[imagebrowser id=22]
While it’s arguable whether Danica Patrick is a good enough racing driver to merit the media attention she’s been getting over the years, there’s no debate about the fact that she is one of the more intriguing figures in NASCAR, with her sex appeal and willing to make it work for her a big reason for her popularity.
But there’s also beyond good looks for Patrick, the only woman to win a race in the IndyCar Seriesand holds the highest finish (third place) by a woman at the Indianapolis 500. She might not be as good as her popularity and recognizable factor in the media and among the public, but she’s proven more than once that she’s more than a publicity stunt to help the companies she has raced for.
Winning the Pole Position for the Daytona 500 doesn’t guarantee a win; in fact, those getting the pole have averaged a 19th place finish over recent years, but that’s still a huge achievement for Patrick, racing in NASCAR for a third year and in the Sprint Cup Series for the second season, hoping to get a bit more time on the track in NASCAR’s premier competition in 2013.