Danica Patrick Makes IndyCar History: Wins Japan 300

As regular readers know, The Beef of God is a Danica Patrick fan. No wonder why, really.

Well, the world’s fastest hot babe has now made Indycar history by winning the Japan 300. She is the first woman to accomplish this feat, and she’s only twenty-six years old.

“MOTEGI, Japan (AP) - 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.
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.

“I think Danica is such a fantastic person and I’m thrilled for her that the monkey is finally off of her back,” said Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing. “We have all believed in her and she proved today that she is a winner. Frankly, I think this is the first of many.”"

I love fast women.

UPDATE: Bruce Martin has posed an excellent article at Sports Illustrated on the deep, deep significance of this win, coming as it does on Danica’s 50th race, and at the point that IndyCar racing has been reunified for the first time in decades. Very well done, to both Danica and Bruce.