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Danica Patrick Becomes First Woman to Win IndyCar Race
by
findingDulcinea Staff
The victory places 26-year-old Patrick third in the standings as she heads to the Kansas Speedway for the Road Runner Turbo Indy 300 this weekend.
30-Second Summary
Danica Patrick made history Saturday, winning the Indy Japan 300 and becoming the first female driver to win a major series race on a closed course.
"You know, it's going to be one of those things that's remembered,'' she said after winning the Indy Japan 300. "It's a first and firsts are in the history books.''
However, those unfamiliar with auto racing may know Patrick more for her photo spreads than for her driving skills. She recently posed for the 2008 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
But with her consistent hard work and this weekend’s win, “there should be no more comparisons to tennis' Anna Kournikova, who built a reputation based on glamour but never won a title, despite coming tantalizingly close several times,” states Associated Press writer Steve Herman.
Hanna Rosin argues on Slate’s XX Factor blog that Patrick’s femininity, including posing in magazines, makes her win more remarkable: “What makes it sweeter is, Danica is no tomboy, playing by the men's rules.”
"You know, it's going to be one of those things that's remembered,'' she said after winning the Indy Japan 300. "It's a first and firsts are in the history books.''
However, those unfamiliar with auto racing may know Patrick more for her photo spreads than for her driving skills. She recently posed for the 2008 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
But with her consistent hard work and this weekend’s win, “there should be no more comparisons to tennis' Anna Kournikova, who built a reputation based on glamour but never won a title, despite coming tantalizingly close several times,” states Associated Press writer Steve Herman.
Hanna Rosin argues on Slate’s XX Factor blog that Patrick’s femininity, including posing in magazines, makes her win more remarkable: “What makes it sweeter is, Danica is no tomboy, playing by the men's rules.”
Headline Link: Patrick’s historic win
“I can die happy knowing that it happened finally,” Patrick said after returning from Japan. ABC reports that her historic win silenced critics who “remembered her as the most famous race car driver without a win.”
Source: ABC
Related Topics: Women making history behind the wheel
Although Patrick is nearly as well known for posing in magazines and being in commercials as for her driving, she proved herself to the racing community with the win, reports the Associated Press. "I'm definitely just part of a wave of women that are doing different things, great things, outside of the normal world,” Patrick said.
Source: ESPN (Associated Press)
USA Today outlines the importance of Patrick’s win: “It was the first by a woman in a national oval-track touring circuit such as the IRL or NASCAR.” The story also features a timeline of female racing milestones. On May 30, 1976, Janet Guthrie finished 15th in the World 600, the first female driver in the Sprint Cup Series. "Women are just as capable as men," said the 70-year-old Guthrie when interviewed for the story. "It doesn't take broad shoulders and big muscles, it takes what's inside your head: desire, concentration, judgment and emotional detachment.”
Source: USA Today
Patrick wasn’t the only woman to make headlines in an auto race this weekend. Nineteen-year-old Simona De Silvestro won the Atlantic Challenge of Long Beach on April 20, becoming only the second woman to win the Atlantic race in the series’ 34-year history. "It's an awesome weekend, because Danica won and I won. It's perfect,” De Silvetro said.
Source: AutoWeek
Patrick’s swimsuit stint
Patrick was prepared for criticism after appeating in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue, but she said it would only help IndyCar racing grow in popularity. "To me the swimsuit issue is beautiful," Patrick said. "It's women looking beautiful. They do a tasteful job so I am completely honored to be in it. It doesn't matter what people say, I've respected my own line. I haven't crossed it. I will never do anything that I feel uncomfortable in."
Source: Rockford, Ill., NBC affiliate WREX 13
Opinion & Analysis: Proving herself in a man’s world
“Here is why I find this victory so sweet. For as long as man has known how to inflate rubber, there have been men (and particularly middle-aged men) who brag that they could beat any female college pro in a one-on-one,” writes Rosin on Slate’s the XX Factor blog.
Source: The XX Factor (Slate)
Reference: Danica Patrick and Indy racing
Born on March 25, 1982, Patrick was raised in Roscoe, Ill. She began her racing career at 12 years old with go-karts. She dominated the competition, earning titles four years in a row. Learn more about Patrick’s life in her findngDulcinea profile.
Source: findingDulcinea
Danica Patrick’s Official Web site includes news releases, video footage and “fast facts” about the auto racer. For example, the driver played flute and sang in the choir in high school.
Source: The Official Web Site of Danica Patrick
The Official Web Site of the IndyCar Series features all race-related news, including a schedule of upcoming events and driver profiles.
Source: The Official Web Site of the IndyCar Series
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