March 18, 2013

The start of the open wheel race season is this weekend in Melbourne, Australia with Formula 1.  Next weekend we have the IRL in St. Petersburg, Florida.  It's time for a racing blog!

Today, we look back at Danica Patrick in 2005 at the Milwaukee Mile's IRL race.

Danica had three years of Toyota Atlantic racing and many years of kart experience.  She was now ready for Indy cars.  Bobby Rahal and David Letterman took a chance and put her on their team with Buddy Rice as her teammate.

She had a pretty good year winning the Rookie of the Year award and finished 12th in points.  Her highlight of the year was the Indy 500 where she started 4th and finished 4th and also led for 19 laps.  She was the first woman to lead at Indianapolis in history.

Danica also earned 3 pole positions in 2005.  At Milwaukee she started 6th and finished 19th due to an accident.

Thanks to Danica, every little girl was now into racing and Indy cars.  I also think that Danica was a popular name for babies in 2005!  When these little girls grow up we will find out how many become race car drivers and have the name Danica.

Television ratings went up and so did interest in Indy cars thanks to Danica.  Every step of her life was now being followed. Her parents, Bev and TJ, have been her number one supporters.

It is a nice little racing family and I continue to wish them the best of luck even though she is now in NASCAR!

Blog photos for your office or race room are on sale for $50.00 for a limited edition 8 1/2 X 11 archival print.  Danica would look nice in your race room. Wouldn't she?

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann