Danica Races Toward History 2/21/13
By: Scott Leber
Updated: February 21, 2013
Rockford, Illinois-History is something most of us learned in school. But it's something Danica Patrick has been making ever since she hit the big time in racing.
She made history last Sunday when she became the first woman to earn the pole position for the Daytona 500. She can make some more by winning the race this Sunday.
Making history is nothing new for Danica. We all remember the big splash she made in her first Indy 500 in 2005. She became the first woman ever to lead the race. She led 19 laps. She also became the first woman to finish in the top five at Indy that day.
In 2008 Danica became the first woman to win an Indy Car race when she won in Japan.
Last year her fourth place finish in Las Vegas was the best ever on the Nationwide Series for a woman. And she became the first woman to finish in the top ten in season points in a national series.
She has also been the first female racer featured on the cover of Sports Illustarted. And she was the first female voted the most popular driver on the Nationwide Series.
Every time she makes history by beating out the guys she inspires girls no matter what sport they play.
"It makes me feel like we can do the sam things as men. Some people don't realize that," said local volleyball player Sidney Morales.
"I think it's good because women can do everything that men can do. A lot of people are thinking we're weak," says local athlete Kailyn Packard.
"It's cool, really cool," says 11 year old Alexis Lipscomb.
Danica knows the impact she has had on little girls, and she hopes little boys can learn a lesson from her also.
"It's nice to hear a little girl say 'mommy' or 'daddy that's a girl out there,' then they can have the conversation with their kid that you can do anything you want, and being different doesn't by any means not allow you to follow your dreams. I love to think that conversation happens in households because of something I'm doing."
She made history last Sunday when she became the first woman to earn the pole position for the Daytona 500. She can make some more by winning the race this Sunday.
Making history is nothing new for Danica. We all remember the big splash she made in her first Indy 500 in 2005. She became the first woman ever to lead the race. She led 19 laps. She also became the first woman to finish in the top five at Indy that day.
In 2008 Danica became the first woman to win an Indy Car race when she won in Japan.
Last year her fourth place finish in Las Vegas was the best ever on the Nationwide Series for a woman. And she became the first woman to finish in the top ten in season points in a national series.
She has also been the first female racer featured on the cover of Sports Illustarted. And she was the first female voted the most popular driver on the Nationwide Series.
Every time she makes history by beating out the guys she inspires girls no matter what sport they play.
"It makes me feel like we can do the sam things as men. Some people don't realize that," said local volleyball player Sidney Morales.
"I think it's good because women can do everything that men can do. A lot of people are thinking we're weak," says local athlete Kailyn Packard.
"It's cool, really cool," says 11 year old Alexis Lipscomb.
Danica knows the impact she has had on little girls, and she hopes little boys can learn a lesson from her also.
"It's nice to hear a little girl say 'mommy' or 'daddy that's a girl out there,' then they can have the conversation with their kid that you can do anything you want, and being different doesn't by any means not allow you to follow your dreams. I love to think that conversation happens in households because of something I'm doing."
