Danica Sue Patrick (March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin) is an American driver who currently competes in the IndyCar Series where he was named Rookie of the Year in the 2005 season and in May 2006 she published her autobiography, Danica: Crossing the Line. In April 2008 she became the first woman to win an IndyCar race when she won the victory at the Twin Ring Motegi oval in 2008.
Patrick started racing in karting in 1992, where he won several national championships. [2] At age 16 he moved to England to advance her racing career. where he participated in Formula Ford and Formula Vauxhall, coming second in the Formula Ford Festival Britain's best result for a woman.
In 2002 Patrick started racing for Bobby Rahal in the United States, after several races in the Barber Pro Series, in the Formula Atlantic in Rahal Letterman Racing, where he won one pole and scored several podium finishes but failed to gain a race finishing third in the championship.
After the 2004 season in the Barber Pro Series was officially announced that Patrick would participate in the 2005 season of the IndyCar Series. On 29 May 2005, became the fourth woman to participate in the Indianapolis 500, following Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher. After practice one month faster (229.880 mph/369, 95,599,872 km / h) during the morning the first day of qualifying, she made a mistake on his qualifying lap, failing in their attempt to capture the pole position, which Tony Kanaan won.
But Patrick's fourth place was the best ranking for a woman in the Indianapolis 500. He also became the first woman to lead this race. But after committing crucial mistakes, finished the race in fourth place, the same position you started with.
In the race, Patrick's car was damaged in an accident involving three other drivers, having to make an extra stop. When the leaders came to pit on lap 172, Patrick became the first position, the eventual race winner and champion of the 2005 season the forward Dan Wheldon on lap 194 in which it was forced to slow to conserve fuel. He was later advanced by Bryan Herta and Vitor Meira. But Patrick's fourth was the best result obtained by a woman in Indy 500, improving the record of Janet Guthrie who came ninth in 1978.
On 2 July 2005, Patrick got his first pole position racing for Rahal Letterman Racing at Kansas, becoming the second woman to achieve a pole since Sarah Fisher in 2002. On August 13, claimed his second pole at Kentucky Speedway, and later won a third at Chicagoland tying Tomas Scheckter's record for most poles in a season for a rookie. He finished the 2005 season of the IndyCar Series, in 12th place with 325 points, winning the rookie of the year.
Patrick competed in the 2006 season of the Indy Car Series. In the first race of the season at Homestead, was ranked third behind Hélio Castroneves and Sam Hornish Jr.. In the Indianapolis 500, Patrick started the race eighth coming in the same position.
Then came fourth at Nashville and Milwaukee Mile in tying his best race results. In Michigan, his car ran out of gas three laps from the end coming seventeenth. Sears Point in Kentucky and finished eighth.
In his final race at Chicagoland Rahal Letterman Racing, Patrick finished twelfth finishing ninth in the final standings.
In November, the March of Dimes awarded him the athlete of the year for their dedication and success.
On 25 July 2006, Patrick announced she had signed a contract to compete with Andretti Green Racing, replacing Bryan Herta in 2007.
On March 24 in his first race with Andretti Green Racing at Homestead finished fourteenth after hitting the wall on lap 154. Subsequently finished eighth in St. Petersburg, 11th at Motegi and 7th in Kansas.
In the Indianapolis 500, Patrick finished eighth in the race reached second place. Later in Milwaukee, had a bad qualifying but managed to reach the fifth before hitting Dan Wheldon. Patrick managed to stay in the race but due to his car suffered severe shock aerodynamic finishing in eighth place.
Later in Texas led most of the race but failed to win finishing third to less than a second behind the winner Sam Hornish Jr., winning his first podium.
Later in Iowa was involved in multiple collisions finishing thirteenth in the next race at Richmond finished sixth, then finished eleventh in Watkins Glen, and then earned his second podium finishing third in Nashville, then at Mid-Ohio finished fifth.
After retiring he had bad results in Michigan and Kentucky, their lot would improve in Hammond where he finished sixth. In Detroit, Patrick started the race in eleventh position involved in two accidents that could leave unharmed. On the final lap when he was in fifth position, Buddy Rice, Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti were involved in an accident. Patrick was able to avoid a collision with any of them and finished second.
In the last race of the season at Chicagoland Speedway, Patrick was in sixth place seven laps to go but due to an additional pit stop finished eleventh.
In the 2007 season three podiums Patrick finished seventh in the drivers' championship with 424 points to improve its position in the 2006 season.
In the first race of 2008 Patrick came in sixth at Homestead followed by a sixth place in St. Petersburg. On 20 April 2008, Patrick became the first woman to win a race in the IndyCar Series after winning the 300 miles from Japan at Twin Ring Motegi oval. Patrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of Helio Castroneves, who had led the race from the first round and lost the lead on lap 198 of 200.
In one of his interviews, Patrick said: "Finally ... after so long," said Patrick. "It was a race with a strategic use of fuel, but my team did a perfect job. I knew I had the same strategy as Helio and when I stepped forward to lead the race, I could not believe this is fabulous.
Later in Kansas Speedway was forced to retire due to mechanical problems on 25 May during the Indianapolis 500 was withdrawn due to a collision on pit lane with Ryan Briscoe.
Later Patrick finished ninth in Milwaukee and tenth in Texas, both races ended under yellow flag conditions. In Iowa and Richmond finished in sixth place. Patrick finished the 2008 season in sixth position again improved from last season. Patrick is one of the team's reserve driver for the United States of A1 Grand Prix of the season 2008-2009.
In the first 3 races gets abandoned, 4th and 5th respectively, later in the Indianapolis 500 is 3rd (with 35 points) improved the 4th place achieved in 2005.
Later in Milwaukee and Texas finished 5th and 6th respectively, ranking the 5th place in the drivers' championship.
In Toronto, had an excellent run finishing in 6th place, starting from position 18, Patrick finished 5th place in the drivers' championship remains the best result obtained so far.
