May 28, 2001: Elaine Irwin, Boyertown Grad and Supermodel, Drives Pace Car at Indy 500

By Margaret Leidy Harner from her book One Day at a Time: A Social History of Boyertown, PA.

May 28, 2001: Elaine Irwin, internationally-recognized super model and Gilbertsville native has become the first woman to drive the pace car at the Indianapolis 500, driving an Oldsmobile Bravada to start the event. She commented that it was “so much pressure you wouldn’t believe it,” driving at 120 mph!

The Boyertown honor student and varsity letter-winner in track and cross country has graced the cover of dozens of fashion magazines, including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Self, Elite, and Vogue as well as many advertisements and commercials for companies such as Victoria’s Secret and Calvin Klein.

She was also an at-large delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and a firm opponent of the Iraq war: “I have beliefs and convictions that I won’t compromise, for instance, 22-year-old boys losing body parts over an unnecessary war.” She was a strong support of Barak Obama.

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