Danica Patrick wins Indy Japan 300
by Merritt Johnson on Apr 20th 2008 at 1:38PM 
Click above to view high-res gallery from Indy Japan 300
The third race of the IRL season and last event before the on set of the merger was history in the making. The Indy Japan 300 was a difficult race to get off the ground though, as rainy conditions cancelled qualifying and caused postponement of the race start.
Twin Ring Motegi will now forever be the site where the first female driver won an Indy Car event. Danica Patrick sealed the deal after passing Helio Castroneves with 2 laps to go in the 200 lap race. The historical event was made possible through excellent planning and strategy on the part of the Andretti Green team. Danica sat in fourth with 4 laps to go, but fuel starvation forced Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan into the pits. Fuel level was also an issue with Castroneves, he was in conservation mode in the final laps. Thanks to the efforts of her crew, Patrick had enough fuel to maintain speed throughout the race and take her first, and hopefully not last, win in the big leagues.
Gallery: Danica Patrick wins Indy Japan 300
[Source: AP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Torrent 1:50PM (4/20/2008)
Is that bottle of Champagne too big or is it just Danica's size that makes the tower her?
Oh yeah, good for her. It's about time.
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EJ25RUN 3:34PM (4/20/2008)
I'm just so proud of her. I've been waiting for this day for a long time and she deserved it so much.
She had a great race strategy and with 20 to go, i knew Dixon, Kanaan, Wheldon, and Helio didn't have enough fuel to make it to the end.
It all went crazy when Ed Carpenter who had last pitted with Danica dived for the pits, i jumped up cause i knew the race was hers. Helio tried to make it to the end but just didn't have the fuel to be aggressive so she went by and three laps latter.......THE WIN!
BIG CONGRATS DANICA! DO IT AGAIN AT INDY.
This is such an important day in racing history.
To all the nay sayers.....I watched the race from start to finish and with those final laps coming Ed Carpenter was in a similar position but Danica was able to keep speed without being aggressive. She won the race and fully deserved it. Besides In Indy car racing as well as F1, fuel strategy plays as big of a roll as anything else.
Torrent 1:51PM (4/20/2008)
"that makes the bottle tower her"
I hate when i do that.
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HotRodzNKustoms 1:54PM (4/20/2008)
Congratulations Danica!
I'm glad to see her winning. It's good for the sport.
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Cameron 2:07PM (4/20/2008)
+1
Apu 2:00PM (4/20/2008)
I don't follow Indy, but all this time I was under the impression that she already won many races before, and not an Anna Kournikova type?
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Stanton 2:26PM (4/20/2008)
Nope, she's definitely the Kournikova type ... well, except for the looks.
Good for the IRL, proving that even a no-talent hack can win with their meaningless pseudo-racing.
Blake 3:07PM (4/20/2008)
Let us not forget Anna Kournikova is a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion.
People always seem to overlook that.
meshies 2:01PM (4/20/2008)
That picture turns me on.
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ndb 2:44PM (4/20/2008)
judging by the picture you can tell it's a male-dominated sport... you can tell the male spectators got really excited.
meshies 6:42PM (4/20/2008)
WOWWWWW. Haha I didnt even know what Bukkake was, after I wikipedia'd it and looked back at the pic/situation I LOL'd.
Piecemakr 2:11AM (4/21/2008)
^^^Is this 4chan?
Guenther 8:32AM (4/21/2008)
Wow- you guys are terrible.
CarbonBlack 2:17PM (4/20/2008)
An amazing woman!
Congrats Danica, the other male racers should be honored to loose to you.
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Tragedy 6:12PM (4/20/2008)
LOSE, not 'loose'.
CarbonBlack 6:16PM (4/20/2008)
Correct, thanks.
TyWright 2:36PM (4/20/2008)
She's wifey.
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nate_687 2:43PM (4/20/2008)
Its good to see her win. Yeah she is definetly wifey.
Ian 6:13PM (4/20/2008)
Shoves it down Bernie Ecclestone's mouth re his kitchen appliance comment. He ands MM do say and do the most inappropiriate things;)
Well done Danica.....
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JapanCarBlog.com 4:36PM (4/20/2008)
Good work AutoBlog! Giving a dignified contrats unlike some other blogs out there.
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