Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history.

[Thepricebreaker]

MOTEGI, Japan - Danica Patrick became the first female winner in IndyCar history Sunday, taking the Indy Japan 300 after the top contenders were forced to pit for fuel in the final laps.
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Patrick finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval after leader Scott Dixon pitted with five laps left and Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan came in a lap later.

"It's a long time coming. Finally," Patrick said. "It was a fuel strategy race, but my team called it perfectly for me. I knew I was on the same strategy as Helio and when I passed him for the lead, I couldn't believe it. This is fabulous."

The 26-year-old Patrick won in her 50th career IndyCar start, taking the lead from Castroneves on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race.



---

Very cool, very cool!

[TomInTib]

1. Finally.

She is a very gifted athlete and has been the victim of some pretty bad breaks.

[MindPilot]

9. I wonder how long it will be before the anti-motorsports crowd

drops in to tell us how driving is not athletic and how driving fast cannot be considered a sport.

[TomInTib]

15. Then they can come out here and try to drive my car.

Clumsy fuckers probably couldn't get it off the line.

I don't care what you're driving, you get over 160MOH and you damned sure better be quick and tempered.

[EOTE]

48. Not just quick and tempered.

But motorsports (especially of the endurance variety) require a great amount of athletic ability. Sustaining such crazy g-forces for such long periods of time becomes amazingly exhausting. These people are some of the most gifted athletes in the world.

[TheWraith]

16. I think it's nice to have sports that rely on skill, not just on physical conditioning. nt

[girl gone mad]

18. Yes..

and on a personal note, it's cool to have another sport where small, light weight people have an advantage.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

22. Yes, but...

...the highest-powered categories (like Indycar and F-1) DO demand a hell of a lot of physical conditioning.

[Xenotime]

42. It scares me the carbon footprint these races generate.

[reformedrethug]

46. FYI

Indy cars run 100% ethanol.

[Xenotime]

61. Their trucks don't. Their support crews don't. The fans who attend them don't

The delivery trucks that supply them don't. You see what I'm saying?

[MindPilot]

65. I see what you're saying and that can be said for any sport

and not just sports -- concerts as well.

[jackson_dem]

85. Not to mention campaign rallies with 35,000 people

[Missy Vixen]

2. I'm not even a racing fan

but I'll tune in to watch Danica Patrick! Congratulations, Danica and team!

Julie

[Jack Rabbit]

3. You go, girl.

[Ghost in the Machine]

26. No, it's 'you GoDaddy! Girl!

LOL!

https://www.godaddy.tv/gdshop/media/lounge.asp?app%5Fhdr=&ci=9122&tab=racing

[mr_hat]

57. Thank you! I made those.

[Horse with no Name]

4. She finally shattered that particular glass ceiling

:yourock: Danica!

[MindPilot]

8. Indy, .yes, but NHRA has welcomed women to the winner's circle for decades

That always seems to go unnoticed -- as it should I guess.


Awesome win Danica!

edit typo.

[Horse with no Name]

79. NHRA is great

I went to school with kids whose parents were heavily involved...last names of Schuman, McGonigal, Brown ;)
In fact, I think the one of the ones I went to school with, Rick Schuman, is involved.

I have a healthy respect for those guys.:)

[1]

31. yeah, danica! you go girl...

but what, exactly, was the "glass ceiling" she shattered here?

a "person" drives faster and smarter than the other "persons" and wins...

where is this glass you speak of?

oh! anytime a woman does the deed for the first time they have shattered the "glass ceiling?"

oh, ok...

this "glass ceiling". i don't think it means what you think it means...

[Horse with no Name]

34. perhaps you should go back to your psychology class

I aced mine.:)
I KNOW exactly what it means.:)

[1]

35. perhaps you should just answer my question?

and share your superior knowledge with us.

you acer of classes you, you that can't answer a simple question. you that KNOW.

heh.

:)

[1]

36. heh... ok. you can't. whatever. now i know exactly what to think of your opinions...

n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

37. Who shat on your Twinkies? -nt

[1]

39. ??? i wasn't talking to you. i just wanted horse to answer a question...

i asked horse to explain his assertion.

and the response i got was *crikets* nothing.

answer my question, horse. it was just a question...

oh. or is that bad form here, asking someone to explain them self. i'm new. if we are not to question, and if i am out of line, if i should just take every post as fact and, ummm... is that how it is done here?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

51. You don't deserve an explanation because of your shitty attitude, but I'm feeling generous today.

The "glass ceiling" is the general perception that women aren't "good enough" to be winners at a top tier motorsport series.

Now you can crawl back under the rock you came from. Shoo.

[Horse with no Name]

78. Thanks commie

Much nicer than I would have been.:)

[1]

88. nice...

no.

the the "glass ceiling" is the general perception that women aren't "good enough" to compete at this level. the "glass ceiling" is the general perception that women can never attain the rank. that is the the "glass ceiling" you two fucking morons are incapable of understanding. that was my point, and the question that neither of you two fucking morons could understand or answer.

danica achieved the rank. she competed as a true professional for a long time, breaking all of your "glass ceiling" shit to the shit it was. then she broke though your imaginary "glass ceiling" in this last racing series and actually fucking WON.

"glass ceiling"? what is that now?

[HooptieWagon]

91. So, NHRA Top Fuel isn't a major series?

Shirley Muldowny won a couple championships and lots of races, beating top drivers like Don Garlits (who signed her license back in the mid 60s, IIRC).

The only "glass ceiling" the past several decades preventing women from winning an Indy Car race (or NASCAR, or F1) is that so few have tried. If you are counting solely numbers, far more men have failed to win a race than women. A woman raced NASCAR back in the 50s, women have road-raced for years. There is no policy keeping women out of major series or preventing them from winning if they participate.

[coriolis]

5. Women drivers.

I KID, I KID!!! Good for her! :D

[Nitrogenica]

6. WOOHOO Danica.

I've been waiting for this day since her Rookie season when she showed so much promise.

Very cool indeed.

[muryan]

7. Id hit it

:wow:

[lukasahero]

45. And I'm pretty sure she'd hit you right into the middle of next week.

:eyes:

[Sock Puppet]

52. ,,,

:spray: :applause:

[AlCzervik]

87. and i'm sure she'd run your ass right over and the crowd would go wild.

[Breeze54]

10. Another giant leap for women!

Go, Danica Go!! :woohoo:

Kick some dirt in those RW Nascar enthusiasts faces!

:toast: :yourock: :applause: :applause:

[AnnieBW]

11. She races IndyCars

Not NASCAR. It's the difference between fighter jet and passenger plane - or at least that's what my husband, who grew up in Indianapolis, always tells me. I just shrug and go watch football. :D

[Breeze54]

14. But Nascar is RW!

And full of good ole, mysongyist boys.

[Lugnut]

19. Stereotype much?

It's obvious you know nothing about NASCAR or it's fan base. Abraham Lincoln's statement "better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt" would be applicable in this case.

[SeattleGirl]

20. Amen, Lugnut!

Long time lefty NASCAR fan here!

[Breeze54]

28. No... most of them are and you know it!

Tough if you don't like it. Everyone knows it.

[XOKCowboy]

23. Most of the Nascar fans I know are Dems

Watch the stereotypes please.

[Breeze54]

29. i find that hard to believe....

It's all Country Western and yahoo's...

[lukasahero]

44. Good grief - wanna slam a few more groups with your stereotypes?

Why do I feel you would not like people making judgments about Danica based on her gender and yet you feel no hesitation in making the same broad judgments about people based on their entertainment preferences, etc?

[KamaAina]

64. Oh, I hear you.

All those damn RW country/western groups, like the Dixie Chicks...

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[MindPilot]

66. What was the last NASCAR event you attended? n/t

[ileus]

83. '08 spring bristol races...

[Scout]

80. sorry to bust your stereotypes, but my hubby the NASCAR fan

is not into country western, and certainly not a yahoo.

:eyes:

broaden your mind

[Breeze54]

90. Perhaps you forgot about the '01 & '04 elections?

'NASCAR is a conservative crowd -- and proud of it'
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/motorsports/nascar_plus/news/2001/02/20/nascar_politics/

NASCAR supported the RW and Bush with donations and votes 90% of the time!

[A HERETIC I AM]

17. Or perhaps more like the difference between a Ferrari and a pickup truck. n/t

[XOKCowboy]

24. Like Tomintib said "anytime you're doing over 160 mph"

IN TRAFFIC for over 3 hours you've got some superior skills. As they say in my business "If it was easy, anybody could do it".

[EOTE]

49. Well, it's a little easier when everyone else is going 160 too.

But yes, it's without a doubt a physically grueling sport that requires not only very quick thinking and reflexes, but copious amounts of strength and endurance as well.

[aikoaiko]

12. well done Danica.

:applause:

[libnnc]

13. Hot damn! Excellent news!

:applause:

Here's hoping this isn't the last win either.

[StClone]

21. My Son the physicist says

Without knowing anything about Danica or Indycars says she probably is the lightest and shortest driver on top of being very, very skilled. And he told me to figure it out on my own why he said that. Is she the lightest? I guess her short body makes her reflexes faster I guess.

Congrats Danica.

[XOKCowboy]

25. Power to weight ratio

It takes horsepower to move every pound of the vehicle. The more pounds in the vehicle the more horsepower you need to go the same speed. Plus a light vehicle is easier to handle, easier on tires and uses less gas.

[StClone]

27. Hey I found it!

http://wizbangblog.com/content/2005/05/29/racer-accuses-f.php

You were right on!

[swishyfeet]

30. Self delete

Deleting because I got out facted.

[girl gone mad]

33. Yeah..

I think she's around 5'1" or 5'2". And some men have complained that it gives her an unfair advantage. lol.. can you imagine NBA players demanding a height restriction or NFL linebackers complaining about 350 lbers?

To be fair, most of the men she competes with have been more equitable.

[eridani]

32. "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines!" n/t

[Contrary1]

38. Next up...Sarah Fisher

Just found out tonight that she married my uncle's (first marriage) great-grandson.

Go Sarah!

[Blue_Tires]

40. congrats to her...

[flvegan]

41. It was only a matter of time.

She has every bit the skill and ability as the men, and her car only has the same limits as the cars of the men. Yet, she probably weighs 25-50 lbs less than the avg male driver. That is a LOT of weight in an Indycar. Hell, that's half a car length in a quarter mile drag.

[Zuiderelle]

53. Great, then maybe women (smaller women) can edge out men all together.

Men have physical advantages in other sports, it makes perfect sense that women should be able to have an advantage here. Maybe some jockeys should retrain themselves to drive race-cars. LOL

[Seeking Serenity]

43. Auto racing is as exciting as watching the grass grow.

Mind-numbingly boring, IMHO.

Now, this is racing.

[whopis01]

55. no, that is just cruelty. n/t

[Seeking Serenity]

59. Do what, now?

Cruelty? Truly?

[whopis01]

74. Yes, cruelty. Truly.

http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=65

[Squatch]

47. ~6 seconds is an eternity in Indy Racing

:applause:

[MindPilot]

67. In NHRA it's the entire race and then some!

[BlooInBloo]

50. Was excellent strat by the crew chief. Grats to her and the team!

It'd be cool if Hammerin Hank called her up - boy, the pressure stories they could swap.

[Uncle Joe]

54. Congratulations Danica.

I'm happy for you.:)

Thanks for the thread, Thepricebreaker.

[whopis01]

56. What a waste of resources and effort.

The continued glorification of big fast vehicles is one of the contributing factors to the problems that the we face today.

[Sheets of Easter]

58. The Righteous Indignation 500 just doesn't have the same ring to it.

[Rosco T.]

60. You DO realize that Indy Cars run 100% ethenol for fuel, right?

[Xenotime]

62. Do their trucks? The Support personel? The fans? No. They all drive regular cars.

[A HERETIC I AM]

63. Well then, in the case of this particular race, you should be doubly pissed.

This race was at Twin Ring Motegi Raceway, in Japan. Which means the teams, cars and all the equipment were flown over there from the states for one race.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Ring_Motegi

[MindPilot]

68. You can say that for any sport or any public event for that matter.

The technology developed in motorsports quickly finds its way into the showroom to make your own car safer and more efficient. Show me another sport that does that.

[Rosco T.]

81. Then start condeming Baseball, Basketball, Hocky, Football...

Musical Concerts, Theater, Movies...

and any political rallys and ELECTION DAY!!!!!


freaking Luddites.

[whopis01]

71. Of course, I thought it was fairly well known that they changed to that in 2007, however

that does little or nothing to diminish their negative impact.

I never claimed that the amount of fuel used in Indy car racing was a significant impact. What is an impact is the continued worship of cars that can go really really fast. The american automobile industry has spent decades being focused on unnecessary aspects of automobiles. From giant SUVs to ridiculously overpowered sports cars. It is a cultural phenomenon that is negative and it is pushed ahead by activities such as this.

And, while we are on the subject of asking what each other DOES or DOES NOT realize - you do realize that increased demand for ethanol is driving food prices up to all time highs, right?

[Rosco T.]

82. You DO realize that is a load of bovine stuff...

.. based on THIRTY YEAR OLD DATA. You've been suckered by the oil industry.

[whopis01]

89. You DO realize that the IMF and the UN don't agree with that, right?

The UN special rapporteur on the right to food has it a crime against humanity to divert arable land to the production of crops which are then burned for fuel and called for a 5 year ban on the practice.

The IMF has called on rich countries to remove biofuel subsidies in order to lessen the impact on poorer nations. Nations that will no longer be able to purchase food.

[jakefrep]

69. Way to leave a turd in the punch bowl.

Buzz kill much?

[whopis01]

72. The turd was there all along. I just pointed out what was in the kool aid you were drinking. n/t

[jakefrep]

76. The turd was there because you put it there

If you hate cars and car racing, take it up elsewhere. Why dump on an important sporting achievement?

If auto racing is what it takes to demonstrate the potential of alternative fuels and drive systems to the public, I'm all for it.

[whopis01]

84. I hate the environmental problems that our addiction to cars causes.

And I know of no better place to take it up than on a progressive discussion board.

[truebrit71]

70. She won by outlasting her competitors...not really "racing" per se...

..but taking the chequers first still gets you on the top-step of the podium...

The only downside is that the run-up to Indy will be all Danicles, all the time.... :puke:

Here's the deal princess, when you win a race turning left AND right against the best in the world, not just a bunch of has-beens gimme a call...

Until then, you're not much more than a poster girl for a crappy series...

"The IRL...so crap even a chick can win"...


:evilgrin:

[Rex]

73. M$M is making a big deal about her crying after winning and she

even came out on tv and said that is not like her, well lady you just made history so a little crying because you are so freakin happy won't mean a thing. Just a comma in the history books (as our little dictator likes to say). News people and their freakin hangups. :eyes:

[Iggo]

75. A boy golfer cried last week when he came in 2nd...

...and the M$M thought it was just great.

[A HERETIC I AM]

77. Well, Al Jr. cried when he won his second Indy 500...

so, no biggie. Let her cry.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

86. Here is F1 racer Rubens Barrichello upon his first win in Germany, August 2000.

Some facts about this win:

- It was his first win in F1 (he was racing there since 1993);
- It was the first win by a Brazilian since Ayrton Senna's last win (also in 1993);
- Barrichello started 18th in the grid, and won the race by driving on a wet surface with dry-weather tires for about 20 laps.