She is smart, ambitious and has raced in Europe, Canada and the U.S.
At 31, Indy race car driver Pippa Mann says she still has a lot of miles to cover and has no plans of slowing down.
She wears a pink helmet and a pink fire suit, drives a pink car and she’s ranked the fastest woman in history.
Mann says, “You're going 230 miles per hour and you're sideways, so you better be pretty good at your job.”
She is the first female to win a pole position at the Indianapolis 500. Racing is in her soul. She’s trained much of her life just to get there.
“My first one was still the most special because you know it’s your first Indy 500, it has to be the most special,” says Mann.
She knows the power of racing around a track at 230 miles per hour.
“It's a brute. It’s a big car that you have to manhandle around. It doesn't have any power steering and you know you just need to be really strong with it. And at a place like this, you also really have to have a lot of finesse.”
Mann began her racing career at 13 in Europe. She gradually climbed the ranks.
In 2011 Mann qualified for the Indy 500 and became the first British female to make it into the 500-mile race.
Part of her rise to this level included the Indy Lights Series.
“Which is the equivalent of college football to the NFL and I am actually one of two female race winners ever in that series,” says Mann.
Female race drivers are scarce and respect for them is even scarcer.
“But that didn't stop me from doing it. It was kind of the other way around. Anyone who did show you any respect, stood out like a sore thumb so that's one of reasons I really enjoy racing in the U.S.,” says Mann.
She says guys in America acknowledge her skill on the track. But it was something inside that helped propel her across the finish line.
“Chasing your dream --it’s always tough. It's never easy and just be determined and don’t give up, don't let anyone tell you, you can’t do it.”
She also surrounds herself with a supportive team.
And Mann is now with Dale Coyne Racing and has partnered with Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure for breast cancer.
In the beginning,m she admits pink was not her favorite color.
“It didn't signify having hard edges and sharp elbows and those are all things you need in a race car,” says Mann.
But she knows it’s a color of toughness, determination and a color for fighters.
Mann says no matter the road, know where you’re headed and don’t let any roadblocks stop you.
Mann says, “You have to be really, really determined.”
She says the biggest challenge she has experienced is going out and raising money to continue racing. She says she will continue to race, as long as she has the help of sponsors.
from 69News:Home http://ift.tt/1BugQuv
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