Patrick Wins First IRL Race

Danica Patrick provided a watershed moment, winning her first race at the rain-delayed Motegi. She becomes the first female to win at the top level of closed-circuit motorsport.

After all the hype, Patrick has finally proven that she can win. Sure some people will point out that she won because she conserved more fuel than others but strategy is a part of racing. Just like Jimmie Johnson was able to conserve enough fuel last week at Texas.
Expectations were raised this year as she entered her second year with top outfit Andretti Green Racing. As if that sort of pressure wasn’t enough she had the pressure of been the best hope of a female to win a race. Many pointed to her weight as a reason for her past performances and this year IRL rules dictated that the overall weight must include car and driver. It makes this win even more special, as people cannot use her lighter weight as an excuse for this victory.

For her, this win proves she is more than just a pretty face. She is more than just a marketing tool for the IRL. She is a racer. The first one is in the bag. Now we shall see if she can build on it.