Anime involving aliens racing?
This sounds like Oban Star Racers.

Here are a few quotes comfirming that from Wikipedia:

Unable to tell her father who she really is, she lands a job as a mechanic in his team under the name &quot;Molly&quot;
Haunted by the death of her mother — a famous star-racer — and the harsh &quot;reunion&quot; with her father, Molly is determined to win so she can be with her parents once again.

And here's the opening sequence:
http://youtu.be/TIKQBNlwhHA