INDIANAPOLIS -- Despite campaigns to increase female presence on the racetrack, some industry authorities still believe it may be several years before NASCAR will see a woman compete in the sport's premier Cup Series.

Lack of funding, but more so the lack of grass-root support, continues to be an obstacle for aspiring female NASCAR drivers, according to Lyn St. James, racecar driver and pioneer for women in motorsports who on Thursday hosted an awareness luncheon at Indianapolis Motor Speedway honoring 40 female drivers looking to rise in their respective fields.

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When asked why NASCAR, the country's most popular form of motorsports, has yet to produce a competitive female, St. James pointed the finger to the smaller series teams in the industry who are failing to lay the foundation and provide the level of experience necessary for female drivers to become attractive to high-level NASCAR Cup teams.

"They're not getting the best equipment or with the best programs and they need funding behind them," said St. James, 1992 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year.

To combat the problem, St. James at the luncheon unveiled Project Podium, a program geared to provide grants on a match-fund basis to female drivers who look to succeed in the highly competitive motorsports industry.

As part of the Women in the Winner's Circle Foundation, the program will rely on sponsors like NASCAR, USAC and the Indy Racing League for support, in addition to corporate contributions.

"I think the top is interested in having [females in NASCAR] happen but not necessarily making it happen," St. James said. "I'm not sure there's a strategy in place, other than the Drive for Diversity program, but that's a pretty small niche for a big issue like this one. They need to have enough experience at a grass-root level first."

By creating a pool of money and scholarships to place behind talented female drivers through Project Podium, St. James hopes team owners in series such as ARCA RE/MAX and Late Models will take notice.

As a member on NASCAR Diversity Council, St. James said she will continue to be a voice and champion rights for female drivers in the sport.

"Today's racing world is more encouraging for female drivers than when we first held this event in 2003," she said. "More and more women are receiving opportunities to prove themselves on the track. And increasingly women are rising to higher levels of racing and earning their place on the podium."

Driver Alli Owens races Late Models in NASCAR's Whelen All American Series and hopes to land a full-time ARCA ride next season. She was encouraged by the large turnout of NASCAR brass and industry leaders at the luncheon, an event aimed at creating awareness for women in her situation.

The 18-year-old is also starting a grass-roots level, all-female race team with the help of her friend and competitor Chrissy Wallace, daughter of Busch Series driver Mike Wallace.

"We just need help. We have the ability but I know more and more people are starting to pay attention to female drivers," she said.

A powerful influence taking notice is NASCAR president Mike Helton, who used the luncheon as an opportunity to scout out and familiarize himself with several of the young women looking to be the first, truly competitive females in the Cup Series.

"Events like this help us figure out what we might need to do to adjust our ongoing efforts, because many female athletes want to be a player in our sport and it reminds us of our responsibility to make that happen," Helton said. "Seeing a female in Victory Lane is something NASCAR looks forward to."

Evernham Motorsports ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Erin Crocker, who has competed in the Busch and Truck series, wants to be the first to find her way to the Cup Series.

While she acknowledges the added struggles that females face in motorsports, competition is really the problem. She said for every 10 women failing to make it in NASCAR's elite series, 100 men fail right alongside of them. Every weekend, NASCAR is sending drivers home because the sport is so competitive.

"That's why you see more women in the Indy Racing League -- the IRL doesn't have a full field," she said. "But you just have to keep fighting. If you really want it, you're the only person that can make a change. No one is just going to hand it to you."

After competing in NASCAR last season and not achieving the results she had anticipated, Crocker is taking a step back and rebuilding in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and now posting positive results.

This is something Owens is taking note of because she said too many times female drivers are rushed by marketers to become the next "big thing" and aren't given enough time to develop their skills.

NASCAR Busch Series team co-owner Doug Stringer of Braun Racing is taking his time with driver Gabriele DiCarlo, 22, of Phoenix who is competing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series this season. He said it will be at least another year before she moves to a Busch Series ride.

When she does, Stringer said it will bring a much-needed level of versatility to the sport.

"You need that to attract new sponsors and fans," he said. "We need a broader talent pool and there are plenty of women out there."

St. James said she has reconciled with the fact that it is going take a lot longer than she thought it would before NASCAR fields a competitive female at the Cup level.

"We may have to go back another generation and look at the girls that are 13 and 14 years old right now," she said. "We may have to wait for another generation. It takes time, and unfortunately the years go by."