Danica Patrick isn’t just the best looking driver in Indy car racing history, but she’s also a damned-fine driver.
She is currently third in the 2008 IndyCar standings. She has the highest finish ever by a woman in Indy 500 history (4th in ‘05). And she was the 2005 IndyCar Rookie of the year.
But she still hadn’t won an IndyCar race — until yesterday.
Danica made it into the history books by becoming the first female to win an IndyCar race — second-only in heritage to formula one when it comes to open-wheel racing — when she won the rain-delayed Japan 300.
“Boys, move over. The lady is coming through. Danica Patrick wins the Twin Motegi,” the announcer said as she crossed the finish line.
The 26-year-old Wisconsin native took the lead in the final two laps of the 200-lap race as her mother watched and cheered in the stands. Patrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval, after other top contenders were forced to pit for fuel in their final laps.
Patrick risked becoming the Anna Kournikova of the driving world — known more for her looks than her ability to win (Kournikova had a remarkable career in doubles matches, but never won a big singles event).
It’s not like Danica’s downplayed her sexiness in the past…
Great picture below of Danica on the podium — notice how she’s almost the same height as second place winner Helio Castroneves standing on the podium below here. And look at his mocking the size disparity of their trophies:
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Danica jump to NASCAR next year — lots of drivers’ contracts are up next year, and she would be a cash cow for a good team.
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The very first comment at Ace of Spades HQ: “Yeah, but I bet she still can’t parallel park.”
Heh.
Great job, Danica!
She’s quite a girl, and has had racing in her blood since she was little.
She has intimated that she might be making the switch to NASCAR in the not too distant future.
I have always, and still do, wish her well in her chosen profession.
I just happened upon your blog. Austin is a great town – the only place in Texas besides San Antonio that I miss.
She won on a fluke, if you realize the situation?
Women in any sport that isn’t women only is an indication of how poor and untalented the other competitors are in the sport.
People are such wusses in this country they can’t even tell the difference between skills and overrated hype and Danica Patrick is the ultimate in overrated hype.
Motorsports is a mans’ sport. Women don’t take risks, it’s not in their nature to do something individual, or dangerous such as racing.
Anna Kournikova was and is way better looking and way more appealing to men than Danica and here’s why. Anna plays with other women in her sport, Dan-ica (I wish it was a boy) Patrick has a pathological insecurity about being a woman and wishes to emasculate other men instead of being a woman she does something so ridiculous for a woman that she should be ridiculed. Danica is never going to have kids or be married to a strong man because she will always want to wear the pants because she has penis envy. She could never bear a child because she only weighs 100 lbs and I’ll bet she can’t cook or clean house or do other normal chores that characterize a useful women. After this racing delusion is over with just remember all the other women failures in racing: Lyn st. james, sarah fisher; the who? Exactly they don;t even exist if it weren’t for the pussy whipped television idiots!
Amazingly ignorant post, Craig. Racing isn’t like football or basketball where being physically bigger and stronger are massive advantages. Does she have the mental ability and the skill to be a top racer at the highest levels? That remains to be seen, but the vast majority of male racers have failed of being top racers at the highest levels.
Can’t have a baby because she’s 100 pounds???? BILLIONS of 100 pound and under women have had children. If small women couldn’t have kids then Asia would be sparsely populated. Same is true for the rest of the world since pretty much all of humanity was MUCH smaller even just 100 years ago.
She’s cute and marketable imagen if she was ugle big/fat boyish….only remarks shell get is ok she won…next race!!!!