African American Indy 500 Drivers?

Question

With drivers competing from all over the globe, why are there no African American Indy 500 Drivers? Are there any logical or illogical reasons?

Answer 1

the same reason no white rappers are taken serious

Answer 2

see, heres the problem with this question.

s*x or race doesnt matter.

look at the person as a driver NOT as a female driver or not as an african american driver or as a male driver...

Answer 3

The only logical reason I can think of is that they (like the women) are up against the "Good Old Boys' Club" mentality.

Answer 4

As a person of mixed race-including African-American-I feel qualified to answer this question.

The reasons are many. Lack of interest. Money-racing is HUGELY expensive. Geography-many African-Americans don't live near a racing cirucuit.

Those are a few reasons.

Answer 5

good questin. wish i ha a good answer. well, at least we got lewis hamilton! he won monaco gp today!

Answer 6

Not totally answering your question, but the last african american IRL driver was George Mack, a backmarker, in 02.  I'm sure if a good driver comes along, he will be given a chance to prove himself!

Answer 7

Maybe they don't want to this time around. It does not mean to say there won't be any in the futher.

Answer 8

car stereo isn't big enough

Answer 9

Funny thing is during the same day that the 500 was run, a black driver did win, the other most famous race in the world. The Grand Prix of Monaco was one by Lewis Hamilton. This is a race in F1, the highest level a driver can reach.  

      There has been some. George mack was racing a few years back, he just didn't have a great enough team behind him. The first was Willy T. Ribbs  in 1989.

     The main reason is there are not that many black families that are involved in the go carting scene, that many of the American drivers get their experience in.

      There really are not that many black drivers coming up, plus there is a negative image of race car fans all being racist rednecks.

Answer 10

I have no answer, but yours is indeed a good question.

How many African Americans are in NASCAR?

Answer 11

It comes down to money. Also, I hate being stereotypical, but Black racers have traditionally gone the drag racing route.

There was one driver some years back, Willy t Ribbs, that was a really good driver but only won in the IMSA series. He did drive at Indy but not with much success.

There are some black drivers in the lower series of NASCAR that haven't been able to get the sponsorship or experience.