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Fisher and St James make history

After becoming the first two women ever to start in the same Indianapolis 500, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher set another ladies first - the first time in Indianapolis 500 history two women have taken each other out of the race in the same crash

The accident between 19-year-old rookie Fisher and 53-year-old St. James on lap 74 happened when another rookie, Jaques Lazier, made a move under Fisher going into turn one and forced Fisher up the track, where she collided with St. James.

St. James smacked the wall at the exit of turn one. A second later, Fisher hit the concrete in the short chute with a glancing blow. Neither driver was hurt, but both cars were too badly damaged to continue. Fisher was credited with a 31st-place finish, one spot ahead of St. James.

As St. James radioed to her crew that she was OK, the 19-year-old Fisher was tearfully apologizing to her team on the radio.

"I'm so sorry," Fisher said. "Guys, I'm really sorry."

Fisher's car owner, Derrick Walker, consoled his heartbroken young driver, telling her it wasn't her fault.

"Lyn was going around with a boat anchor tied to her car and Lazier didn't give you enough room," Walker said. A few minutes later, Fisher returned to her garage in Gasoline Alley riding on the back of a motor scooter driven by another team member. She disappeared into her garage for some 10 minutes, then emerged to talk.

When Lazier moved below her, "I was in turn one trying to pass Lyn on the inside," Fisher explained. "Things do not happen very nicely when you try to go three abreast. It was not my fault. I was stuck in the middle. I was a sitting duck in this case."

Fisher was already two laps ahead of St. James at the time of the crash.

St. James said her car wasn't handling well before the accident.

"I was driving with my mirrors a lot," St. James said. "I saw a car coming behind me into turn one. I took a defensive line but wanted to stay out of the loose stuff. Whoever it was, I was surprised they would try to force a pass at that point. I'm extremely disappointed that it happened, but I'm even more disappointed it happened under these circumstances."

Fisher was asked if it was ironic that the two female drivers were involved in the collision.

"I don't think it was ironic at all," Fisher said. "Lyn and I are both race car drivers and that's how we expect to be treated."

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