 |
 |
 |
|
MOTEGI, Japan -- Danica Patrick never doubted a woman could win a race. It finally happened Sunday.
| Advertisement |
|||
| |||
Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history on Sunday, winning the Indy Japan 300 in her 50th career start.
"I'm glad it finally happened," said Patrick. "But I would be lying if I told you I didn't think it would be me."
Win No. 1 was a long time coming for 26-year-old Patrick, who finished a career-best seventh in the season standings last year when her best finish was second in the race at Detroit's Belle Isle.
Patrick's first IndyCar race was in 2005 at Homestead-Miami.
Patrick said the nicest thing about Sunday's win is that she no longer has to answer those annoying questions about when she'd win.
"I've been asked so many times when and if I can win my first race and finally, no more of those questions."
At the 2005 Indy 500, she nearly won the 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.
|
|
| Danica flashes her winning smile. (Getty Images) |
"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.
Patrick praised her Andretti Green Racing teammates for helping her make the right decisions in Sunday's race.
"It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me," said Patrick. "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, who started from the third row and made her final pit stop on lap 148, stayed close to the leaders throughout the race and realized she had a chance when the top contenders headed to the pits late in the race.
