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Danica Patrick Sets Historic First-Ever Mark In Japan :: The EDJE

by Edmund Jenks | April 19, 2008 at 09:47 pm

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Danica Patrick Sets Historic First-Ever Mark In Japan

On a day where the possibility of water seeping onto the race track threatened to postpone racing at Twin Ring Motegi, Japan (as it had done the day before), Danica Patrick uses her skills and her cool foot to out drive, out pace, and out last the top echelon of Indy Racing League drivers to become the first-ever female driver to win a race at the highest levels of professional open-wheel automobile racing.

2008 will easily go down as a year of firsts in American Motosports!

First unified open-wheel racing season in well over a couple of decades (INDY perspective). The youngest driver to win a professional open-wheel automobile race (Graham Rahal at age 19). First team to win an IRL race other than the three top teams in the IRL since 2005 when Newman/Haas /Lanigan placed Graham Rahal in the top spot in St. Petersburg. And NOW - - - The first woman to ever win a race at the highest levels of professional open-wheel automobile racing.

All of this activity and we are only two and a half races (or is that three?) into an eighteen race season.

The Dallara chassis may be old, but it still races as long as there are teams and drivers to suit up and show up.

Whats next? A ChampCar T-Team takes the championship points lead? If Graham Rahal wins in Long Beach tomorrow, he will be second in the points with three full races into the season (or is that four?).

All Hail Danica Patrick!

... notes from The EDJE

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jordan

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 05:43 on April 20th, 2008

Edmund Jenks, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Nicole Billard

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:27 on April 21st, 2008

YAY! I am so glad this milestone has been reached. For years now, females have been rising through the ranks of the motorsports pantheon, and may get the notice and support they need to keep racing at the same level. Thanks for this!