MOTEGI, Japan (April 19) — Danica Patrick never doubted a woman could win a
race. It finally happened Sunday.
Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history on
Sunday, winning the Indy Japan 300 in her 50th career start.
"I'm glad it finally happened," said Patrick. "But I would be
lying if I told you I didn't think it would be me."
Win No. 1 was a long time coming for 26-year-old Patrick, who
finished a career-best seventh in the season standings last year
when her best finish was second in the race at Detroit's Belle
Isle.
Patrick's first IndyCar race was in 2005 at Homestead-Miami.
Patrick said the nicest thing about Sunday's win is that she no
longer has to answer those annoying questions about when she'd win.
"I've been asked so many times when and if I can win my first
race and finally, no more of those questions."
Danica Patrick waits to qualify for the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Saturday, April 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Orlin Wagner, AP
LEXINGTON, OH - JULY 18: Danica Patrick drives the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series The Honda 200 on July 18, 2008 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images)
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IndyCar driver Danica Patrick drives her Motorola Honda through a turn Friday, July 18, 2008 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, during practice for this weekend's Honda Indy 200. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar
AP
IndyCar driver Danica Patrick walks through the paddock to pit road for practice Friday, July 18, 2008 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, for this weekend's Honda Indy 200. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar
AP
Danica Patrick speaks at a press conference Friday, July 18, 2008 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, prior to practice for Sunday's Honda Indy 200. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar
AP
Forest Whitaker, right, and Danica Patrick present the best upset award at the ESPYs Awards on Wednesday July 16, 2008 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
AP
Indy car racer Danica Patrick arrives at the ESPYs Awards on Wednesday July 16, 2008 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
AP
Indy car racer Danica Patrick arrives at the ESPYs Awards on Wednesday July 16, 2008 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
AP
IRL race car driver Danica Patrick arrives on the red carpet at the 2008 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, California July 16, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
IRL race car driver Danica Patrick arrives on the red carpet at the 2008 ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, California July 16, 2008. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok (UNITED STATES)
Reuters
At the 2005 Indy 500, she nearly won the pole and became the
first female driver to lead the race en route to a fourth-place
finish. It was the best finish by a woman at Indy, and helped her
take rookie of the year honors.
She won Sunday's race with a combination of cool composure and
fuel strategy, taking the lead from pole-sitter Helio Castroneves
on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race.
"When I had to talk into my radio after the race, all I could
say was 'thank you,"' said Patrick, who finished 5.8594 seconds
ahead of Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval.
Patrick praised her Andretti Green Racing teammates for helping
her make the right decisions in Sunday's race.
"It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly
for me," said Patrick. "I knew I was on the same strategy as
Helio and when I passed him for the lead, I couldn't believe it.
This is fabulous."
Patrick, who started from the third row and made her final pit
stop on lap 148, stayed close to the leaders throughout the race
and realized she had a chance when the top contenders headed to the
pits late in the race.
Patrick went from fourth to second place on lap 197 after Dan
Wheldon and Tony Kanaan went into the pit on lap 196. She was as
low as eighth place on the 189th lap.
"I knew from the start of the last fuel load that I was going
to have a chance," said Patrick. "I was saving fuel from the
first lap but it wasn't until I passed Helio that I knew I was
going to win."
Melanie Troxel becomes the first female driver to qualify No. 1 in NHRA Funny Car history during an incredible final qualifying session. Troxel topped 325 mph in her ProCare Rx Dodge Charger to accomplish the feat.
Auto Imagery Inc., AP
Troxel, pictured here at an ESPN event in 2006, isn't the only talented female driver making her presence felt in the racing world. Click through to see some of the other women known for their prowess on the track.
M. Phillips, WireImage.com
Chrissy Wallace is well known for being a member of the Wallace Racing Family, but the 20-year-old also made her own mark with a promising debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series last March.
Mark Humphrey, AP
Ashley Force, another driver who has made NHRA history before, follows in the great drag racing legacy of her father, 14-time NHRA Funny Car division champion John Force.
Jose Carlos Fajardo, Contra Costa Times/MCT
Former IndyCar Rookie of the Year winner Danica Patrick has made a big impact on her circuit, winning the Indy Japan 300 in her 50th career start.
Thomas Concordia, WireImage.com
Indy Racing League's Milka Duno holds the record of highest finish for a female driver in the 24 Hours of Daytona (a second-place finish in 2007), despite not beginning her racing career until the age of 24.
Gustavo Caballero, Getty Images
Sarah Fisher competes in the IndyCar Series and is best known for being the youngest women to ever compete in the Indianapolis 500. She also became the first woman to win a pole for a major-league open-wheel race at Kentucky Speedway in 2002.
Gavin Lawrence, Getty Images
Hillary Will is an accomplished racer in the Top Fuel Dragster category. In a qualifying run last February, the 27-year-old became the fastest female driver in the history of NHRA drag racing with a lap of 334.65 mph down the
quarter-mile.
Mark J. Rebilas, US Presswire
Angelle Sampey is an American Pro Stock Motorcycle racer who has won the NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle championship three times (2000-2002). Since her debut in 1996, she has earned over 40 event victories.
Mark J. Rebilas, US Presswire
Erin Crocker ran a select number of ARCA Series events in 2007, and clinched the Hoosier Tire Superspeedway Challenge Championship last October, becoming the first female driver in the 55-year history of the ARCA RE/MAX Series to earn the prestigious award.
Mark J. Rebilas, US Presswire
Scott Dixon took the lead from Castroneves on the 93rd lap in
the race pushed back to Sunday because of wet track conditions
Saturday, but gave up the top spot to pit for fuel on lap 194.
Patrick said the emotions came out on the victory lap.
"When it actually happened, maybe it was a little
anticlimactic," said Patrick, who shed a tear in the victory lane.
"Then the emotions came out and that was a little girly of me."
Patrick received a warm welcome from her family near the
winner's podium.
"There was a lot of "I love you,' and 'congratulations,' said
Patrick. "My dad said it was the best day of his life."
Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, was
ecstatic with Patrick's historical win.
"Danica is such a fantastic person and I'm thrilled for her
that the monkey is finally off of her back," said Michael
Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing. "We have all believed
in her and she proved today that she is a winner. Frankly, I think
this is the first of many."
Dixon was third, 10.0559 seconds behind Patrick. Wheldon was
fourth, and Kanaan finished fifth.
Castroneves, awarded the pole position after qualifying was
rained out Friday, said Patrick ran a great race.
"With five laps to go, I was saving fuel," Castroneves said.
"When Danica passed me, I realized she was the leader. She did a
great job, passed me fair and square and that shows you how
competitive our series is."
In this photo provided by the USGA, a black bear runs across the 13th fairway during the second round of the 2008 U.S. Senior Open Championship at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Friday, August 1, 2008. (John Mummert, USGA/AP)
John Mummert, USGA/AP
Australia's Sophie Edington balances a water bottle on her forehead during a training session in the Olympic Aquatic Center at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Tuesday, August 4, 2008. (David J. Phillip,AP)
David J. Phillip, AP
Flames rise around Chrissy Wallace's car after a crash in turn one the ARCA RE/MAX Series Pennsylvania 200 auto race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008. After the fire burned out, Wallace restarted her car and drove to the garage. (Russ Hamilton, AP)
Russ Hamilton, AP
Mike Mason competes in the Moto X Freestyle Final during X Games 14 on August 2, 2008 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. (Jonathan Moore, Getty Images)
Jonathan Moore, Getty Images
Houston Astros' Hunter Pence (9) and Mark Loretta, center, score to tie up the game as New York Mets catcher Ramon Castro (11) loses the ball in the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 2, 2008, in Houston. The Astros went on to win 5-4 in 10 innings. (Pat Sullivan, AP)
Pat Sullivan, AP
Ideye Brown (R) of FC Neuchatel Xamax fights for the ball with FC Aarau's Frederic Page (C) and goalkeeper Ivan Benito during their Super League soccer match in Neuchatel August 2, 2008. (Stefan Wermuth, Reuters)
Stefan Wermuth, Reuters
A diver practices at the National Aquatics Center ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 3, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Jamie Squire, Getty Images)
Jamie Squire, Getty Images
Carl Edwards, driver of the #99 Office Depot Ford, celebrates with a back flip after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500 at the Pocono Raceway on August 3, 2008 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Jim McIsaac, Getty Images)
Jim McIsaac, Getty Images
U.S. Olympic basketball team center Dwight Howard makes a slam dunk during a match against Lithuania in Macau, Friday, Aug. 1, 2008. (Kin Cheung, AP)
Kin Cheung, AP
Green Bay Packers safety Atari Bigby rides a small borrowed bicycle a block from Lambeau Field to Clark Hinkle Field for training camp in Green Bay, Wisconsin August 1, 2008. (Allen Fredrickson, Reuters)
Allen Fredrickson, Reuters
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