Danica Patrick

Biography

Danica Sue Patrick (born March 25, 1982) is a professional race car driver in the Indy Racing League. She was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, USA, and was raised in Roscoe, Illinois.

Patrick began karting in 1992. She moved to England at the age of 16 in order to advance her racing career; rather than finishing high school, she earned a GED. She focused primarily on road racing with seasons in Europe, the Toyota Atlantic Championship and finally to the Indy Racing League. In 2004, Patrick finished third in the Toyota Atlantic Championship for Rahal Letterman Racing.

On May 29, 2005, Patrick became only the fourth woman to race in the Indianapolis 500, following Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James, and Sarah Fisher. After posting the fastest practice speed of the month (229.880 MPH on May 15), she made an error at the beginning of her qualifying attempt and failed to capture the pole position.

Patrick became the first female driver to lead the race at Indianapolis when she stayed out one lap longer than her rivals during a set of green-flag pit stops. Patrick overcame two crucial errors to finish fourth in the race, the same position in which she started. Her car stalled in the pits about halfway through the 500-mile race, dropping her to the middle of the field. Shortly after reclaiming a spot in the top 10, Patrick spun during a caution period, causing a four car accident. The accident caused damage to the nose and front wing of her car. Her pit crew promptly made repairs, and Patrick managed to lead the race twice more, only to be passed by eventual champion Dan Wheldon with seven laps to go when she was forced to slow in order to conserve fuel. Patrick's fourth place was the highest ever finish for a female driver, besting Janet Guthrie's 27-year-old ninth place finish record. Danica led 19 laps overall.

Some have said that her relatively small weight gives her an advantage in a competition where engine size and car weight are strictly regulated. Others have claimed out that a rookie driver would have faced much tougher racing competition and would never have been sponsored by a top racing team if it were not for the decline in popularity and competitiveness of Indy car racing.[1] (http://www.slate.com/id/2120160/)

Patrick also hosts several TV shows on Spike TV.

Patrick is engaged to physical therapist Paul Hospenthal, who is sixteen years her senior. Both currently reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As a result of the attention she got for her participation in the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and for her perceived beauty, she was asked by Playboy to have her pictures taken to be published in a future edition of its magazine. She declined the offer.