Born in Wisconsin and raised in Roscoe, Illinois, Danica began racing go-karts at 10. She won several go-kart national championships before moving to England at 16 to advance her racing career (and de-advance her taste buds). Across the pond, Danica placed second in the ultra-competitive Formula Ford Festival—the highest finish ever by either a woman or an American.
DANICA PATRICK (born March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin) is an American auto racing driver, currently competing in the IndyCar Series. DANICA PATRICK was raised in Roscoe, Illinois. DANICA PATRICK was named the Rookie of the Year for both the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series season. In May 2006, DANICA PATRICK published her autobiography, Danica: Crossing the Line. With her win in the 2008 Indy Japan 300, DANICA PATRICK became the first woman to win an Indy car race. DANICA PATRICK also has an equity stake in her #7 team.
DANICA PATRICK began go-karting in 1992 at the age of 10, and went on to win several World Karting Association championships. DANICA PATRICK moved to England at the age of 16 in order to advance her racing career. DANICA PATRICK raced in Formula Ford and Formula Vauxhall, earning a second-place finish in Britain's Formula Ford Festival, the highest finish by a woman in the event.
In 2002, DANICA PATRICK started driving for former Indy car racer Bobby Rahal and late night TV host David Letterman in the United States. After making several starts in the Barber Dodge Pro Series, DANICA PATRICK moved to the Toyota Atlantic Championship for 2003. Driving for Rahal Letterman Racing, DANICA PATRICK won one pole and was a consistent podium finisher (top three); however, DANICA PATRICK never won a race. In 2004, DANICA PATRICK finished third in the Championship.
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There has been much controversy over DANICA PATRICK's presence in auto racing and her success in promoting herself as a female driver. Some drivers and racing professionals have supported DANICA PATRICK and other women drivers, and others have been resistant to the influx of women in the sport. Several male drivers have made negative comments about DANICA PATRICK's ability, as a woman, to race successfully. Former driver Richard Petty responded, in a separate interview, by stating, "I just don't think it's a sport for women, and so far, it's proved out. It's really not. It's good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity, it gives them publicity. But as far as being a real true racer, making a living out of it, it's kind of tough." DANICA PATRICK has also been critized for her off track attitude. DANICA PATRICK has been engaged in multiple shouting matches with other drives. Other drivers have also critizes her "unfair and undeserved" amount of publicity considering DANICA PATRICK is not considered one of the top drivers and has only one career victory.
However, after DANICA PATRICK's IRL win, she was praised by many drivers. NASCAR driver and former IRL champion Tony Stewart, for example, said "I think obviously she's got talent; she's been successful in every form of racing she's been in so far and I don't see why she wouldn't be successful here."
DANICA PATRICK has hosted several TV shows on Spike TV, including the "Powerblock", and she was featured in the 2005 documentary Girl Racers. On the August 23, 2007 episode of Diggnation, hosts Alex Albrecht and Kevin Rose shot live at Infineon Raceway, where they were treated to a lap around the track in the IndyCar Safety Car driven by DANICA PATRICK. On April 24, 2008, DANICA PATRICK was a guest on the Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night With Conan O'Brien on April 25, 2008.
DANICA PATRICK was featured on the cover of the June 6, 2005 issue of Sports Illustrated, making her the first Indianapolis 500 driver on the cover since Al Unser, in victory lane, following his upset fourth victory in 1987. After her participation in the 2005 Indianapolis 500, she was asked by PLAYBOY to have her NUDE PICTURES taken to be published in a future edition of its magazine. DANICA PATRICK declined the offer, but she did participate in a "20 Questions" interview with Jason Buhrmester for the magazine's July 2007 issue. DANICA PATRICK had also previously posed for FHM, appearing in the April 2003 issue. Recently DANICA PATRICK was on the cover of the September/October 2006 issue of travelgirl magazine and the October 2006 issue of American Libraries. DANICA PATRICK appears in the February 15, 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. DANICA PATRICK is featured in a 4-page photo spread.
DANICA PATRICK appeared in commercials for Secret deodorant in 2005 and 2006 until she was replaced by Rihanna in 2007. DANICA PATRICK also appeared in Jay-Z's music video "Show Me What You Got," where she drives a Pagani Zonda Roadster. A spot for the Honda Civic Coupe features DANICA PATRICK trying to avoid a speeding ticket.DANICA PATRICK on Pole Day at Indy, 2007.Patrick was featured in an ESPN "This Is SportsCenter" commercial, which showed then-anchor Dan Patrick towing her IndyCar due to a reserved space misunderstanding (the space in question being reserved for "D. Patrick"). DANICA PATRICK can also be seen in award winning corporate training videos Four Weeks In May and T.E.A.M.W.O.R.K.
During testing at Phoenix International Raceway, GoDaddy filmed a commercial with DANICA PATRICK that has also aired nationally. During the same test, at the invitation of GoDaddy, DANICA PATRICK met with Paul Teutul, Sr. and Mikey Teutul, and subsequently appeared on an episode of American Chopper. DANICA PATRICK was also in a 2008 "inspirational, feel-good" Go Daddy commercial called "Kart" that features a young girl who aspires to be like DANICA PATRICK. On February 1, 2009, DANICA PATRICK appeared in two GoDaddy.com commercials advertised during Super Bowl XLIII. The Most Watched Super Bowl commercial of 2009, according to Tivo, was Patrick's "Enhancement" ad for GoDaddy.com.
Recently DANICA PATRICK was voted sexiest athlete in Victoria's Secret "What is Sexy" list. DANICA PATRICK also was voted #42 in 2006 and #85 in 2007 in FHM's 100 sexiest women in the world.
DANICA PATRICK's parents, T.J. and Bev Patrick, met on a blind date at a snowmobile event in the 1970s when Bev was a mechanic for a friend's snowmobile. T.J. raced snowmobiles, motocross, and midget cars. They have owned a Java Hut and a plate glass company.Prior to getting into auto racing, she was a cheerleader at Hononegah Community High School near Beloit in 1996. DANICA PATRICK dropped out of high school and attained a GED.
Currently, T.J. helps his daughter DANICA PATRICK by driving her motor coach and managing her Web site and merchandise trailer and Bev handles Patrick's business affairs. DANICA PATRICK is married to Paul Edward Hospenthal, who had previously been her physical therapist while she was recovering from a yoga injury. DANICA PATRICK converted to Roman Catholicism upon marrying Hospenthal in 2005.
DANICA PATRICK won the 2008 Kids Choice Award for favorite female athlete.DANICA PATRICK has received two speeding tickets in her hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona. The first, in 2007, was for driving 57 mph (92 km/h) in a 40 mph (64 km/h) zone, for which DANICA PATRICK was ordered to attend traffic school; the second, in 2008, was for going 54 mph (87 km/h) in a 35 mph (56 km/h) zone, and DANICA PATRICK paid a $196 fine.
