?EXTRA? The Fast and The Furious

I was watching the first installment of TFATF the other day and I noticed something I hadn't in previous viewings of the movie. In light of the newest installment coming out, FX is continually airing the movie that started the series.One common theme I saw in this first movie, and the latest one that came out, was a strong female character, that also was a driver like the men. In the second and third movies, there were strong female characters, but none of them drove. It just makes me wonder why they did away with that type of character in the 2nd and 3rd movie and brought it back in the 4th? Was it to get a larger audience, or was it because this character is integral to be brought back to be with another character? We may never know.