Sexy Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick – ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre LA

2010-07-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

Car owner expects to re-sign Danica Patrick

2009-08-25T08:17:00.000-07:00

SONOMA, Calif. -- Owner Michael Andretti is confident Andretti Green Racing will re-sign Danica Patrick beyond this IndyCar season -- and perhaps soon.
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Andretti said the sides are "close" to an agreement and he gave Patrick a big hug and best wishes moments before the start of Sunday's 75-lap Sonoma Grand Prix at Infineon Raceway, the final road course event of the year. Patrick was part of a multi-car crash in Lap 1 and finished 16th. She couldn't be reached for comment afterward regarding the potential deal with Andretti.

"I think we're getting close," Andretti told The Associated Press in pit row. "She wants to be here. We want her to be here. I've been saying that for a while."

Patrick had to be encouraged that all five AGR drivers qualified top-12 Saturday on the challenging 12-turn, 2.303-mile road course at Infineon. Patrick came into Sunday's race fifth in points at 321. Her season-best finish of third at the Indianapolis 500 was the top ever by a female in the event's history.

The 27-year-old Patrick is in the final year of her three-year IndyCar contract with Andretti Green Racing. She has said she'll wait until the end of the season to solidify her next move. But she hasn't ruled out a switch to NASCAR, a series that would give the glamour girl tremendous earning potential in both salary, sponsorship and marketing opportunities.

She has visited several NASCAR shops in North Carolina, including points leader Tony Stewart's new team.

Andretti said he's been in talks with Patrick's representatives at IMG and hasn't yet spoken directly to Patrick about her future with Andretti Green Racing. He's encouraged that something could be done soon.

"I hope so, it'd be nice," Andretti said. "Nothing's final."

News and Photos Source: The Associated Press

Winning Hasn't Been Easy For Danica Patrick

2009-05-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Source: LA Times
By Jim Peltz
May 23, 2009
Reporting from Indianapolis -- Danica Patrick's ability to market herself is without question. But can she win another race?

Patrick will make her fifth attempt Sunday to win her sport's biggest prize, the Indianapolis 500, the race that rocketed her to stardom when she led and nearly won it in 2005, her rookie year.

Patrick starts 10th in the 33-car field this year in her No. 7 car prepared by Andretti Green Racing.

But getting to the front won't be easy. The 1-2 starters, pole-sitter Helio Castroneves and Ryan Briscoe, drive for powerhouse Team Penske, which has 14 Indy 500 wins.

Castroneves, a two-time Indy 500 winner who won the pole with an average speed of 224.864 mph, also was the fastest driver in Friday's final practice -- so-called "carb day," a throwback term from when teams used the last practice to fine-tune the cars' carburetors for race day. (They use fuel-injection engines now.)

And the IndyCar Series' other leading team, Target Chip Ganassi Racing, has 2007 Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti starting third and defending Indy 500 winner and series champion Scott Dixon starting fifth.

"I have been fortunate enough to be close to winning this race in the past, and I hope this year is no different," Patrick said.

"I'm really excited but on the other hand nervous. There is so much history behind this race, and it's the race that everyone wants to win."

After nearly winning four years ago, "Danica" quickly joined the likes of Kobe (Bryant) and Tiger (Woods) in becoming one of the most popular single-name figures in sports.

With her good looks and media-savvy personality, the Illinois native posed in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue and for other magazines, became a familiar spokeswoman for her sponsors and soon drew the biggest crowds among IndyCar drivers.

Winning, though, has come less easily.

Patrick became the first woman to win a major U.S.-sanctioned open-wheel series race a year ago at Motegi, Japan, when a late-race fuel-mileage gamble paid off.

Otherwise, Patrick has only three top-three finishes -- all in 2007 -- in her other 66 career starts. She finished 22nd in last year's Indy 500 after colliding with Briscoe coming out of the pits.

Patrick was 23rd fastest in the final practice Friday.

Here's the outlook for some other drivers in the race:

Graham Rahal: The son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal became the youngest winner (at 19) of a series race in April 2008, at St. Petersburg, Fla. He started 13th in last year's Indy 500 but hit the wall on lap 37 and finished last.

This year, Rahal, who drives for Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing, has been fast at Indy all May and qualified fourth.

Will Power: The third driver for Team Penske was hired just before the season because of Castroneves' tax-evasion trial and, after Castroneves was acquitted, Power stayed with the car for the Indy 500.

(The Miami jury that acquitted Castroneves failed to agree on one last conspiracy charge, resulting in a mistrial on that count. Federal prosecutors said Friday they dropped that charge.)

Power, 29, qualified ninth and also was second-quickest in Friday's practice.

But Power's strength has been curvy road courses; whether he can win a 200-lap race on Indy's 2.5-mile rectangular layout is debatable.

Paul Tracy: The veteran racer starts 13th for the team KV Racing Technology and hopes to erase the memory of his 2002 finish here.

One lap from the end, Tracy passed Castroneves for the lead, but a crash elsewhere on the track brought out the caution that froze the field. Race officials ruled Tracy hadn't completed the pass before the caution, declaring Castroneves the winner and Tracy second.

Sarah Fisher: The Ohio native, who owns her own team, will start 21st in her eighth start in the 500. Her best finish was 18th in 2007.

Townsend Bell: The San Luis Obispo driver makes his third Indy 500 start in another KV Racing car. He finished a career-best 10th last year.

John Andretti: Making his 10th career start in an Indy 500, Andretti is driving a car entered by seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty that carries the No. 43 and the red and blue colors of Petty's famed stock car. Andretti's best finish at Indy was fifth in 1991.

Danica Patrick hopes new colors are winning combination

2009-05-02T10:28:00.000-07:00

Source: Detroit News

Indianapolis -- Danica Patrick took one quick glance at her nifty, new orange-and-black car Friday and thought back to 2007.

It was that year her ex-teammate, Dario Franchitti, won the Indianapolis 500 in a car bearing the same colors.

No, Patrick doesn't expect a different paint job to give her that coveted Indy win later this month, but she figures it can't hurt, either.

"I think the colors are really sporty and very cool," she said. "It sort of reflects how I am, edgy and fun."

Patrick looked like a different person during the extravagant ceremony held at Indianapolis International airport.

Her familiar intense stare was replaced by smiles and jokes. She seemed to savor the moment crew members pushed her No. 7 car out of a trailer through smoke and onto a temporary checkered floor. Gone was the traditional light blue-and-black scheme, and the sidepod that carried the banner for Boost Mobile, an unlimited cell phone service that is being promoted by Motorola, her primary sponsor the past several years.

But the first woman to win an IndyCar race certainly does not need an overhaul to be competitive.

After winning in Japan last year, she opened this season with finishes of 15th at St. Petersburg, fourth at Long Beach and fifth last weekend at Kansas. She ranks sixth in the points standings heading into the biggest race of the IndyCar season, May 24.

And Indianapolis has always been one of her best tracks.

She burst onto the scene here as a rookie in 2005, becoming the first woman to lead a lap at the historic 2.5-mile oval before finishing fourth. The 27-year-old from Roscoe, Ill., has never qualified worse than 10th at Indy and has three top-10 finishes in four career starts.

This year, she wants more.

"I wouldn't drive for a team unless I thought they were capable of winning," she said. "We do everything to make sure this is the race we win this season, and I see no reason that we can't keep this up."

One reason is that Patrick is more relaxed.

She waved to the television cameras before racing a Boeing 717 plane, then returned to do a burnout right in front of the cameras after beating the plane. Afterward, she apologized for getting people wet from the wet concrete in front of the airplane hangar.

Still, Patrick is likely to be dogged by one consistent question all month: Will she continue driving for Andretti Green Racing next season.

Patrick's three-year deal with AGR expires after this season, fueling speculation that the series could lose its most marketable personality to either NASCAR or Formula One.

If team co-owner Michael Andretti has his way, it won't happen.

Andretti said Friday that he and Patrick have discussed an extension, though no deal is in place.

And Andretti would like to get it completed quickly.

"Yeah, yesterday," he said, when asked if there was a time frame. "Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. I've talked with her directly and she has expressed that she really wants to be here and we want her to be here."

Patrick did not discuss the negotiations Friday.

Instead, she is intent on achieving the biggest win of her career.

"I'm really comfortable and feeling good about the other drivers on our team," she said. "There's a level of comfort and a level of friendship, and I think we've got that this year. I've been having a lot of fun this year. I just keep thinking Dario won a couple of years ago in orange-and-black."

Danica Patrick Photos @ Indy 500 April 5, 2009

2009-04-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

2009 IRL Schedule & Results

2009-04-06T15:31:00.000-07:00

Check out the 2009's IRL Schedule and Results by clicking the link below:

http://sports.yahoo.com/irl/schedule;_ylt=AqawDntmDK1rgxK_vRKWZpzAv7YF

Danica Patrick crashes out of season-opener

2009-04-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Source: Yahoo Sports

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—Danica Patrick’s season got off to a tough start after she crashed out early in the season-opening Honda Grand Prix.

She was running ninth in the 22-car field on Sunday when rookie Raphael Matos tried to pass as the two went into one of the tightest turns on the 1.8-mile, 14-turn temporary street circuit.

Both cars crashed, with Patrick’s Andretti Green Racing entry slamming hard, rear end first into a tire barrier.

As the uninjured drivers walked away, Patrick patted Matos on the helmet as if to say, “Use your head.” The two then waited for a ride back to the pits, with a lively discussion taking place as Matos sat on a wall and Patrick stood in front of him.

Patrick, who has been known to blow up at other drivers in similar circumstances, was calm after she got back to the team’s pit.

“It’s not exactly the ideal spot to pass,” she said. “We were going into the fast chicane there and there’s no room, there’s no room for two people. … I was looking in my mirrors and I saw him. He just wasn’t all the way up next to me.”

Matos, making his IndyCar debut with the Luczo Dragon team, wasn’t ready to take the blame.

“We just had a very unfortunate racing accident,” the Brazilian said. “It shouldn’t have happened. Danica made a big mistake passing a lapped car and I really had a good run on her. I was halfway up on her. I thought she’d give me enough room to pass, but she didn’t.”

Patrick, the only woman in the field, ended her day in 19th and Matos was 20th. Each completed just 31 of 100 laps.

134 Sexy Danica Patrick Photo Collection

2009-03-22T05:18:00.000-07:00

Danica Patrick Visits South Bend

2009-03-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

Source: WSBT

SOUTH BEND --- There's no denying that Danica Patrick lives her life in the fast lane. But the IRL star did slow down long enough to make a pit stop in South Bend on Thursday afternoon, when she met with over 600 employees at Tire Rack in South Bend for the company’s annual employee meeting. Patrick was on hand to thank Tire Rack employees for their efforts in selling Bridgestone and Firestone brand tires.
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"I think it's always nice to meet people that are a part of you as a race car driver, and part of your fan base as well," Patrick says.

Fans of all ages lined up to get a moment with Danica. Autograph lines aren't the only place the racing star meets new fans.

"Every once and a while at a stop light I'll pull up to the line and someone will be looking over at me and you can tell they want to race," Patrick says.

I made the mistake of asking whether or not she partakes in such challenges.

"Oh yeah. It's on! You can't get a speeding ticket for accelerating up to the speed limit too quickly, can you? I don't think so. I mean, if I squeeled the tires maybe, but that's kind of hard to do."

It's hard to do -- unless you're Danica Patrick.

Sexy Racer Danica Patrick Embraces Celebrity Exposure

2009-02-27T18:26:00.000-08:00

Source: Tampa Bay Online

ST. PETERSBURG - The fiery pit bull with the long dark hair – the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500 and the first to win an Indy car race – blew through town today at legal speeds.

And on a media tour to promote the April 3-5 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, she had an admonishment for all of those fans who keep questioning why she accepts celebrity exposure that highlights her gender and accentuates her sexuality.

After all, hasn't she said somewhere along the way she wants to blend in and be treated the same as her male counterparts?

"I guess I want the respect, you know, but I don't think I have ever said I want to be treated just like every guy," Patrick, 26, said in a one-on-one chat at the grand prix offices. "I would challenge you to find where I said that.

"I've always said I know I'm not like every other driver. I know I'm a girl out there. I know I'm unique. I'm different. I get more attention because of those things."

Patrick, indeed, is not like any other driver. She is a female driver in the major leagues, and while there have been others – there are others – she is one who can win. OK, she has won only once. But she is good enough , and has good enough equipment, to win on almost any weekend, including the approaching season opener in St. Petersburg.

Beyond that, though, she is attractive and engaging, daring and, at times, confrontational. Her run-ins with St. Petersburg's Dan Wheldon, the 2005 Indy 500 winner and series champion, have brought mainstream attention to the oft-overlooked Indy Racing League.

Her threatening pit road march toward Ryan Briscoe during last year's Indy 500 after the Australian took her out was such good theater it detracted from Scott Dixon's victory.

"It's probably best I didn't get down there anyway, isn't it?" she said later.

Patrick has posed for FHM (For Him Magazine) and she just appeared in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue for the second consecutive year, sprawled seductively across the hood of a sports car. The main page on her official Web site shows her in a sultry pose, wearing a provocative blue dress.

She was the sultry woman getting ready to street race Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Jay-Z's 2006 music video.

"Show Me What You Got, little mama. Show me what you got, pretty lady."

She makes no apologies for any of her photo shoots and says being invited back by Sports Illustrated was an honor.

"It's part of my personality," she said. "I enjoy being feminine. I enjoy getting made up. I was blown away to get invited the first time, and to have such a response that they wanted me back again was like, oh, my gosh, I never expected that."

Patrick willingly promotes her racing series – a good thing, since she's IndyCar's most popular driver – and she enjoys the sometimes edgy banter that comes with doing radio interviews.

She wasn't too put off Friday when one of her Tampa Bay interviewers wanted to see the tattoo in the small of her back – a hybrid American and checkered flag – and take a photo.

"I'm like, I don't think so," Patrick said.

Much to the chagrin of tattoo lovers, the tattoo was airbrushed out in the Sports Illustrated shoot.

Patrick also downplayed talk of her moving to the Formula One world circuit to drive for the new USF1 American team, saying she hasn't heard form the team's principals.

Talk of her moving to NASCAR has died down, but with this being the third year of her three-year contract with Andretti Green Racing, it could pick back up, she acknowledged.

"For me, it's not so much about what formula or what team or whatever, but just that I'm doing well,' Patrick said.

"My dream is to win and be successful and to kick butt wherever I go."

Danica Patrick poses for 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition

2009-02-11T21:04:00.000-08:00

Source: EgmCartech

IndyCar driver Danica Patrick has once again gotten rid of racing gear to pose for the Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue.

Patrick’s last year appearance came right before her 2008 Indy Japan 300 victory - her first IndyCar win. She has also earned Rookie of Year for the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series season.

This year 26-year old Patrick returns for the 2009 issue for the magazine showing off her long legs next to a Shelby Cobra replica. Check out the SI Swimsuit 2009.

You can check out a video of the photo shoot after the jump.

Go Daddy Wins a Super Bowl Gamble With Danica Patrick Commercial

2009-02-02T09:13:00.000-08:00

Source: MercuryNews

NEW YORK — The Go Daddy Web site's "enhancement" ad with Danica Patrick was the most-watched commercial in the Super Bowl.

TiVo Inc. made that determination by combining the number of people who watched the ad live and went back to see it again on their digital video recorder.

Placing the ad in the game's final few minutes was a huge gamble that paid off for Go Daddy Group Inc. If it had been a lousy game, much of the audience would have drifted away, but the gripping finish between Pittsburgh and Arizona kept fans watching.

Todd Juenger, general manager of TiVo's research department, says eight of the 10 most-watched ads came in the second half.

Danica Patrick Hot Random Pictures

2009-01-29T15:42:00.000-08:00

Patrick gets new partner in Michael Andretti

2009-01-29T15:24:00.000-08:00

Source: LDNews

INDIANAPOLIS—Danica Patrick has a new partner on her race team, Michael Andretti.

As in Michael Andretti, strategist.

Patrick's team, which is co-owned by Andretti, announced the move Monday. The decision allows Kyle Moyer, who made the calls for Patrick's No. 7 car last season, to fill the same role for Andretti's son, Marco.

The 26-year-old driver has emerged as one of the biggest draws on the Indy Racing League circuit, especially after her historic win in Japan last April.

But after reaching Victory Lane, Patrick's season unraveled.

She was knocked out of the Indianapolis 500 in a pit road crash with Ryan Briscoe, then stomped through the pits to confront Briscoe before she was led over the wall by track officials.

She also was involved in a confrontation with driver Milka Duno at Mid-Ohio and crashed in Edmonton when Marco Andretti locked up his brakes. After Japan, Patrick didn't finish better than fifth.

So she's hoping the change to Andretti will produce more consistent results in 2009.

"Michael has been a great resource for me since I came to Andretti Green and having him in my pit box is going to be good," she said in a statement. "He has been very hands-on with all four of our cars in the past and it will be great having him calling races for me."

It also means two of the series biggest names will be working together on race day.

Andretti, son of former Indy winner Mario Andretti, was a
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longtime favorite in IndyCars. He won 42 races during his driving career and led more laps at Indianapolis than any other non-winner.

Patrick is one of the most familiar names in this generation of IndyCar drivers.

The Illinois native made headlines in 2005 when she became the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500, finished fourth in the race and was the series' rookie of the year.

Expectations have soared for Patrick, and her performances have steadily improved. She went from 12th in points as a rookie to ninth in 2006, seventh in '07 and sixth last season.

She left Bobby Rahal's team after the 2006 season, opting instead to run with Andretti.

And now she can use Andretti's experience and knowledge to her advantage, too, even though it will be a new endeavor for the former driver.

"As a driver and as an owner, I've seen a million different scenarios unfold during a race and I'm sure I'll see a few more this year," he said. "But, as a strategist, you just have to try to anticipate what is going to happen and be a little bit smarter than everybody you're racing against. This will be a new challenge for sure."

The team's two other strategy-driver combinations remain unchanged.

Tony Kanaan will continue getting his calls from George Klotz, while co-owner Kim Green works again with Hideki Mutoh.

Andretti Green Racing has been one of the series' best teams, winning three points titles and two Indianapolis 500s in the past six seasons.

Danica Patrick pays $196 to settle speeding ticket

2009-01-06T04:09:00.000-08:00

Source: Yahoo News

Patrick jokes around before the IndyCar Series' PEAK Indy 300 …

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Danica Patrick paid a $196 fine to settle a speeding ticket after the star race car driver was caught going 54 mph in a 35 mph zone last month. Patrick, the first woman to win an IndyCar race, was due in traffic court Monday, but a Scottsdale City Court clerk says she paid the fine Wednesday.

The 26-year-old driver was pulled over by Scottsdale police Dec. 9 in her hometown while driving a 2007 Mercedes. A year ago, she was ticketed for driving 57 mph in a 40 mph zone in Scottsdale and was ordered to attend traffic school.

Scottsdale court records show the recent tickets are among several she has received in the past three years.

A call to Patrick's racing team wasn't immediately returned.

Danica Patrick Got a Speeding Ticket

2009-01-01T07:04:00.000-08:00

Source: UPI

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Police in Arizona said Indy Car racer Danica Patrick was pulled over for the activity she usually gets paid for -- speeding.

Scottsdale police said Patrick is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 5 after she was pulled over Dec. 9 in a gold 2007 Mercedes for driving 54 mph in a 35 mph zone, The Arizona Republic reported Wednesday.

The driver was previously cited for speeding in Scottsdale Jan. 5, when police said she was driving 57 mph in a 40 mph zone.

Patrick's win earlier this year at the Indy Japan 300 certified her as the first woman to win an Indy Car race. She was named Rookie of the Year in 2005 by the Indy Racing League.

Danica Patrick at Baby Mama Premiere Photos

2009-01-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

Danica Patrick at 2008 ESPY Awards

2008-12-29T23:49:00.001-08:00

Indy speedway cuts staff, closes the hotel

2008-12-29T22:43:00.000-08:00

Source: Pahrumpvalleytimes
Date: December 24, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Add the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to the list of sports institutions hit by the recession.

Speedway officials have completed their budget review and some positions have already been eliminated, though spokesman Fred Nation did not provide a figure. Speedway officials have also implemented a hiring freeze and acknowledge more jobs could be lost next year if the economy continues to fizzle.

``There could be more restructuring, depending on the economy,'' Nation told The Associated Press on Friday.

This week, the speedway began making changes as it closed its 45-year-old hotel, the Brickyard Crossing Inn, where some drivers used to stay in May and scenes from Paul Newman's movie ``Winning'' were shot. That decision cost 15 full-time employees their jobs.

The Indy Racing League replaced its fuel provider with a Brazilian-based Ethanol company last month. The new company, APEX-Brasil, has agreed to pay an undisclosed sponsorship fee and purchase TV time.

One sign of trouble came on Thursday when race promoters announced that the IRL's Detroit Grand Prix in September was canceled, in part because of the economic crisis. They hope to put the race back on the schedule in 2010.

Plus, after a strong season in which Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an IndyCar race, Graham Rahal became the youngest driver to win a major open-wheel race and the reunification of the former Champ Car and the IRL reinvigorated interest in the series, the number of cars racing next season could drop.

``I expect that it will be down some, it will probably be similar to pre-unification levels,'' Nation said. ``A lot of these deals don't get done until early in the year.''

All of it could make the year more competitive off the track for series and speedway officials.

``We are as challenged, I will assure you, as most other industries,'' said Terry Angstadt, president of the IRL's commercial division. ``When our job, all day, every day, is to make sure our business is well-supported financially, that's part of our responsibility.''

Other concerns include ticket sales.

The speedway has already seen a decline in advance ticket sales for NASCAR's Allstate 400 at Indy and is now offering a discounted rate for tickets purchased by Dec. 26. Nation attributes the decline, partly, to the tire problems that turned last year's race into a series of 10- to 12-lap shootouts.

Tickets for the Indianapolis 500, the track's signature race, have been selling at a better pace, Nation said.

``We depend on discretionary spending,'' he said. ``We're not immune from some of the pressure that has been seen in NASCAR, the NFL and all kinds of other sports.''

It's not entirely bad news for IndyCar racing.

Nation said some sponsors looking for better value from their money have started taking another look at the IRL. No deals have yet been announced.

``There has been interest from a number of sponsors, some are from NASCAR and some are from other motorsports,'' Nation said. ``There certainly has been more interest than in other years.''

As for the hotel, the track hopes a new tenant will rebuild the hotel with more modern amenities, something speedway officials deemed too expensive for them to do in these challenging times, which expedited their decision.

IRL Schedule

2008-12-29T22:15:00.000-08:00

Remaining IRL 2007 Schedule

- 6/24 Iowa Speedway - Danica finished 13th - Dario Franchitti - winner.
- 6/30 Richmond International Raceway- Danica finished 6th - Dario Franchitti - winner.
- 7/8 Watkins Glen International - Danica finished 11th - Scott Dixon - winner.
- 7/14 Nashville Superspeedway - Danica finished third - Scott Dixon - winner.
- 7/22 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course - Danica finished 5th - Scott Dixon - winner.
- 8/5 Michigan International Speedway - Danica finished 7th - Tony Kanaan - winner.
- 8/11 Kentucky Speedway - Danica 16th place - Tony Kanaan - winner.
- 8/26 Infineon Raceway - Dancia 6th place - Scott Dixon - winner.
- 9/2 The Raceway at Belle Isle - Danica finished second - Tony Kanaan winner
- 9/9 Chicagoland Speedway - Danica finished 11th - Dario Franchitti winner

IRL 2008 Results

- 3/29/08 GAINSCO Auto Insurance 300, Homestead, Fla. - Danica finished 6th - Scott Dixon - winner.
- 4/6/08 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg - Danica finished 10th - Graham Rahal - winner.
- 4/19/08 Indy Japan 300 - Motegi, Japan - Danica winner. First female winner of an IndyCar race.

Danica Patrick at 2008 ESPY Awards

2008-12-29T22:10:00.001-08:00

Danica Patrick Indy Wallpapers

2008-12-29T21:36:00.000-08:00

Danica Patrick's Sexy Calendar 2008 Edition

2008-12-29T21:27:00.000-08:00

Danica Patrick Sports Illustrated Photos 2008

2008-12-29T20:49:00.000-08:00

Danica Patrick FHM Photos

2008-12-29T20:30:00.000-08:00

Danica Patrick Quotes 10-20

2008-12-04T20:48:00.001-08:00

10. “Hey, I'd take second a few times. That's good, still. I would imagine he shows frustration, too. He would love to win a race, just like all the rest of us.”

11. “It's something different that people haven't seen. It's a story that people are interested in, and the league will do what they think is best for the series.”

12. “We weren't perfect on the gears, but we just used the information that we had and the car was strong. We never know with the wind conditions and the cooler track if you make the right changes. But it was good and we'll get ready for the race.”

13. “There are people all over the place. Kids and adults. Men and women. It's been really cool. Having this whole role model thing happen is definitely something that happened a lot quicker than what I thought. It's really easy because it's not trying. I'm not, like, trying to be a role model. I haven't tried to go out of my way to inspire people. When you're real and you're authentic and you try to give honest answers all the time, then it's easy.”

14. “I didn't really have any. I think that's why I feel so weird or feel so surprised at this inspirational role model. I never had anybody that I was in awe of. I don't know why. My dad had a friend, Stan Fox, who used to race Indy cars. I remember having his picture on the (bedroom) wall because I knew him, not because I felt like he was my role model.”

15. “The Indy 500 was on (TV) every year and my dad used to watch it. I used to watch the start, maybe, then fall asleep. It was too long.”

16. “I have a lot of respect for Sarah and Lyn (St. James). I think we all look at each other as competitors, if we were driving against each other.”

17. “I put more pressure on myself than anyone else ever could, but I probably want this one a little bit more just because it is closer to home. But, because it's getting towards the end of the season and I'm hoping to have a few good races to close out the season, I really want to do well this weekend. I feel like I'm learning more, that I am better prepared for the events as we go along. I really am looking at these next few events as laying the ground work for next season.”

18. “I don't get too caught up in setting records. My entire approach this season has been about learning, gaining experience and getting better. If I tie or set rookie records great, but I am much more concerned about ending this season on a high note. The best note I can think of would be to win one of these final three races.”

19. “Three poles in a season is a great accomplishment for any driver. Since this ties the rookie pole record, you can bet I'll be shooting for my fourth pole.”

20. “But I was glad I heard it from him.”

Danica Patrick Quotes 1-10

2008-12-04T20:10:00.000-08:00

1. “I just didn't want to get left out. I still don't. I'm not a gear head at all.”

2. “It's disappointing. We were running good fuel strategy. It didn't happen for us today. I've had kind of a bad stretch of DNFs here in midseason, some my fault and some not. It's a whole learning process. I think I'm going to work this winter on doing whatever I need to do. It's frustrating to come to these weekends, and feel I'm behind the 8-ball because I don't have the experience with these big cars. Maybe I'll pass up a couple of media days to do it and then the 'media' (stories to tell) will be better.”

3. “Say, you're not so bad. For a girl.”

4. “From a driver's perspective, technology is critical to what we do on and off the track. Technology provides our pit crews and race strategists with the data they need to make split second decisions that can make the difference between winning and losing a race.”

5. “I don't know. I never heard of her.”

6. “We made a lot of progress from practice this morning. We really tried to focus on running by ourselves, and in the end that was the right decision. It feels great to win to win the pole in Chicago in front of all my friends and family. Three poles in a season is a great accomplishment for any driver. I'm proud that I was able to do it in my rookie year. Since this ties the rookie pole record, you can bet I'll be shooting for my fourth pole.”

7. “That was a horrible accident, an engine there, a wheel there, a cockpit there.”

8. “This is not a good sign.”

9. “Yeah, I did what I hoped, what I potentially expected from the year.”

10. “I just want to see everybody before I left for the year, say bye.”

Danica Patrick Biography

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Danica Sue Patrick (born March 25, 1982) is a professional race car driver in the Indy Racing League. She was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA, and was raised in Roscoe, Illinois. Patrick began karting in 1992. She focused primarily on road racing with seasons in Europe, the Toyota Atlantic Championship and finally to the Indy Racing League. In 2004, Patrick finished third in the Toyota Atlantic Championship for Rahal Letterman Racing.

On May 29, 2005, Patrick became only the fourth woman to race in the Indianapolis 500. After posting the fastest practice speed (229.880 MPH on May 15), she made a few errors and missed a chance at the pole position.

Danica became the first female driver to lead the race at Indianapolis when she stayed out one lap longer than her rivals during a set of green-flag pit stops. Patrick overcame two crucial errors to finish fourth in the race, the same position in which she started. Her car stalled in the pits about halfway through the 500-mile race, dropping her to the middle of the field. Shortly after reclaiming a spot in the top 10, Patrick spun under caution and damaged the nose of her car. Her pit crew promptly made repairs, and Patrick managed to lead the race twice more, only to be passed by eventual champion Dan Wheldon with seven laps to go when she was forced to conserve fuel. According to her team, she finished the race with a "teaspoon of fuel" left while the winner, Wheldon, had to be pushed to victory lane after running out of fuel on his victory lap. Patrick's fourth place was the highest ever finish for a female driver besting Janet Guthrie's 27-year-old ninth place finish record. Danica led 19 laps overall.

Patrick also hosts several TV shows on Spike TV.