Amelia Earhart had special role at Indianapolis 500

SPEEDWAY, Ind. (WISH) – Amelia Earhart was the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She was also the first woman to receive an official position in the Indy 500, where she served as the honorary referee in 1935.

In July 2015 a previously unknown film showing aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart shortly before her doomed around-the-world flight attempt has been donated to Purdue University Libraries.

Earhart and her navigator vanished on July 2, 1937, over the Pacific Ocean during their around-the-world flight.