Mary Bignotti Mendez is a multi-talented media professional who has been involved with the NTT IndyCar Series for many years. In fact, she comes from Indy car royalty as her dad, George Bignotti, won the “500” seven times as a chief mechanic! Her dad also married Kay Meyer whose father Louis was the first, three-time winner of the Indy 500. These days you’ll find her in the media/press room writing stories about the series on her laptop, or in the pit and paddock area running her RPM Tours business. With that, she gives VIP tours to team sponsors and others that really want to learn about what makes this sport tick from the inside. We sat down with Mary at the 2023 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach where she gives us her background, some cool and interesting stories, and also gives some advice to young women looking to get involved in the sport. Enjoy!
NOTE: This is the first in a series of “Women in Motorsports” podcast interviews. September is the month that Fast Lane Racing School will highlight the diversity of roles that women play in the motorsports industry.
By Larry Mason
Copyright © 2023 Larry Mason
Mary Mendez is a true media professional that has diversified her portfolio filling multiple roles in this fast-paced and exciting sport. Whether she’s in the paddock or in the press room (shown here), you can count on her friendly and engaging smile to break the ice in what can typically be a very hectic weekend schedule at the track.
You can find Mary in the media center working hard, yet thoroughly enjoying her work. That smile is always a welcome sight and sharing moments with her to talk racing is always something to look forward to.
From L-R: Mary, George Bignotti and Louis Meyer.–photo courtesy of Mary Mendez
Mary uses a microphone and portable speaker for larger groups during her RPM Tours presentations. The Miami-Homestead pit lane is the backdrop in this photo.–photo courtesy of Mary Mendez
Mary is surrounded by VIPs in the Fontana pit lane where she’s happy to answer questions about just about anything going on in the NTT IndyCar Series.–photo courtesy of Mary Mendez
Mary is hard at work here giving a VIP tour inside the Fontana garage explaining the intricacies of Oriol Servia’s Indy car.–photo courtesy of Mary Mendez
Mary is performing timing and scoring duties at the 1990 Indianapolis 500 for the Doug Shierson Racing Team that ran Scott Goodyear and Arie Luyendyk. Sitting next to her is Arie’s wife Mieke. They are both enthralled with the action – a race that Luyendyk would go on to win that day!–photo courtesy of Mary Mendez
Interview and photos Copyright © by Larry Mason (unless otherwise noted)