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Danica Patrick at just 24 years old has already created a stir in Indy Car racing and now she's set her sights on joining Formula One. With two top-ten finishes in the Indianapolis 500 under her belt, this is clearly a girl in a hurry. Subscribe to our free RSS Feed and get all the latest Formula 1 information. |
Bernie Ecclestone had better watch out. After (rather bizarrely) comparing Danica Patrick (and other female racing drivers) to 'a household appliance', the diminutive boss of Formula One may have to eat his words. Danica Patrick wants to race in F1. And so far, what Danica Patrick wants, she gets. She may not have swept all before her in Indy Car, as was predicted, but nonetheless she's done enough to impress some of the more cynical observers. Last year, her first in Indy, she finished fourth in the legendary Indianapolis 500 race and was named rookie of the year. This year she was eight in the 500. If not spectacular, she has least proved she can drive. Quickly. And America has a severe bout of Danicamania. She caught the racing bug at the age when friends were still playing with Barbie's pink camper van. In 1992, while still only ten, Danica Patrick discovered carting by chance at a holiday camp with he big sister, Brooke. Her sister gave up the discipline after just a few months, but Danica, smitten by the sport, persisted. In 1993, she finished runner-up in the United States championship for her age group. At the age of 16 she took a seriously big step and moved from her native Wisconsin to England in order to get more race experience. It paid off and before long she was driving in Formula Ford, numbering a certain Jenson Button among her rivals. In 2000 she finished second in the prestigious Formula Ford Festival and caught the eye of Indy team boss Bobby Rahal. Two years later she was back in the States to join Rahal-Letterman stable. After three-year apprenticeship, she joined the Indy Car circuit in the autumn of 2005. "Today, after all these years of hard work which took me to England at the age of 16, the sacrifices are beginning to pay off," she said. "I'm ready to race in Indy Car. Since I first drove a cart at the age of ten, my dream has always been to race in the Indianapolis 500." But her goals caused a ripple of amusement. Eccelstone questioned how this tiny brunette was going to be able to drive a massive Honda V8. And Button, despite saying he would cheer her on in Indianapolis, suggested that she would never be physically strong enough to drive in F1. Danica Patrick replied with her foot to the floor. She finally finished with a lap of 39.1509 seconds, at an average speed of 250 miles per hour. She finally finished fourth in the race, the best performance ever by a woman. Afterwards, she was called by contrite Ecclestone. Maybe he realised that with Michael Schumacher's days in F1 numbered, his sport need a shot in the arm. "He said he didn't intend to wound me," said Danica Patrick. "And that he wasn't trying to insult me, rather the opposite. He wanted to make amends." But unfortunately for her male fans, she married physic Paul Hospenthal, 17 years her senior. They had met when he treated her after she injured her hip during a prolonged yoga session. Off the track, she is determined to live the quiet life. Her husband, clearly pleased with himself, said: "She's hooked on TV. She loves to cook and invent new dishes in the kitchen." But professionally she has serious plans. Victory plans. "I'm ready to win an Indy Car race," she said. "And after that, I'd like to become the first woman driver in Formula One." Bernie Ecclestone and Jenson Button will be looking over their shoulders. |
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