Danica

Danica Sue Patrick is an American former professional racer. She is the most successful female in the history of American open-wheel car racing. Her victory in the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the sole win for a woman in an IndyCar Series race.Born to a working-class family from Beloit, Wisconsin, Patrick started karting at the age of 10 and gained early success by winning her class in the World Karting Association Grand National Championship three times in the mid-1990s. She dropped out of high school with her parents' permission in 1998, and moved to the United Kingdom to further her career. Patrick raced in Formula Vauxhall, Formula Ford before she returned to the United States in 2001. In 2002 she raced in five Barber Dodge Pro Series races for Rahal Letterman Racing. Patrick was a Toyota Atlantic Series racer for the following two seasons. Her best result was third in the championship standings for the 2004 season when she became the first female to win a pole position in the series.She began racing in the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Racing in 2005. She earned three poles, equalling Tomas's record of poles during her rookie season. She was awarded the Rookie of Year for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series. She improved over the next two years working for Rahal Letterman Racing in 2006 and later Andretti Green Racing in 2007. Patrick was sixth in the drivers' standings after her victory in Japan. She then improved to place fifth in the drivers' standings following the season. This was her most impressive result at the Indianapolis 500 and a career-high for Patrick. Patrick's overall record was disappointing in 2010, but she scored two second-place finishes at oval tracks prior to leaving IndyCar to focus solely on stock car racing.