Raceday! May 25, 2008
Posted by denmick in Uncategorized.9 comments
Danica-mania envelops Indianapolis
Race driver Danica Patrick rests her head on her helmet during a break in practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 15, 2008. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)
INDIANAPOLIS — Danica Patrick was making her first qualification attempt in May, and the grounds of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway resembled one massive game of freeze-tag.
TOM STRATTMAN / Associated Press Still riding the momentum of her historic first win in Japan, Danica Patrick will be looking to cement her status as one of the IndyCar Series’ top drivers when she starts in the second row of the 92nd Indy 500 today.
Along pit row, competing teams stopped what they were doing and turned eyes to the timing stands.
Race driver Danica Patrick, center, is surrounded by the media during an interview session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 22, 2008. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
In the stands along the straightaway, fans stood and peered toward the fourth turn, waiting for Patrick’s black-and-blue racer.
In the infield, out of sight but not sound, the young and old alike stared at huge video screens and waited for track announcer Bob Jenkins to offer lap-by-lap speeds.
And in the executive suites, top officials of what now is simply called the IndyCar Series were not-so-subtly rooting on the young woman who, it seems, could finish what the unification of the IRL and Champ Car Series started — bring plenty of positive attention back to North American open-wheel racing.
DANICA PATRICK
- Birthdate: March 25, 1982
- Age: 26
- Hometown: Roscoe, Ill.
- Residence: Phoenix, Ariz.
- Height/weight: 5-1, 105
- Husband: Paul Hospenthal
- Website: danicaracing.com
- IndyCar starts: 51
- IndyCar wins: 1, at Japan on April 19
Patrick’s speed three Saturdays ago was fast enough — at 225.197 mph for the four, 21/2-mile laps — to put her, briefly, on the pole for the 92nd Indianapolis 500.
While it did not hold up, she’ll start today’s Indy 500 in the middle of the second row, between Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan and behind Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon and Ryan Briscoe.
At the least, IndyCar racing has a buzz. And if Patrick should win the 500, the series will move back to the top of the sports pages — above even the showcase NASCAR event in Charlotte that will unfold later in the day.
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Ladies first? Tune in and see. ESPN or ABC starting about 15 minutes ago was pre-race stuff, so you still have time. (9:17 AM)
