MOTEGI, Japan — Danica Patrick was always sure a woman could win a race. And now the questions about her ability to do so will surely stop.
Patrick made it to the place she wanted to be for so long — Victory Lane. She became the first female winner in IndyCar history Sunday, capturing the Indy Japan 300 in her 50th career start.
“I’m glad it finally happened,” Patrick said. “But I would be lying if I told you I didn’t think it would be me.”
Her owner was ecstatic, insisting more victories await. Her family could not congratulate her enough. All of which made Patrick a bit teary.
“When it actually happened, maybe it was a little anticlimactic,” she said. “Then the emotions came out and that was a little girly of me.”
Win No. 1 was a long time coming. Patrick, 26, finished a career-best seventh in the standings last year, when her best finish was second in the race at Detroit’s Belle Isle. Her first IndyCar race was in 2005 at Homestead-Miami.
“I’ve been asked so many times when and if I can win my first race,” she said. “And, finally, no more of those questions.”
Patrick was welcomed by her family near the podium.
“There was a lot of ‘I love you’ and ‘congratulations,’ ” Patrick said. “My dad said it was the best day of his life.”
Michael Andretti, co-owner of Andretti Green Racing, called his driver a “fantastic person. I’m thrilled for her that the monkey is finally off of her back. We have all believed in her, and she proved today that she is a winner. Frankly, I think this is the first of many.”
Patrick took the lead from pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race and finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of Castroneves.
Less than 24 hours after Patrick’s victory, Simona De Silvestro, the only woman in the 23-car field for the Atlantics Championship season opener in Long Beach, Calif., earned her first win in the Champ Car developmental series.
De Silvestro, 19, joined Katherine Legge as the only female winners in Atlantics.
“Danica wins; I win. It’s a perfect weekend,” the Swiss driver said with a grin.
