Danica Patrick
Danica Patrick
Danica Sue Patrickis an American professional stock car racing driver, model, and advertising spokeswoman. She is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing—her win in the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the only women's victory in an IndyCar Series race and her third place in the 2009 Indianapolis 500 the highest finish there ever by a woman. She competed in the series from 2005 to 2011. In 2012, she competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and occasionally...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRace Car Driver
Date of Birth25 March 1982
CityBeloit, WI
CountryUnited States of America
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.
There is so much history here, just like the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. It's one of those races that everybody knows about and I couldn't pass up the chance to get the experience.
The mistake I really learned from was in 2005, leading the Indianapolis 500. I had a decision whether or not to save enough fuel to finish the race - which meant slowing down - or going all-out for the win. I went conservative and saved enough fuel to go to the end but finished fourth.
You know, sometimes the little victories that I have throughout the season are not necessarily obvious on the track. Maybe they're another aspect of what I'm doing, winning little victories here and there to get everything in line to be able to perform from top to bottom on race day.
The first Indy was definitely the one I remember. It's my favorite race I've ever done. It's the most memorable race I've ever done, for sure. Even more than when I won. I just remember everything about it.
I've been fortunate Daytona is a place I've run better than anywhere else, and that's a big race. Maybe it has to do with attention and pressure and the drive to do well when a lot of people are watching.
Any kind of track that people come back to time and time again means it's pretty good. I have to imagine it's going to be a lot of fun racing on the road course and the oval at the same time. Just the prestige of this race is enough. I'm looking forward to it.
My husband said it best. He told me, ?Just because you're a race car driver doesn't mean you're supposed to die.' I think that's the truth of it.
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.
We weren't super strong this weekend, but we kept getting better and faster.
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.
To win. I'm not going to fault anyone for asking the question because I'm asking it, too.
That was a horrible accident, an engine there, a wheel there, a cockpit there.
I thought I heard 'green. My earpieces weren't completely clear all day. What I thought was a 'green' wasn't. I don't blame myself. I'm not mad at myself for it. I mean if somebody else is sitting in fourth trying to go for a win, you thought you heard 'green,' you'd probably go, too. I was being proactive. ... I apologize for anything, any kind of repercussions that happened from that.