Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Danica Patrick

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Danica Patrick made an impact.

Danica Patrick is a retired American professional racing driver and model. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel car racing. Her landmark achievement includes a victory at the 2008 Indy Japan 300, marking the only instance of a woman winning an IndyCar Series race. This win solidified her place in racing history, demonstrating her skill and breaking barriers in a male-dominated sport.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1974: First Woman to Race in Championship Since 1974

In 2003, Danica Patrick was the first woman to race in the Toyota Atlantic Series championship since 1974.

1978: Janet Guthrie's Record Beat

In 2014, Danica Patrick clinched her best finish in the Sprint Cup Series with a sixth at the Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, making her the second woman to take a top ten at the circuit; this beat the record of Janet Guthrie's tenth-place finish in 1978.

1994: Won WKA Grand National Championship

In 1994, Danica Patrick won the World Karting Association Grand National Championship in the Yamaha Sportsman class.

1994: Shawna Robinson's Pole Position

In 1994, Shawna Robinson clinched a pole position in the Nationwide Series. Danica Patrick later equaled this achievement.

1994: Second Woman to Achieve Feat in NASCAR

In 2012, Danica Patrick became the second woman to achieve this feat in national NASCAR after Shawna Robinson in 1994.

1996: Accepted into Lyn St. James Foundation Program

In 1996, Danica Patrick was accepted into the Indianapolis-based Lyn St. James Foundation Driver Development Program.

1996: Won WKA Grand National Championship

In 1996, Danica Patrick won the World Karting Association Grand National Championship in the HPV class.

1997: Television Segments on ABC and MTV

In 1997, Danica Patrick was featured in television segments on ABC and MTV, leading to her being hired by John Mecom Jr.

1997: Won WKA Grand National Championship

In 1997, Danica Patrick won the World Karting Association Grand National Championship in the HPV class.

May 1998: Competed in Sports Car Club of America race

In May 1998, Danica Patrick competed in a Sports Car Club of America race at Daytona International Speedway.

1998: Moved to England to Advance Racing Career

In 1998, Danica Patrick dropped out of high school and moved to England to advance her racing career, residing in Milton Keynes.

1998: Moved to the United Kingdom

In 1998, Danica Patrick dropped out of high school with her parents' permission and moved to the United Kingdom to further her racing career.

1999: Ninth in British Formula Vauxhall Championship

In 1999, Danica Patrick finished ninth in points in the British Formula Vauxhall Championship.

2000: Second in Formula Ford Festival

In 2000, Danica Patrick came second in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch with Haywood Racing.

2001: Returned to the United States

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.

2002: Competed in Barber Dodge Pro Series

In 2002, Danica Patrick competed in five Barber Dodge Pro Series races for Rahal Letterman Racing.

2002: Won Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

In 2002, Danica Patrick won the professional class in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race and placed third overall.

2002: Sarah Fisher First Indycar Woman Pole

In 2005, Danica Patrick took her first career pole position at the season's eighth race at Kansas Speedway, becoming the second woman in IndyCar Series history to achieve the feat after Sarah Fisher in 2002.

2003: First Podium for a Woman in Toyota Atlantic Series

In 2003, Danica Patrick secured the first podium finish for a woman in the Toyota Atlantic Series' history at the season-opening race in Monterey.

December 2004: Named to Rahal Letterman Racing's IndyCar Series Roster

In December 2004, Rahal Letterman Racing named Danica Patrick to their IndyCar Series roster for 2005.

2004: First Woman to Win Pole Position in Toyota Atlantic Series

In 2004, Danica Patrick became the first woman to win a pole position in the Toyota Atlantic Series at the Portland International Raceway race. She also led the points standings, becoming the first woman to do so, and ended the season third in points.

2004: Third in Toyota Atlantic Series Championship

In the 2004 season, Danica Patrick finished third in the Toyota Atlantic Series championship standings and became the first woman to win a pole position in the series.

2005: IndyCar Series Debut and Rookie of the Year

In 2005, Danica Patrick began driving in the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Racing, achieving three pole positions and earning the Rookie of the Year award for both the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series.

2006: Continued Racing with Rahal Letterman Racing

In 2006, Danica Patrick continued racing with Rahal Letterman Racing, achieving multiple top-ten finishes in the IndyCar Series.

2006: Endurance Racing Debut and IndyCar Season

In 2006, Danica Patrick made her endurance racing debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona and continued her IndyCar campaign with Rahal Letterman Racing, achieving a season-high placing of consecutive fourth-position finishes. She was also awarded Sportswoman of the Year by the March of Dimes.

2007: Moved to Andretti Green Racing

In 2007, Danica Patrick moved to Andretti Green Racing and achieved a then-best career finish with a third at the Bombardier Learjet 550.

November 2008: Formula One Test Cancellation

In November 2008, Danica Patrick was scheduled to test for Formula One team Honda, but the test was cancelled when Honda withdrew from the sport.

2008: Sixth Overall in Drivers' Standings

In 2008, Danica Patrick followed up her Japan victory to place sixth overall in the IndyCar drivers' standings.

2008: Maiden IndyCar Victory

In 2008, Danica Patrick secured her maiden IndyCar victory at the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi on April 20 after moving to the front of the field with three laps remaining. She became the first woman to win a top-level sanctioned open wheel car racing event.

2008: Indy Japan 300 Victory

In 2008, Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first and only woman to win an IndyCar Series race.

2009: 24 Hours of Daytona and IndyCar Season

In 2009, Danica Patrick participated in the 24 Hours of Daytona, finishing eighth in class. She also continued with Andretti Green Racing for the 2009 IndyCar season, achieving her best career finish at the Indianapolis 500 with a third place.

2009: US F1 Interest

In late 2009, the American Formula One team US F1 considered testing Danica Patrick for a potential drive in 2010.

2010: Two Second-Place Finishes in IndyCar

During 2010, Danica Patrick managed two-second-place finishes at oval tracks in the IndyCar Series.

2010: Began Racing in NASCAR Nationwide Series

In 2010, Danica Patrick began racing stock cars in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (now Xfinity Series).

2010: 2010 Season: IndyCar and NASCAR

In 2010, Danica Patrick returned to Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series and also participated in a limited schedule with JR Motorsports in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Her best IndyCar performance was at the Firestone 550 where she finished second.

2010: No Plans to Leave IndyCar

In 2010, Danica Patrick stated that she had not been contacted by US F1 and had no plans to leave the IndyCar Series for Formula One at that time.

January 2011: Plans for 2012 Revealed

In January 2011, Danica Patrick informed Michael Andretti of her plans to leave the team in 2012.

August 2011: Focus on NASCAR

In August 2011, Danica Patrick announced her plans to focus on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series full-time from 2012.

2011: Left IndyCar to Focus on Stock Car Racing

After the 2011 IndyCar season, Danica Patrick left the series to focus on stock car racing full-time.

2011: Fourth-Place Finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

In 2011, Danica Patrick achieved her best result in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with a fourth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

2011: Nationwide Series Season

In 2011, Danica Patrick continued in the Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports, running a part-time schedule. She achieved her highest finish in the series at Las Vegas, placing fourth in the Sam's Town 300 race.

2012: Full-Time in Nationwide and Limited Sprint Cup

In 2012, Danica Patrick raced full-time in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports and competed a limited schedule in the Sprint Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing. She qualified on the pole for the DRIVE4COPD 300.

2012: Ecclestone's Comments on Patrick in F1

In 2012, following the announcement of Formula One's return to the United States, Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone suggested that having someone like Danica Patrick in F1 would be a perfect advertisement.

2012: Contract Extension

In December 2009, Danica Patrick signed a contract extension that would continue through the next two seasons, with the option for a third in 2012.

2012: Career-High Tenth in Nationwide Series Standings

In the 2012 season, Danica Patrick placed a career-high tenth in the NASCAR Nationwide Series standings.

2012: NASCAR Focus

Starting in 2012, Danica Patrick shifted her focus to racing full-time in NASCAR.

2013: Eligibility for Sprint Unlimited

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.

2013: Won Cup Series Pole Position at Daytona 500

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, and she finished eighth in the race.

2013: First Full Season in Sprint Cup Series

In 2013, Danica Patrick contested her first full season in the Sprint Cup Series with Stewart-Haas Racing. She became the first woman to clinch the pole position for the Daytona 500 and finished eighth in the race, the highest placing woman driver in the history of the Daytona 500.

2014: Joined The Players' Tribune

In 2014, Danica Patrick joined The Players' Tribune as a featured writer, drawn to Derek Jeter's concept of athlete-controlled content.

2014: Sprint Cup Series Season

In 2014, Danica Patrick remained with Stewart-Haas Racing for the Sprint Cup Series. She set records at the Aaron's 499 and had the best qualifying performance for any woman at a non-restrictor plate track at the Coca-Cola 600.

February 21, 2015: Booth Analyst for NASCAR on Fox

On February 21, 2015, NASCAR on Fox hired Danica Patrick as a booth analyst for Xfinity Series races, starting with the race at Michigan.

2015: Full-Time Crew Chief Appointed

In 2014, Daniel Knost was appointed as Danica Patrick's full-time crew chief for 2015.

2015: Patrick's Disinterest in Formula One

In 2015, Danica Patrick asserted that she had no desire to move into Formula One, citing her age and comfort being around family and friends in NASCAR.

2015: Sprint Cup Series Season and Penalties

In 2015, Danica Patrick continued with Stewart-Haas Racing, eclipsing Janet Guthrie for the most top tens by a woman in Sprint Cup Series history. She faced a fine and probation for an intentional retaliatory crash against David Gilliland.

2015: Broke Record for Top-Ten Finishes by a Woman

In 2015, Danica Patrick surpassed Janet Guthrie's record for the most top-ten finishes by a woman in the Sprint Cup Series.

2016: 2016 Season and Fines

In 2016, Danica Patrick stayed at Stewart-Haas Racing, switching crew chiefs to Billy Scott. She was fined for gesturing to Kasey Kahne after he wrecked her car at the Auto Club 400.

June 2017: Fox's Cup Driver-Only Broadcast

In June 2017, Danica Patrick joined Fox's Cup driver-only broadcast of the Xfinity Series race at Pocono Raceway, working in the studio alongside Denny Hamlin.

2017: Stopped Racing Full-Time

After the 2017 season, Danica Patrick stopped racing full-time in NASCAR.

2017: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Season

In 2017, Danica Patrick continued with Stewart-Haas Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Her best finish was fourth at the Advance Auto Parts Clash exhibition race at Daytona. She finished 33rd at the Daytona 500 due to a multi-car accident and earned a top-ten finish at Dover on June 4th. Patrick announced her departure from full-time racing after the season finale but planned to compete in the 2018 Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500. She concluded the 2017 season with one top-ten finish, eleven DNFs, and an average finish of 23.8, placing her twenty-eighth in the drivers' standings with 511 points.

January 2018: Partnership with GoDaddy and Final NASCAR Race

In January 2018, Danica Patrick reunited with GoDaddy to sponsor the "Danica Double" and support her transition into business. For her final NASCAR race at the 2018 Daytona 500, she drove the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Premium Motorsports.

March 7, 2018: Indianapolis 500 Appearance

On March 7, 2018, it was announced that Danica Patrick's final Indianapolis 500 appearance would be in a third car for Ed Carpenter Racing.

July 18, 2018: Hosted the ESPY Awards

On July 18, 2018, Danica Patrick became the first woman to host the ESPY Awards.

2018: Final Races and Retirement

In 2018, Danica Patrick competed at the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 before officially retiring from racing.

2018: Final Race at the Indianapolis 500

In 2018, Danica Patrick's final race was the Indianapolis 500. She crashed on Lap 68 after losing control of her car, finishing thirtieth.

August 2019: Launched Pretty Intense Podcast

In August 2019, Danica Patrick launched a weekly podcast called Pretty Intense, where she discusses success, spirituality, and consciousness with guests.

2021: Joined Sky Sports F1 Broadcast Team

In 2021, Danica Patrick joined the Sky Sports F1 broadcast team as a pundit for the United States Grand Prix and commentated on Superstar Racing Experience events on CBS.