Patrick Becomes First Woman to Win Indy Race
Motor sport: Danica Patrick became the first female winner in Indy Car history after taking the Indy Japan 300
Danica Patrick became the first female winner in Indy Car history, taking the lead on the 198th lap of the 200 lap Indy Japan 300 after the top contenders were forced to pit for fuel in the final laps.
"It's a long time coming. Finally," the 26-year old 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."
Patrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of 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.
"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 Patrick's team 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."
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 on lap 197 after Wheldon and Kanaan went into the pits 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.
Castroneves, awarded pole position after qualifying was rained out Friday, said Patrick ran a great race.
"With five laps to go, I was saving fuel," Castroneves said. "When Danica passed me, I realized she was the leader. She did a great job, passed me fair and square and that shows you how competitive our series is."
Patrick finished a career-best seventh in the season standings last year, and was second in the race at Detroit's Belle Isle. At the 2005 Indy 500, she nearly took pole and became the first female driver to lead the race en route to a fourth-place finish. It was the best finish by a woman at Indy, and helped her take rookie of the year honors.
"It's a long time coming. Finally," the 26-year old 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."
Patrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of 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.
"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 Patrick's team 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."
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 on lap 197 after Wheldon and Kanaan went into the pits 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.
Castroneves, awarded pole position after qualifying was rained out Friday, said Patrick ran a great race.
"With five laps to go, I was saving fuel," Castroneves said. "When Danica passed me, I realized she was the leader. She did a great job, passed me fair and square and that shows you how competitive our series is."
Patrick finished a career-best seventh in the season standings last year, and was second in the race at Detroit's Belle Isle. At the 2005 Indy 500, she nearly took pole and became the first female driver to lead the race en route to a fourth-place finish. It was the best finish by a woman at Indy, and helped her take rookie of the year honors.
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