May 17, 2008
Auto Racing
Proof in Patrick win
Pulling ahead late, she becomes first woman to prevail in IndyCar
Danica Patrick became the first woman to win an IndyCar race, capturing the Indy Japan 300 in her 50th career start. (Getty Images / April 20, 2008)
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Danica Patrick was always sure a woman could win a race. And now the questions about her will surely stop.
Patrick made it to the place she wanted to be for so long - Victory Lane. She became the first female winner in IndyCar history yesterday, capturing the Indy Japan 300 in Motegi in her 50th career start.
"I'm glad it finally happened," said the driver, 26. "But I would be lying if I told you I didn't think it would be me."
Her owner was ecstatic, insisting more victories await. Her family could not congratulate her enough. All of which made Patrick a bit teary.
"When it actually happened, maybe it was a little anticlimactic," she said. "Then the emotions came out, and that was a little girly of me."
Win No. 1 was a long time coming. Patrick finished a career-best seventh in the standings last year when her best finish was second in the race at Detroit's Belle Isle. Her first IndyCar race was in 2005 at Homestead-Miami.
"I've been asked so many times when and if I can win my first race," she said. "And, finally, no more of those questions."
Patrick was welcomed by her family near the podium. "There was a lot of 'I love you,' and 'congratulations,' " Patrick said. "My dad said it was the best day of his life."
Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, called his driver a "fantastic person."
"I'm thrilled for her that the monkey is finally off of her back," Andretti said. "We have all believed in her, and she proved today that she is a winner. Frankly, I think this is the first of many."
At the 2005 Indy 500, Patrick nearly won the pole and became the first female driver to lead the race. She wound up fourth, the best finish by a woman at Indy and a result that helped her claim Rookie of the Year honors.
Yesterday's race, which was delayed a day because of a wet track, was won by a combination of cool composure and shrewd strategy. Patrick took the lead from pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race.
"When I had to talk into my radio after the race, all I could say was 'thank you,' " said Patrick, who finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval.
"It was a fuel-strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me," Patrick said. "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 started from the third row and made her final pit stop on the 148th lap. She stayed close to the leaders throughout and realized she had a chance when the top contenders headed to the pits late in the race.
Patrick went from fourth to second on the 197th lap after Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan pitted on the 196th. She was as low as eighth place on the 189th lap.
"I knew from the start of the last fuel load that I was going to have a chance," Patrick said. "I was saving fuel from the first lap, but it wasn't until I passed Helio that I knew I was going to win."
Scott Dixon took the lead from Castroneves on the 93rd lap but gave up the top spot to pit for fuel on the 194th. Dixon was third, 10.0559 seconds behind Patrick.
• Et cetera // Kyle Busch won his third consecutive race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, holding off Marcos Ambrose by less than a second in the Corona Mexico 200 in Mexico City. Scott Pruett finished third. ... FIA president Max Mosley intends to step down in 2009 even if given a vote of confidence in June by a special general assembly after his alleged involvement with prostitutes. ... Will Power led most of the 83 laps in Long Beach, Calif., winning the final race of the Champ Car World Series.
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