Danica Sue Patrick (born March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin) is an American race car driver. She disputes since 2005 the league American IndyCar Series cars. It came in 2008 in motorsport history by becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar race, which is also among the first major championship cars. Previously, in 2005 she became the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500.
Danica Patrick began his sporting career in 1992 in karting. After several successful national, she leaves for England in 1998, where she began her automotive career in itself. She noted in 2000, finishing 2nd in the prestigious Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. Danica
then returns to the United States where former driver Bobby Rahal, converted into a stable manager, took her under his wing. After playing the championship Barber Dodge Pro Series in 2002, she spent in the 2003 Formula Atlantic Championship, Champ Car's antechamber. Within the team of Bobby Rahal and David Letterman, Danica starts this year as evidenced by his fine performance on the track, but also by a series of photos for a magazine that men contribute to its reputation nascent. Also in Formula Atlantic in 2004, she finished third in the championship, but without a victory on the odometer.
In 2005, the career of Danica Patrick goes into high gear when it joined the IndyCar championship, again on behalf of the team Rahal-Letterman. After a quiet start to the season, Danica made her speak at the first free practice for the Indianapolis 500 in early May. As one of the fastest on the track, she quickly became the major attraction of the public and media, including mainstream media. It offers to its stable and as the whole discipline unexpected media exposure. This is known as the United States of Danica-mania. Qualified in fourth place on the grid (the best performance of a woman driver at Indianapolis), Danica did not disappoint during the race, since, despite some mistakes, she finished in fourth place overall, having achieved the feat of leading the test (a historic first for a female driver in Indy 500) to a few laps. Following the test, it is logically voted Best Newcomer of the Year (Rookie of the Year), and continues to make headlines Publications America's most prestigious national (including Sports Illustrated), totally eclipsing Dan Wheldon, the winner of the race. Reversal of the notoriety, his performances have been criticized: the driver Robby Gordon and accuses him of being favored by the technical regulation of the IRL in which the cars are weighed without the driver. Danica would thus benefit from the advantage of being lighter than its main competitors.
The championship continues so bright for Danica, who took pole-position test in Texas in July (another woman Sarah Fisher, had already made such a performance) and multiply the strokes of brilliance, but without ever reaching to take hold. She finally finished the championship in 12th place overall, which makes her the best newcomer of the year.
In 2006, still within the team Rahal Letterman in the championship IndyCar, Danica Patrick knows a difficult start to the season, marked by the fatal crash of teammate Paul Dana at the opening round of Miami, and by the weak performance Panoz chassis. Eagerly awaited at the Indianapolis 500 One year after she had revealed she does not sign a disappointing 8th place, without ever having been in the rhythm of the best. After the race, his team decided to abandon the Panoz chassis to Dallara chassis, which results in performance on the rise. But despite this progress, Danica Patrick announced in late July 2006 he left for Andretti-Green Racing after the 2007 season.
In 2007, Danica Patrick realizes his best season in IndyCar where she earned three podium finishes including a second place at Detroit, which is then his career best. As in 2007, she finished eighth in the Indy 500. In 2008, finally comes the crowning with his victory at the Indy Japan 300 Twin Ring Motegi on. Danica Patrick becomes the first woman in history to win an IndyCar race, and the first woman to win a race a major championship in singles. Before her, other women had already imposed singles (including Desiré Wilson in 1980 in an Aurora F1 race, and Katherine Legge in 2005 in Formula Atlantic), but in the championships considered of lesser importance.
Unfortunately, when the next race Kansas, Danica drops on worries mechanical, she finished 19th. It remains 5th in the IndyCar championship in 2008.
Controversies
Before his victory in Japan, Danica was regarded by some as the Anna Kournikova of motor racing, a sport that is doing more talking about her for her good looks than his sporting results.
addition to the remark about his low weight at an advantage compared to male runners, she had to face comments more vulgar than technical. Thus the British Formula 1 driver Jenson Button said in FHM magazine: "A girl who has a strong chest will never be comfortable in a car. And its mechanics could not concentrate. Imagine, how would they tighten their belts? . Similarly, his opponent Ed Carpenter dropped in July 2006: "Danica is very aggressive in our cars, especially if taken at the right time of the month." It will catch up shortly after ensuring he would not disrespect him.
- Danica Patrick was greeted several times on the set of Spike TV.
- June 6, 2005. it appears on the cover of Sports Illustrated. This is the first time since Al Unser in 1987 a pilot car shall be entitled to this honor.
- After his first participation in the Indianapolis 500, Playboy magazine asked him to pose in its pages. She declines the offer but agreed to answer a questionnaire from the magazine.
- She appears in a video clip where she Jay'z drives a Pagani Zonda Roadster.
- She appears in an episode of the cartoon Celebrity Deathmatch, where she faces Anna Kournikova .
- Patrick is represented by Endeavor Talent Agency.
