Danica

Danica Sue Patrick, an American ex-professional racer. She is the most successful woman ever to compete in American open-wheel racing. Her victory at the 2008 Indy Japan 300 is the sole win for a woman at an IndyCar Series race.Born to a working-class family from Beloit, Wisconsin, Patrick began karting at age of ten and achieved early success when she won her class at the World Karting Association Grand National Championship three times during the mid-1990s. In 1998, she quit high school and moved into England to pursue a career. Patrick was a participant in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford before returning to the United States in 2001 due to a lack of funding. In 2002, she participated in five Barber Dodge Pro Series races for Rahal Letterman Racing. Patrick was an official Toyota Atlantic Series racer for the next two seasons. Her best finish was third in the championship standings in 2004 when she became the first female to be awarded a pole in the series.She began racing in the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Racing in 2005 and took three pole positions, equaling Tomas's record of poles in her rookie season. She was awarded the 2005 IndyCar Series Rookie of Year. She saw improvement over the next two seasons, racing with Rahal Letterman Racing 2006, and later Andretti Green Racing 2007. In 2008, Patrick followed up her Japan victory to place at sixth place overall in the driver's standings. She improved her position to finish fifth in standings for drivers the following season. It was her highest result at the Indianapolis 500 and a career-high for Patrick. Patrick's overall performance dropped in the 2010 season, but she still managed to place second on the oval track. She left IndyCar in 2011 to pursue stock car racing full time.