Danica Patrick Wins

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Hear hear preach!

Some of the comments here are unwarranted and unnecessary.  Not one of those harsh comments would have been said if she was a guy.  

I'm a little shocked.  Not exactly behavior representive of the membership on this site.

If she was a guy id be heartbroken ;D I wasnt saying anything about her because she was a girl at all i LOVE woman with goals at 100 pounds she can make my toes curl no matter if she was drivin a 4250 or a powerstroke   she is a sweety  yeehawwwwwwwwww

[Popeye]

I personally prefer Sarah Fisher to Danica and was hoping she would aspire to the top of the Indy car driver list. Alas, that hasn't happened - yet. Danica is sure a "looker" by all means. Can she compete with the elite drivers IF they don't run out of fuel?? Maybe yes, probably no. Still, she DID win and I was rooting for her to win Indy the year she actually lead the race. And I totally agree that Shirley Muldowny deserves ALL the accolades that can be afforded to her. She was a real pioneer as a woman race car driver even though some consider drag racing as an inferior type of race car driving. I wouldn't think Danica is going to win all that many races but I'd rather see her interviewed over an Andretti any day:o)

[Matt Fly]

INDY  lost its appeal to me long time ago.    I enjoy the INDY 500 and thats about it.

    Danica is the reason why I have caught some bits and pieces of other races.

     It wasn't just sponsors who used Danica's looks to boost spectators, it was the whole racing league who let her put the troubled sport on her back and bring it back.    If it wasn't for Danica, the boys wouldn't have many journalists to get their story in the paper.

   Even Ashley Judd being married to Dario helped the ratings.

   Go Danica!!!!    

[Big T]

Danica Patrick's Career Stats According to Indy Car.com, the IRl's Official Website.

Career Starts: 50

Wins: 1

Top Five's : 9

Top Ten's: 29

Poles: 3

Career Winnings: $3,201,315

Not Bad, That's better than some Nascar drivers.

[cart7t]

Her stats are OK.

Consider that the average IRL race the past 3 1/4 years she's been involved has only had 18 cars start.

Of those 18, at least half are usually poorly funded teams, often with ride buying drivers who don't stand a chance of winning.

So basically Danica's been running in top flight equipment in those 50 races, first with Rahal/Lettermen racing and now with Andretti/Green racing, and essentially running against only 8-9 cars each week that are capable of beating her.

Now the stats don't look so great.

[Catt]

.

Her mediocre history only furthers the stereotype that she is trying to disprove: that girls aren't as good drivers as guys.

Shirley Muldowney might disagree

All women in racing today owe a debt of gratitude to Shirley. She was winning races and a championship at a time when the racing world didn't think much of woman in the pit or paddock areas, let alone driving a race car.

Actually y'all need to read up on NHRA

Going back in time

Barbara Hamilton got the ball rolling for female racers when she became the first woman to earn an NHRA license in 1964. Two years later, Shirley Shahan became the first female to claim a "Wally" when she powered to the podium in the Stock category at the famed Winternationals in Pomona, Calif.

It was 10 years later when Muldowney punched through for the first of her 18 national event victories, beating Bob Edwards at the Bicentennial running of the Springnationals in Columbus, Ohio, to become the first female to win a professional category. Muldowney was actually the fourth female winner of all-time. She followed Shahan, Judi Boertman, who won Stock at the 1971 Summernationals, and Judy Lilly, who first won the Super Stock title at the 1972 Winternationals.

[cart7t]

True dat catt but.. Shirley won the National NHRA overall championship not once but a resounding 3 times!  

Not too mention an AHRA championship along the way.

Her name is worthy of mention along the likes of Garlits, Glidden, Force, Prudehome, WJ or Bernstein.

BTW, for anyone who hasn't seen it, I strongly suggest watching the movie, "Heart like a wheel".  It's the Shirley Muldowney story that's pretty good.

[Catt]

I had the honor of seeing both Shirley Dragon Lady & Shahan Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney race in person.

You bunch of macho men can say what y'all want but what Danica did was a milestone in IRL racing. Both Shirley's listed above used their sexuality to help get sponsorship and then they showed their talent on the track. Heck y'all gonna tell me Dale Jr, Kasey Kahne, Carl Edwards, Juan Pablo Montoya and any number of other drivers don't use sex to gain notoriety or sponsorship.

As far how she won the race leader Scott Dixon was forced to pit for a final splash of fuel, which was the opportunity for both Patrick and Castroneves to win a fuel mileage battle.

[Matt Fly]

Its already been said,  its not like they picked her out of rush hour traffic to drive their car.

  She's been racing since she was a little girl.

Say what you want, 220 mph speaks for itself.  

[cart7t]

Both Shirley's listed above used their sexuality to help get sponsorship and then they showed their talent on the track.

By winning, numerous times.  

[Matt Fly]

First step in winning a couple is to win one, now we can concentrate on the second.

[Micro]

Watching Indy racing is like watching two turtles screw.   At least she has made it interesting - to some degree.

[Rattlinrogue]

'Bout time considering all the attention that she has gotten.She proved that she belongs,though,and I congradulate her!

[justfishin]

Its PR man. I think Danna is cute. Its like Anna Kournakova. She cannot play tennis but, man, she is easy on the eyes. Plus, remember, sponsers and PR pay the bills. Also, you have to respect anyone whom can get behind the wheel of a formula one and drive. You have to have talent just to get around the track at those speeds and keep them stuck to the asphalt.