From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Danica Patrick made an impact.
Danica Patrick is an American former professional racing driver and model notable for her success in traditionally male-dominated motorsports. Competing in IndyCar (2005-2011) and NASCAR (2012-2018), she achieved the distinction of being the most successful woman in American open-wheel car racing history. Her victory at the 2008 Indy Japan 300 marks the only IndyCar win by a female driver, solidifying her place in racing history.
In 1974, a woman last raced in the championship.
In 2014, when Danica Patrick achieved her best finish in the Sprint Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway, it beat Janet Guthrie's tenth-place finish in 1978.
In 1994, Danica Patrick won the World Karting Association Grand National Championship in the Yamaha Sportsman class.
In 1994, Shawna Robinson became the first woman to clinch a pole position in the Nationwide Series.
In 2012, when Danica Patrick qualified on the pole for the DRIVE4COPD 300, she became the second woman to achieve this in national NASCAR since Shawna Robinson in 1994.
In 1996, Danica Patrick continued to win karting titles, showcasing her early racing talent.
In 1996, Danica Patrick was accepted into the Indianapolis-based Lyn St. James Foundation Driver Development Program.
In 1997, Danica Patrick won the World Karting Association Grand National Championship in the HPV class.
In May 1998, Danica Patrick competed in a Sports Car Club of America race at Daytona International Speedway.
In 1998, Danica Patrick dropped out of high school and moved to England to further her racing career.
In 1998, with her parents' permission, Danica Patrick dropped out of high school and moved to the United Kingdom to advance her racing career.
In 1999, Danica Patrick came ninth in points in the British Formula Vauxhall Championship.
In 2000, Danica Patrick came second in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, tying Danny Sullivan's best performance by an American in the event.
In 2001, Danica Patrick returned to the United States due to a lack of funding after competing in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford in the United Kingdom.
In 2002, Danica Patrick competed in five Barber Dodge Pro Series races for Rahal Letterman Racing.
In 2002, Danica Patrick won the professional class and placed third overall in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
In 2002, Sarah Fisher was the second woman in IndyCar Series history.
In 2003, Danica Patrick switched to the Toyota Atlantic Series and secured the first podium for a woman in series' history at the season-opening race in Monterey.
In December 2004, Rahal Letterman Racing announced Danica Patrick would join their IndyCar Series roster for the 2005 season.
In 2004, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win a pole position in the Toyota Atlantic Series at the Portland International Raceway race and also took the points lead.
In the 2004 season, Danica Patrick achieved her best result in the Toyota Atlantic Series, finishing third in the championship standings. She also became the first woman to win a pole position in the series.
In 2005, Danica Patrick began her IndyCar Series career with Rahal Letterman Racing, achieving three pole positions and earning the Rookie of the Year awards for both the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series.
In 2005, Danica Patrick debuted in the IndyCar Series, achieving multiple firsts for women, including a pole position and finishing fourth at the Indianapolis 500. She was named Rookie of the Year for both the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series. In 2005, Sarah Fisher was the second woman in IndyCar Series history to achieve the feat after Sarah Fisher in 2002.
In 2006, Danica Patrick continued with Rahal Letterman Racing, showing improvement but not securing any wins.
In 2006, Danica Patrick made her endurance racing debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona and continued her IndyCar campaign with Rahal Letterman Racing, finishing ninth in the final standings and being named Sportswoman of the Year by the March of Dimes. The quartet was in contention for the victory, but retired from overheating problems. Although she qualified third for the season-opening Toyota Indy 300, her team withdrew after teammate Paul Dana was killed in a practice session accident on the day of the race.
In 2007, Danica Patrick moved to Andretti Green Racing, achieving her then best career finish with a third at the Bombardier Learjet 550, and improved on this result by clinching second at the Detroit Indy Grand Prix at Belle Isle Street Circuit. She also had a physical confrontation with Dan Wheldon.
In 2007, Danica Patrick moved to Andretti Green Racing, continuing her IndyCar career.
On April 24, 2008, Danica Patrick was a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman after winning her first IndyCar race.
In November 2008, Danica Patrick was scheduled to test for Formula One team Honda, but this was called off when the Honda team pulled out of the sport.
In 2008, Danica Patrick achieved her then-best career Homestead finish of sixth, followed by a tenth-place finish at St. Petersburg. On April 20, 2008, at the Indy Japan 300, she secured her maiden IndyCar victory, becoming the first woman to win a top-level open-wheel car racing event. She finished 19th at Kansas Speedway due to a hub failure and retired early from the Indianapolis 500 after a collision. She ended the season with three more top-ten finishes, placing her sixth overall, making her the highest-placed American driver of the season.
In 2008, Danica Patrick followed up her Indy Japan 300 victory by placing sixth overall in the IndyCar Series drivers' standings.
In 2008, Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300, marking the only IndyCar win by a woman to date.
In 2009, Danica Patrick participated in the 24 Hours of Daytona, finishing eighth. She returned to Andretti Green Racing for the 2009 IndyCar season, placing nineteenth in St. Petersburg after a clash. She achieved fourth and fifth positions in Long Beach and Kansas, respectively. At the Indianapolis 500, she finished third, setting a new record for the highest-placed female finish. She secured seven more top-ten finishes and ended the season fifth overall, marking her highest finish to date.
In late 2009, the American Formula One team US F1 allegedly considered testing Patrick for a potential drive in 2010.
In 2010, Danica Patrick drove for Andretti Autosport in IndyCar and JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. She finished 15th at the São Paulo Indy 300 due to spinning in the weather. She finished seventh at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. At the Indianapolis 500, she finished sixth. At the Firestone 550, she finished in second. At the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma, she set a record for consecutive races running at the finish. She finished tenth in the IndyCar standings.
In 2010, Danica Patrick managed two second-place finishes at oval tracks despite a decline in overall form.
In 2010, Danica Patrick stated she was not contacted by US F1 and had no plans to leave the IndyCar Series for Formula One at the time.
In January 2011, Danica Patrick informed Michael Andretti of her plans to leave his team in 2012.
In August 2011, Danica Patrick announced her plans to focus full-time on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series starting in 2012.
After the 2011 season, Danica Patrick left IndyCar to focus on stock car racing full-time.
In 2011, Danica Patrick achieved her best result in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with a fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
In 2011, Danica Patrick competed in twelve races in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, finishing 14th and 12th in the first two races. She became the highest-finishing woman in national NASCAR history at Las Vegas, placing fourth in the Sam's Town 300 race. She finished tenth in the Subway Jalapeño 250 at Daytona. Her best performance for the rest of the season was eleventh at Texas Motor Speedway.
In 2012, Danica Patrick placed a career-high tenth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings and started in the Sprint Cup Series (now NASCAR Cup Series).
In 2012, Danica Patrick raced full-time in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports and participated in ten races in the Sprint Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing in an alliance with Tommy Baldwin Racing. She qualified on the pole for the DRIVE4COPD 300. Her Daytona 500 ended early due to a four-car accident. She finished the Nationwide Series season with four top-ten finishes, placing tenth in the standings. Her best result was eighth at Texas Motor Speedway. Her best road course finish was at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, placing ninth.
In 2012, Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone stated that "to have someone like Danica Patrick in F1 would be a perfect advert."
In December 2009, Danica Patrick signed a contract extension that would continue through the next two seasons, with an option for a third in 2012.
Starting from 2012, as revealed in January and August 2011, Danica Patrick focused on NASCAR, marking her departure from Andretti Autosport.
Because Danica Patrick won the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500, she was eligible for the 2014 Sprint Unlimited, finishing sixteenth after being involved in a multi-car accident.
In 2013, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win a Cup Series pole position by setting the fastest qualifying lap for the Daytona 500, finishing eighth.
In 2013, Danica Patrick returned to Stewart-Haas Racing for her first full season in the Sprint Cup Series. She became the first woman to clinch the pole position for the Daytona 500 and finished eighth in the race, making her the highest-placing woman driver in the history of the Daytona 500. She led five laps, joining an elite club of drivers to have led both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500. In the Sprint Showdown at Charlotte Motor Speedway, she finished ninth and advanced to the Sprint All-Star Race.
In 2014, Danica Patrick continued with Stewart-Haas Racing in the Sprint Cup Series. During the Daytona 500, Aric Almirola clipped her, sending her car into a wall. She set three records: she was the first female to lead at the Aaron's 499, her finishing position of 22nd was the best for any woman at the circuit, and she had the best qualifying performance for any woman at a non-restrictor plate track for the Coca-Cola 600.
In 2014, Danica Patrick joined The Players' Tribune as a featured writer, attracted to the concept of athletes writing and controlling their own content.
In 2015, Danica Patrick asserted that she had no desire to move into Formula One, because she was too old to switch racing series and preferred being around her family and friends in NASCAR.
In 2015, Danica Patrick continued with Stewart-Haas Racing. She finished tenth in the Sprint Unlimited. At the Daytona 500, she finished 21st. She surpassed Janet Guthrie for the most top-tens by a woman in Sprint Cup Series history. She became the first woman to start a hundred Cup Series races. She was fined and put on probation for an intentional retaliatory crash against David Gilliland. She finished 24th in the drivers' standings.
In 2015, Danica Patrick surpassed Janet Guthrie's record for the most top-ten finishes by a woman in the Sprint Cup Series.
Towards the end of the 2014 season, Danica Patrick was assigned Daniel Knost as her full-time crew chief for 2015.
In 2016, Danica Patrick continued with Stewart-Haas Racing and switched crew chiefs to Billy Scott. At the Daytona 500, she retired due to contact with Greg Biffle. She was fined for gesturing to Kasey Kahne after he wrecked her car at the Auto Club 400. She was involved in a high-speed crash with Matt Kenseth at Talladega. Her best result was eleventh place at the fall Charlotte race. She finished 24th in the drivers' standings.
After the 2017 season, Danica Patrick stopped racing full-time.
In 2017, Patrick continued racing with Stewart-Haas Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Her best finish was fourth at the Advance Auto Parts Clash, and she finished tenth at Dover. She announced her departure from full-time racing after the season finale at Homestead-Miami, but planned to compete in the 2018 Daytona 500 and 2018 Indianapolis 500. Her 2017 season concluded with one top-ten finish, eleven DNFs, and a 28th place in the standings.
In January 2018, it was announced that Danica Patrick reunited with GoDaddy for sponsorship of the "Danica Double" and assistance as she moved on to her life as a business woman and entrepreneur.
On March 7, 2018, it was announced that her final Indianapolis 500 appearance would be in a third car for Ed Carpenter Racing.
In 2018, Danica Patrick competed at the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 before officially retiring.
In 2018, Danica Patrick participated in the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 as part of her farewell tour. She retired halfway through when her right-rear tire blew after glancing the wall and she collided heavily with another barrier.
In 2018, Danica Patrick's final race was the Indianapolis 500. On Lap 68, she lost control and crashed into the outside wall, finishing ranked thirtieth.
In August 2019, Danica Patrick launched a weekly podcast called Pretty Intense in which she discusses success, spirituality, and consciousness with guests.
In 2021, Danica Patrick joined the Sky Sports F1 broadcast team as a pundit for the United States Grand Prix.
In 2024, Danica Patrick became a pundit for the sixth season of the Netflix documentary series Formula 1: Drive to Survive.
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