Race fans have a lot to be excited about for this year’s Indianapolis 500. For starters, Indiana Motor Speedway will allow up to 135 thousand fans in attendance, which is approximately 40% capacity. The race will also be held on the traditional Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend after last year’s race was moved to August and held without fans due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Finally, to top off the excitement, former racing star Danica Patrick will be driving the pace car to start the race.
Patrick, now 39, is the perfect choice for driving the pace car because of her record-setting performances as a woman at the prestigious race, and is by far the most successful female auto-racer ever. In 2005, Danica Patrick won the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, and the IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year. In the 2009 Indianapolis 500, Danica finished third, which set a record for the highest placing woman driver in the track’s history. That record hasn’t been broken since. She also holds the Indianapolis 500 record for the most laps led by a female driver (29), and is among the list of 14 drivers to have led laps at both the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. Danica’s only race win in the IndyCar Series came in the 2008 Indy Japan 300, and her best season-end finish was 5th place in the 2009 IndyCar Series. In addition to her victory in the Indy Japan 300, Danica would finish her career with 7 podiums and qualified for the pole position 3 times.
Danica’s popularity was high throughout the duration of her career as she was voted IndyCar Series Most Popular Driver from 2005-2010. She was also voted Favorite Female Athlete of the Year at the 2008, 2012, and 2013 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and the legend award at the 2018 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports. Danica’s popularity held steady even after she transitioned to stock car racing in 2010. She was voted the NASCAR Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver of the Year in 2012. Danica Patrick retired from racing completely in 2018 after one final run at the Indianapolis 500.
The 2021 Indianapolis 500 will be the 105th edition and will take place on Sunday May 30th at 12:45 pm eastern time.
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