April 20, 2008

On this day in 2008, 26-year-old Irish-American Danica Patrick became the first woman to win the Indy Japan 300. This made her the first female winner in IndyCar racing history. Just three years prior, she had made her Indy 500 debut in 2005, where she finished in fourth place. Only the fourth woman to compete in the Indy 500, she became the first woman ever to lead a lap (she led for 19 laps) in the 500 mile race. Later in 2005, she earned Rookie of the Year honors and finished 12th overall. She has appeared twice in Sports Illustrated.