmingham, Ala. (Walter G Arce Sr/Chip Ganassi Racing)

By Jenna Fryer | AP
July 1, 2021 at 3:26 p.m. EDT

Danielle Shepherd grew up in Ohio a racing fan, cheering wildly for Jimmy Vasser in the 180-degree Keyhole turn at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. It didn’t hit her until she was in college and had ditched her plans to study Spanish and international relations that she realized she might someday work with her favorite driver.

Angela Ashmore tagged along with her father on weekends to Berlin Raceway in Michigan, got hooked on cars and NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt, and set a path to work in racing. She first thought she could be a driver, then her dad honed in on her math and science skills and suggested an engineering career.

Both women now play key roles for the IndyCar program at Chip Ganassi Racing. Same for Kate Gundlach at Arrow McLaren SP and Nicole Rotondo from Honda Performance Development. The four female engineers are all part of a streak in which women were part of winning IndyCar victories the past three races.

Ashmore made her first trip to victory lane alongside Rotondo at Detroit when Marcus Ericsson won his first career IndyCar race. The next day, Pato O’Ward won for AMSP and Gundlach got to celebrate. Then it was Shepherd in victory lane at Road America with Alex Palou, a two-time winner this season and the IndyCar points leader. ... The series races Sunday at Mid-Ohio — Shepherd’s home track — and it is possible another woman will be celebrating a victory again.

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[natheo]

1. hats off

It's very admirable to see women in motorsports.