Danica Patrick takes Indy Japan 300 for Historic Female Win

[TheGeneral]

http://www.indycar.com/

Danica Patrick won the japan indy 300 at or around 11PM central time.



Danica Patrick makes IndyCar history by winning Japan 300

By Shuji Kajiyama (AP)
Published: 2008-04-20
Location: MOTEGI, Japan

Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history Sunday, taking the Indy Japan 300 after the top contenders were forced to pit for fuel in the final laps.

Patrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval after leader Scott Dixon pitted with five laps left and Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan came in a lap later.

"It's a long time coming. Finally," Patrick said. "It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me. 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."

The 26-year-old Patrick won in her 50th career IndyCar start, taking the lead from Castroneves on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race.

"I think 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 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 spot to pit for fuel.

"We led for a lot of laps but came up short," Dixon said. "But congratulations to Danica for her first victory."

Patrick, who started from the third row and made her final pit stop on lap 148, stayed close to the leaders throughout the race.

Patrick went from fourth to second place on lap 197 after Wheldon and Kanaan went into the pit on lap 196. She was as low as eighth place on the 189th lap.

"I knew there was a good reason for coming to Japan," Patrick said. "I want to thank my team, the fans and everyone who supported me."

Dixon was third, 10.0559 seconds behind Patrick. Wheldon was fourth, and Kanaan finished fifth.

http://southernledger.com/ap/122265/...ning_Japan_300

[I-Love-Pontiac]

So... is this like the first race she's ever won?

[DuraMax Hammer]

http://www.indycar.com/news/?story_id=11047

It was just a matter of time. And her first win comes when the race is ran on the other side of the planet. This was her 50th career start and won the race by 5.8594 seconds over Helio Castroneves at Twin Ring Motegi. Congrats to her.

[unkillsam]

Did the winning car have enought "torque" for her????

I will never forget her Corvette gaffe.

[goblue]

There's nothing that physical about driving a car. In other words, a woman winning a race against a bunch of men where an engine does all the work and most of its mental is nothing to get excited about.

[Ming]

That's a pretty lame way some of you are choosing looking at it. For female racers this is a proud moment, so give Danica her due. It's not like it threatens me or something, so I see no reason for me to downplay it or make snide remarks.

Besides, I know the Japanese guys were probably loving that - an attractive American woman winning and all. It's a good thing for motorsports, even if I'm not a an IRL fan. (SCCA for me)

[mbukukanyau]

Danica, will pop some pretty kids for someone someday. I am glad she won, otherwise, her carreer would have been pretty lame

[IROCNROL1]

Congratulations to Danica. I'm going to the Iowa Corn Indy 250 (what a name) June 22nd. I'm hoping to trade some driving tips for her autograph.

[TiburonJT]

Originally Posted by goblue

There's nothing that physical about driving a car.

It is physical though. Studies have shown the physical demands on drivers. Here is one study:

The results of the road course testing indicated that these drivers reached levels of physical effort similar to those reached in many traditional team sports such as basketball or baseball. The average oxygen consumption recorded while driving near competitive pace on the road course was up to 13 times that of resting energy consumption levels. This work level is comparable to that reported in persons running an eight-10-minute mile or cycling at 20-22 mph. Likewise, on the speedway course, drivers' heart rates were equivalent to 76 percent of the maximum heart rate, well within the target heart rate range of 70-85 percent for prescribed exercise intensity.

http://www.acsm.org/AM/Template.cfm?...CONTENTID=4285

I think it's great she won a race.

[usa1]

Congrats! Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

Mark

[Greg Burr]

Marking women's milestones is so 30 years ago. This is no different then average Joe winning the race. That mentality is what I call progress.

[Xtreme08]

Originally Posted by unkillsam

Did the winning car have enought "torque" for her????

I will never forget her Corvette gaffe.

"I shifted into 6th and it was like there was nothing there." Haha. I think she should stick to racing cars and not reviewing them. Congrats on her win.

[ByTheLake]

Congrats to Danica. Hope to see more women in racing.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by Greg Burr

Marking women's milestones is so 30 years ago. This is no different then average Joe winning the race. That mentality is what I call progress.

Agreed. Completely agreed.

Ming: Its not snide or rude to come out and say that this is not a big deal. A woman could have won that race years ago - what kept it from happening was simple sexism - nothing more or less. What's snide is chastising those of us that disagree with you. And to imply it has something to do with self-confidence? What it has to do with is what Greg Burr so eloquently put.

Tiburon, its a little different than say, weightlifting. Plenty of women can run an 8 min mile for a very long time. My point is, it doesn't reach the point where a man has an innate competitive advantage - if it did, that would be worth celebrating over.

[THE_SMURF]

Originally Posted by I-Love-Pontiac

So... is this like the first race she's ever won?

Yes it is, as an Indy PRO... and if this was a male driver the fact would be pointed out that a first win at 27 years old is fairly common. It is the media coverage she gets and that she is a model that causes many to believe she to be a "Failure" for not winning every time she goes out. This is probibly the beginning of great things.