Biography

Danica Patrick

Jump to

Danica Patrick is the Rookie sensation of the Indy Racing League, driving for Rahal-Letterman racing, which is co-owned by racing legend Bobby Rahal, and Late Show with David Letterman (1993)'s David Letterman. Born in Wisconsin, she currently resides in Arizona. When she isn't racing around the track at speeds up to 200 mph, she enjoys traveling, yoga, and spending time with her family and friends.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jill

At just 20 years old, Danica Patrick participated in the Long Beach Pro Celebrity Race in an effort to secure a seat in CART's developmental Toyota Atlantic Series. Patrick, who had been racing overseas in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford, was greeted with disdain by some. Patrick then agreed to a bet with Tommy Kendall in an effort to prove herself. Whoever won the race would get to lead the other driver down pit lane by a leash and collar. Patrick responded by leading all pro and celebrity drivers in becoming the first female pro to win the event and, coincidentally, the bet.
In 2005 became the fourth woman (following Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher) to drive in the Indianapolis 500 auto race. She finished in 4th place, the best ever result for a female driver.
At 16, went to England to learn how to race.
Got hooked on racing when her sister, Brooke, took up go-carts (Brooke lost interest, Danica didn't).
At the 2000 Formula Ford Festival in England, she finished in second place, the best result any American driver ever earned in the race.

I'm a race car driver, and I'm a very competitive one.
Everybody loves to cheer for the under dog, and I definitely am, I'm a rookie.
"I drive pretty fast even on the highway in my Lamborghini. I don't like to drive at enormous top speed, but I do like to drive a little bit faster than everyone else. So if everybody on the highway is doing 80, I'll do 82 or something, and if people are driving 60, I'll want to do 62. I think there's something in my blood, in my instincts, that makes me want to overtake." (Newsweek, Sept. 25, 2006)
It's difficult to lose a guy like Dario, not only because he's a great driver but because he's a good friend, too. We're going to miss him. But the series made great strides over the past couple of years and this year in particular. I was asked in Detroit why I wasn't the big story after my best finish, and that's awesome. It's about having many story lines, and I think the league is developing that.
I want to win races and I wanted people to know that.

Suggest an edit or add missing content