Danica Patrick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Danica Patrick
Patrick at the 2017 Camping World 500
Born	Danica Sue Patrick (1982-03-25) March 25, 1982 (age 43) Beloit, Wisconsin, U.S.
Achievements	Multiple firsts for women in American auto racing, including: First to win an IndyCar Series race First pole position in NASCAR Cup Series Most starts, laps led, and top-tens in NASCAR Cup Series. Highest finish by a woman in Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500 One of only 14 drivers to have led both races.
Awards	2005 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year 2005 IndyCar Series season Rookie of the Year IndyCar Series Most Popular Driver 2005–2010 2012 NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver
NASCAR Cup Series career
191 races run over 7 years
2018 position	47th
Best finish	24th (2015, 2016)
First race	2012 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Last race	2018 Daytona 500 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 7 1
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
61 races run over 5 years
2014 position	108th
Best finish	10th (2012)
First race	2010 DRIVE4COPD 300 (Daytona)
Last race	2014 DRIVE4COPD 300 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 7 1
IndyCar Series career
116 races run over 8 years
Best finish	5th (2009)
First race	2005 Toyota Indy 300 (Homestead)
Last race	2018 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)
First win	2008 Indy Japan 300 (Motegi)
Wins Podiums Poles 1 7 3
Statistics current as of November 18, 2018.

Danica Sue Patrick (born March 25, 1982) is an American former professional racing driver. She is known as the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing. Her win in the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the only victory by a woman in an IndyCar Series race.

Early Life and Racing Beginnings

Beloit, Wisconsin, where Patrick was born in 1982.

Danica Patrick was born in Beloit, Wisconsin. She came from a working-class family. At age ten, Danica started karting.

She quickly became successful. She won her class three times in the World Karting Association Grand National Championship. This happened in the mid-1990s.

In 1998, she left high school early. Her parents agreed with her decision. She moved to the United Kingdom to focus on her racing career.

Starting Her Professional Career

Patrick raced in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford. She returned to the United States in 2001. This was because she didn't have enough money to continue racing there.

In 2002, she joined Rahal Letterman Racing. She competed in five Barber Dodge Pro Series races.

After that, Patrick raced in the Toyota Atlantic Series. She raced there for two years. In the 2004 season, she finished third overall. She also became the first woman to win a pole position in that series.

IndyCar Racing Highlights

Patrick driving for Rahal Letterman Racing at the 2006 Indianapolis 500

Danica Patrick started racing in the IndyCar Series in 2005. She drove for Rahal Letterman Racing. In her first year, she earned three pole positions. This tied a record for a rookie driver.

She was named the Rookie of the Year for the 2005 Indianapolis 500. She also won the Rookie of the Year for the entire 2005 IndyCar Series.

She continued to improve in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, she won her first race. This was the 2008 Indy Japan 300. She became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race. She finished sixth in the overall standings that year.

In 2009, she improved even more. She finished fifth in the championship. She also placed third at the 2009 Indianapolis 500. This was the best finish ever for a woman in that famous race.

Her performance slowed down a bit in 2010. But she still earned two second-place finishes on oval tracks. She left IndyCar after the 2011 season. She decided to focus on stock car racing full-time.

NASCAR Career

Patrick waiting to practice at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at the 2014 Kobalt 400

Patrick started racing stock cars in 2010. She competed in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (now called the Xfinity Series). Her best finish was fourth place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011.

In 2012, she finished tenth in the season standings. This was her highest position in the Nationwide Series. She also became the second woman to get a pole position in the Nationwide Series. Shawna Robinson was the first in 1994.

Patrick began racing in the Sprint Cup Series (now NASCAR Cup Series) in 2012. In 2013, she made history again. She became the first woman to win a Cup Series pole position. This was for the famous 2013 Daytona 500. She finished eighth in that race.

In 2015, Patrick broke Janet Guthrie's record. She earned the most top-ten finishes by a woman in the Sprint Cup Series. She stopped racing full-time after the 2017 season. She competed in the 2018 Daytona 500 and the 2018 Indianapolis 500. After these races, she officially retired from racing.

Public Image and Influence

Patrick in 2010

Danica Patrick is a very well-known racing driver. Many people recognize her just by her first name.

She has been on the cover of magazines like TV Guide and ESPN: The Magazine. She has also been on lists of beautiful people and top female athletes. People magazine named her one of the most beautiful people in the world in 2006.

Patrick has also been on lists of powerful and popular sports figures. Bloomberg Businessweek ranked her among the most powerful people in sports. Time magazine considered her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2009 and 2010.

Danica promotes healthy living. She worked with Williams Sonoma to support No Kid Hungry. This group helps end childhood hunger in the United States.

Danica is a great role model for young girls. She has said that many people doubted her because she was a girl. But her message to girls is to ignore those doubts. She encourages them to keep doing what they love. She believes you can enjoy "girly" things like manicures and shopping. And you can also be a successful racecar driver!

Personal Life

In 2005, Danica married Paul Edward Hospenthal. He was a physical therapist. They met in 2002 when she was recovering from an injury. They divorced in 2013.

From 2012 to 2017, she was in a relationship with fellow driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr..

She was also in a relationship with NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers. This was from 2018 to 2020.

In 2021, she was linked to businessman Carter Comstock. In 2022, she confirmed their relationship had ended.

Danica Patrick Quotes

• "Sometimes it takes looking at the past to really be able to move forward and learn from it."
• "We don't do things we aren't good at by nature. I wouldn't play basketball because I'm only 5' 1". Find what you enjoy... Once you've done that, you have the passion you need."
• "I've never seen myself as a 'girl driver.' I'm just a driver."

Interesting Facts About Danica Patrick

• Danica was a cheerleader in high school.
• Her favorite sport to watch is Football.
• She once wanted to be a singer.
• Danica enjoys cooking. Her least favorite food is popsicles.
• Her mother was a snowmobile mechanic. She had the nickname "Captain Traction."
• Her father raced cars, motorcycles, and snowmobiles.
• In 2024, she became a commentator for the Netflix show Formula 1: Drive to Survive. This was for its sixth season.

Filmography

Television

Music Videos

Video Games

Images for kids

• 

  Bobby Rahal (pictured in 2004) hired Patrick on a three-year contract to race for his team, Rahal Letterman Racing.

• 

  Patrick at a post-season test session at Barber Motorsports Park in October 2007

• 

  Patrick won her first race at the 2008 Indy Japan 300 and became the first woman to win an IndyCar Series event.

• 

  Patrick's car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2009

• 

  Patrick racing for Andretti at the 2011 Indy Japan: The Final

• 

  Patrick during the 2018 Indianapolis 500

• 

  Patrick during her only ARCA start in 2010

• 

  Patrick driving for JR Motorsports at the 2012 Sargento 200

• 

  Patrick during practice for the 2013 NRA 500

• 

  Patrick racing at Dover International Speedway in 2014

• 

  Patrick racing at Michigan International Speedway in 2015

• 

  Patrick racing at Richmond Raceway in 2017

• 

  Patrick at the 2010 Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg

See also

In Spanish: Danica Patrick para niños