|
MAIN
Sports
Sports Stars
Danica Patrick
Born
Danica Sue Patrick in Beloit, Wisconsin on March 25, 1982, the
Indy League racing sensation began her career in kart racing at
age 10.
At
age 16, her professional career began in the U.K. when she joined
the European racing circuit, working her way back to the U.S.
by teaming up with the Toyota
Atlantic Championship and, ultimately, the Indy
Racing League.
Becoming one
of a handful of women in a very short list of female racecar drivers,
Patrick made history in 2005 by finishing fourth in the Indy 500
with the best finish for a woman in Indianapolis 500 history.
In addition
to her bravado on the track, Patrick is currently a spokesperson
for Go Daddy.com, XM Satellite Radio, Coca Cola and other corporate
giants.
A complete
photo spread was also devoted to her in the 2008 edition of the
Sports
Illustrated Swimsuit issue, and has been awarded the the title
of most "sexy female athlete" by lingerie company Victoria's
Secret.
Danica Patrick
admittedly doesn't think about being female in a male-dominated
sport and admirably displays a straightforward "just do it"
attitude that has endeared her to male and female fans alike.
In 2007, she
had her best shot yet of winning the Indy
500 - racing alongside Sarah
Fisher and Milka
Duno - the first female trio ever to compete in Indianapolis.
In
March 2008, Patrick was again making headlines over her protest
of new
Indy rules declaring a weight minumum for both car and driver,
effectively penalizing the driver for her petite 100-pound frame.

Danica
Patrick
SI Swimsuit Issue 2008
|
Shortly
following in April, Danica Patrick made history by becoming the
first female winner in Indy car history when she beat out favorite
Helio Castroneves by 5 seconds to take the Indy Japan 300.
In
July, Patrick was back in the news following an altercation with
driver Milka Duno caught on video that quickly buzzed the Web.
The verbal fist-a-cuffs occured during the IndyCar Series race.
In
2009, all eyes were on the diminutive driver as she once again
battled the boys for a shot at becoming the first female winner
of the Indy
500, coming in third for the best showing by a female in Indy
500 history.
Recent rumors
about a possible NASCAR
move also catapulted Patrick into the headlines in late 2009 with
buzz surrounding discussions with NASCAR champ Dale
Ernhardt Jr. about signing with his team sometime next year.
Stay tuned ...
Away from
the track, Danica Patrick currently calls Phoenix, Arizona her
home where she lives with her husband, physical therapist and
fitness trainer Paul
Hospenthal.
More about
Danica Patrick around the Web:
The
Official Site of Danica Patrick - Check out the latest
schedule, current news, car specs, a personal profile, vital stats
and career highlights dating back to 1992, picture galleries,
wallpapers.
IndyCar.com-
Danica Patrick - News features, pictures, vital stats,
career highlights, video clips.
Danica
Patrick Photos - A hot & 'racy' collection of publicity
photos, magazine covers, personal appearances and candid shots.
Danica
Patrick - Wikipedia - A full biography, picture, career
highlights, related links.
European
Car: Danica Patrick
- Archived interview with the racing star chronicling her career
up to 2003.
The
Woman of Bernie's Dreams - Archived feature story from
2000 that accurately predicts the rise of Danica Patrick on the
racing circuit.
also
see in Sports Idols-> Dale
Earnhardt, Jr.
Jeff
Gordon | Jimmie
Johnson | Tony
Stewart
|