Danica

Danica Sue Patrick is an American former professional race driver. She is the most successful female in American open-wheel racing time. The victory she won in Indy Japan 300 was her first victory. With the approval of her parents, she dropped out of highschool and moved to the United Kingdom in 1998 to pursue a career in the sport. Patrick was a racer in Formula Vauxhall, Formula Ford and Formula Ford before returning to the United States in 2001. She took part in five Barber Dodge Pro Series races in 2002 with Rahal Letterman Racing. Patrick was an official Toyota Atlantic Series racer for the following two seasons. Her best performance was when she finished third in championship standings in 2004 when she became the first woman to take a pole in the series.She first drove in the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Racing in 2005. She earned three pole positions. This was the same as Tomas's record of three poles in her rookie season. She was awarded the 2005 IndyCar Series Rookie of Year. She saw improvement in the subsequent two seasons, racing with Rahal Letterman Racing 2006, and then Andretti Green Racing 2007. In 2008, Patrick followed up her Japan victory by finishing at sixth place overall in the drivers' standings. Her performance improved to finish fifth in drivers' standings the next season. This was her best performance in the Indianapolis 500 and a career-high for Patrick. Patrick's overall form dropped during 2010, but she managed to finish second at the oval track. She left IndyCar in 2011 to pursue stock car racing full-time.