Danica

Danica Sue Patrick is an American former professional racer. She has been the most successful woman ever to compete in American open-wheel car racing--her victory at the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the only win by a woman in an IndyCar Series race.Born to a working class family in Beloit, Wisconsin, Patrick began karting at the age of ten . She was able to achieve early success when she won her class in the World Karting Association Grand National Championship three times during the early 1990s. She quit high school after her parents' consent in 1998 and moved to the United Kingdom to further her career. Patrick raced in Formula Vauxhall, Formula Ford before returning to the United States in 2001. In 2002, she participated in five Barber Dodge Pro Series races together with Rahal Letterman racing. Patrick then raced in the Toyota Atlantic Series for the two years that followed. She was third in the championship standings of the 2004 season. In the process, she became the first woman to win a position in the series. She was awarded the Rookie of the Year for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series. She continued to grow by joining Rahal Letterman Racing (2006) and Andretti Green Racing (2007). Patrick placed sixth overall in the drivers' standings in 2008 after her Japan win. Her performance improved to earn fifth place the following season, which saw her finish a career-high third at the Indianapolis 500, the best race of any woman at the race. Patrick's overall performance dropped in the 2010 season, but she still managed to finish second at the oval tracks. Then she quit IndyCar in 2011 to concentrate on stock car racing full-time.