Danica Patrick has officially retired from competing full-time in NASCAR, with February’s Daytona 500 marking her final race in the series, but she isn’t quite finished with professional racing just yet; this May, she’ll officially send off her racing career at the event that made her famous, driving for Ed Carpenter Racing at the 2018 Indianapolis 500. There, she’ll drive the No. 13 GoDaddy ECR-Chevrolet before hanging up her helmet.
Patrick made waves more than a decade ago at the 2005 Indianapolis 500, qualifying fourth and finishing fourth, while becoming the first female driver in Indy history to lead laps during a race. She took the lead three different times during the 200-lap race, heading up the pack for a total of 19 laps. Her performance earned her a “Rookie of the Year” award.
Patrick’s best performance at the Indy 500 came in 2009, when she finished third. Her last IndyCar race was in 2011, after which she started focusing more exclusively on stock car racing.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – to be the team to power Danica in her final race, and to do it together here in Indianapolis is especially significant for ECR,” says team owner and driver Ed Carpenter. “When you consider the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is where Danica first made her mark in racing, it’s easy to see why this is the perfect way for her to end her career.”
“I love how everything is coming full-circle,” says Patrick. “I am going to close out my racing career at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the place where so many amazing things have happened for me.
“I’m back in GoDaddy green and joining a great team. Ed Carpenter Racing is consistently competitive at Indy. I can’t think of a better way to finish out my racing career than at the Indianapolis 500 with this team and GoDaddy.”
Danica’s No. 13 GoDaddy ECR-Chevrolet IndyCar entry will raise Ed Carpenter Racing’s total number of cars in the race to three. Carpenter will field the No. 20 ECR-Chevrolet, and J. R. Hildebrand will pilot the No. 21.
(Source: Motorsport.com)
Comments
A pretty face for commercials but she has been an absolute failure (at least in regards to all the hype surrounding her) when it comes to racing. We all know why they keep pushing her, but like my daughter said once: “I think they have done more harm to women by overhyping her (Danica) because she really doesn’t achieve anything on the track. She keeps losing to men even though they make it seem like she is the best women out there. We need a women who actually wins and achieves through merit, not some affirmative action bs, dad.”
My daughter is a smart girl and will graduate from Law school this spring. No hype or special treatment needed.
She never won anything. Her claim to fame was being the GoDaddy model.
Next………
In NASCAR, BUT…..
On April 20, 2008, 26-year-old Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Montegi in Montegi, Japan, making her the first female winner in IndyCar racing history.
Maybe get the facts straight?
Danica love you.
Sweet kisses from spain ha ha
I like so much the new Aero package for the ovals, while the F1 keep the discordants and complex aero forms and really ugly “halo”
Good Luck beauty 😉
While I heard this several days a go, it is still Great News… Hope she wins it.
Not happy that she is retiring. Hoped she would run the Indy series this season. Young women need someone like Danica in top level racing for the encouragement it provides.
Danica should have never left INDY car racing especially as her only win was the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Montegi in Montegi, Japan; NASCAR might have been too physically demanding for Danica as she appeared to be making mistakes and getting into wrecks at the later portion of NASCAR races.
She has the perfect name
DANICA
Does Anyone Notice I Crash Alot