Danica Makes Point With High Finish

INDIANAPOLIS -- The newly mellow version of Danica Patrick clearly still knows how to use every bit of finesse and gumption available when it comes to the race of races, the Indianapolis 500.

A career best-third place effort in Sunday's Indy 500 is her fourth top-10 finish in five starts. It's the best ever showing for a woman, but more importantly a great result for anyone.

"I'm doing my job," said Patrick, who finished behind winner Helio Castroneves and Dan Wheldon. "My job is to finish as high as I can and I'm glad about that shift [in thinking].

"I'm glad people are seeing it more as a good finish from a good driver [not as the best finish for a woman]."

While quick in her four previous Mays at Indianapolis, Patrick, 27, didn't have the fastest car in the field on Sunday, not even the fastest car she's driven here. But she and her Andretti Green team tenaciously made it better throughout the day and she drove a smart race.

When she climbed out of the car on pit road, she was smiling, visibly pleased with the result. But also quick to dissect the could-have-been. She didn't lead any laps but hung around the top-10 most of the race, ultimately out-running the strong pre-race favorites, 2008 Indy winner Scott Dixon, 2007 Indy winner Dario Franchitti as well as Team Penske drivers Ryan Briscoe and Will Power. She was easily the highest finisher on her Andretti Green team too.

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Danica Patrick makes a pit stop during the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 24: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile/Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, exits after a pitstop during the IRL IndyCar Series 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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Driver Danica Patrick of the US is seen before the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 24, 2009. REUTERS/John Sommers II (UNITED STATES SPORT MOTOR RACING)

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Danica Patrick, foreground, leads Dario Franchitti, of Scotland, into the first turn during the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

Danica Patrick of the US races during the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race in Indianapolis, Indiana, May 24, 2009. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan (UNITED STATES SPORT MOTOR RACING)

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INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 24: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile/Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, enters her car prior to the start of the IRL IndyCar Series 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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Mario Moraes, top, of Brazil, hits the wall on the first lap as Danica Patrick passes during the 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Sunday, May 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Greg Huey)

INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 24: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile/Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, prepares to enter her car prior to the start of the IRL IndyCar Series 93rd running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 24, 2009 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danic Patrick

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And, she felt that on a longer green flag run, she might have had something for Castroneves.

Patrick and Wheldon briefly ran side-by-side on the final restart with seven laps to go (she was credited with second place on lap 183) before Wheldon finally got around her for good. Their spirited battle actually helped Castroneves pull away. The finish was still a strong result for both Patrick and the 2005 winner Wheldon, who left powerhouse Ganassi operation for Panther Racing this season.

"I don't treat her like a female, she's just a formidable competitor that never gives up." Wheldon said. "Believe me, it would have been nice today if she had. It was one of those things where at the end, I just didn't have enough for Helio.

"And I had to hold Danica off."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

5-24-2009 @ 8:05PM

Robert Digges said...

She is waisting her time there she should be in Nascar.

5-24-2009 @ 8:44PM

corollin99 said...

NASCAR SUCKS! AND ITS TRUE BECAUSE I WROTE IT IN CAPS!

5-25-2009 @ 12:17AM

apollo56 said...

she would get spanked in nascar, she better stay right where she is and hope another win drops in her lap

5-25-2009 @ 1:31AM

ccolotexan said...

what a joke. tell another one before it gets cold ha ha ha

5-25-2009 @ 9:06AM

guminger said...

I talked to her when she was 20, no one knew her, she had a tryout with NASCAR, was offered a ride, but said she wanted to stay with Indy cars because it is much more challenging as a driver, more precise, tighter car control, real racing. She said NASCAR was just put one hand over the wheel and take a Sunday drive, boring.

5-24-2009 @ 8:24PM

Welcome Dawn said...

And what is the point ????
over 1/3 dropped out of the race, another 3 were laps behind.....
This crop of drivers, over the last 100 years quite possibly ranks at the bottom of all the previous drivers.
Shes a spoiled imature brat and she does that best of all.

5-24-2009 @ 9:34PM

Kelmom said...

The race was boring and no one passed anyone, but your logic makes no sense. It's like saying Helio won only because everyone else was slower than him. She stayed out of trouble, kept her cool, and finished 3rd - something 30 0ther drivers couldn't manage to do.

But Indy has follwed NASCAR down the road to 500 miles of parade laps. It was the most boring race ever.

5-24-2009 @ 9:13PM

sdh4194 said...

there was no passing in the race. her pit crew deserves all the credit. indycar racing is a parade.

5-25-2009 @ 12:10AM

jotsh said...

What a wonderful bunch of comments from a pile of arm chair drivers. Always great to critisize others from the safety of your chair. If you people are so against the race why are you watching it?

5-25-2009 @ 1:18AM

nzcr14 said...

I DO NOT CARE FOR ABOUT DANICA, DRIVING IN NASCAR CAUSE LIKE OTHERS I DON'T THINK SHE WILL MAKE IT THERE.
She should stay at INDY were once again she proved to be the best woman drivers of our times if not in history. TODAY WAS HER 3rd finish in the top 5 at INDIANAPOLIS. Many drivers exspecially guys, would pay high $$$ to get a top 5 at the world most famous race. She seems to get those finishes as an easy task and yes she only has 1 win in the 4 years at INDY but she collected at least 20 top5 finishes and plenty of top 10.HOW MANY TOP5 OR TOP10 MILKA DUNO, SARA FISHER and any other woman indy racer has collected ah??hardly none and fisher has been running at indy much longer than DANICA. lets take the comparison to nazcar.EVERY SUNDAY THERE there has been at least 25 drivers running in nazcar for generations and never got a win or a top 5. ANOTHER 10 DRIVERS IN NASCAR NEVER GOT A TOP 10 EITHER AFTER YEARS OF COMPETING.
Agood reminder to all monkies M/F that bash DANICA on these pages and elsewhere, is RICHARD CHILDRESS FROM RCR. DO YOU ALL KNOW WHY HE BECAME A TEAM OWNER
noo too long before he hired dale earnhardt senior?
DO YOU ALL KNOW?
BECAUSE AFTER 865 NAZCAR RACES AND NO WINS,NADA, NO TOP5, VERY FEW TOP 10 HE DECIDED TO QUIT RACING AND OWN AND SPONSOR A TEAM.865 RACES W.C.
SO hush your trash those of you that know nothing about indy racing amuch harder and risky race than nazcar. works for me...

5-27-2009 @ 11:49AM

RON BUTT said...

The only one that made sense was you. seen every Indy since 1960 and watch alot of nascar. I enjoy all racing and sach has its own talented dirvers. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

5-25-2009 @ 2:15AM

Robert said...

I think she does what the sport needs...
The IRL hasn't been great since since they split apart... And she did get a 3rd place which is great for man or woman...I was watching the intros today the racers look like freaking jockeys...I think Danica should stay in IRL...If she leaves IRL suffers and I hope they realise that...

5-25-2009 @ 3:45AM

greatqb44 said...

I would never say she is not a good driver...good...all thinking people would not either but the 3rd place driver gets a story 2 hours ahead of the winner...thats where the problems come in at and people asking WTF!?!...but this is time warner after all

5-25-2009 @ 6:53AM

dormie2 said...

It's simple. Maybe not simple enough for One Bad Ass Mistake Already voters, but it's still simple.
Danica is a pretty good race car driver.
Danica is super popular; losing Danica from the IRL would be like losing Earnhardt Jr. from NASCAR.
I like Danica fine, but I'm not sure that 5'2" and 110 lbs of fight would be enough to wrestle old technology behemoths around for four hours every Sunday.
It would be interesting to see her give it a go on a Nascar road coarse though! Just once! If she could go the distance I'll bet she would smoke at least a few of the Nascar oval drivers.

5-25-2009 @ 7:02AM

ecarns said...

I don't know how anyone could sit for hours and watch this race!It was like watching paint dry.The only interesting plot was how the hottest race car driver ever to strap on a helmet would finish. GO DANICA!!!!!

5-25-2009 @ 7:23AM

tomgross55 said...

I think That the people that make all these negitive comments, Have no clue on how much it takes to drive a race car of anykind. They just need to stay on the couch!!!!!!! I say GO!!!Danica I have really enjoyed following your career. So you go anywhere you like and I will be their to support You. And I will Be watching for Indy win#1

5-25-2009 @ 8:45AM

macungiee8 said...

Why lower yourself to NASCAR, a certain kind of fan follows NASCAR I don't think Patrick fits in, she has a full set of teeth !!!!

5-25-2009 @ 8:46AM

chevyliddle said...

Danica in NASCAR? Never happen unless she can learn to belch at 80 decibles, fart at 90 and learn to walk the track in bib overalls and no shoes. Drinking beer and slobbering are also pluses. I'm pretty sure that NASCAR started out as a foot race to the outhouse.

5-25-2009 @ 11:10AM

Evad347 said...

A race car driver IS A RACE CAR DRIVER people.
But I do have to agree with alot of you racing isn't what it use to be.INDY type hasn't really changed much and NASCAR has changed too much.
They need to eliminate multi-car teams and the COT...

5-25-2009 @ 11:16AM

fspitch said...

You know, after reading Holly Cain's blow job of a story and many of these posts, one would come to the conclusion there has never, ever been a more impressive third-place finish in the history of sport.

Shirley Muldowney never received this much ink, and she actually won two (2) Top Fuel season championships and 18 national events driving the baddest hot rods on the planet. Of course, Shirley never put on a bikini and pooched out her cute little ass for the camera, either, so her success went relatively unnoticed. That's a damn shame, because Shirley is the best female race-car driver ever. Period.

Patrick is a solid talent who absolutely has earned the seat in Andretti's ride. But until she grabs some consistent checkered flags, the fact is she's an also-ran. Sadly, because of the media wanting to sniff her perfume, we get the Queen of Sheba treatment.