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And the award for the loudest applause during driver introductions goes to Danica Patrick!
Obviousy a crowd favorite and a story that will not be ignored, the 100 lb rookie senastion starts on row 2. Probaby the stupidest comment about her, besides Robbie Gordon, was a commentator saying she was the fastest female qualifier for the race. But, can she perform to the standards that have been set for her? She may have a lot of talent, but she is still a rookie and will have to be track tested to firmly set apart from the rest of the field. In many ways I believe she is forced to work harder than other drivers. Time, and a few races, will show if she is up to it.
With so many experienced and talented drivers in the field, all whom want this victory as much, if not more, winning will be difficult at best for any of them.
Former Secretary Of State, General Colin Powell offered a Memorial Day tribute and drives the pace car to lead the field to the green flag.
Kanaan takes the lead from the pole but Sam Hornish trades places back and forth until the fourth lap. Kanaaan takes the lead as Hornish settles back into third with Franchitti taking second
Coming back from a commercial to find we are on lap 15. Tony Kanaan still leading, but Helio Castroneves is in second and Danica Patrick in third. The positions change much too quickly at this point to really keep up with it though.
Lap 18. Larry Foyt snaps loose coming out of turn four and hits the wall, sending a shower of debris all over the track.
There is some controversy about Sam Hornish running over Dannica Patrick's air hose but it appears as if this is a big to do about nothing.
Restart lap 25. Kanaan leads followed by Franchitti, Patrick, Hornish and Castroneves.
Franchitti takes the lead on the restart as Patrick settles in fifth. Kanaan retakes the lead on lap 28.
Lap 38. Sam Hornish pulls a daring pass to grab the lead.
Lap 56 goes down in history. Green flag pits started with Sam Hornish heading in for tires, adjustments and fuel. Danica Patrick is left out to lead the Indy 500, becoming the first woman to ever do so.
Lap 78. A.J. Foyt IV, running off the pace through turn three, runs down the track at the same time his spotter informs him of Bruno Junqueira coming around on the inside. It is too late and they make contact, sending Junqueira around and hard into the safer barrier, disintegrating his car. Both drivers are out of the race.
During the pits, Danica Patrick stalls her engine in what may have been either a clutch problem or a simple rookie mistake. Whatever it was, she is back in 16th.
Restart lap 88, Hornish leads, followed by Franchitti, Kanaan, Sharp and Schecter.
Lap 113. Richey Hearn, running on the outside of Scott Dixon through turn two, comes down too far and collides with Dixon, taking them both out of the race.
Restart lap 123, Kanaan leads, followed by Franchitti, Hornish, Meira and Wheldon.
Franchitti takes a look and passes Kanaan for the lead, but a lap later Kanaan takes it back.
Lap 131. Almost a disaster for the young feminine star as she goes through turn four. Matsuura, running low on the inside slows considerably just as Patrick comes down into the corner, causing both to get together. Quick action by Patrick averts a wreck and both continue on.
Patrick recovers nicely though and seems to have refocused. Lap 143, she takes tenth and appears to become more agressive.
Lap 147. Bourdais pushes Hornish up into the wall coming out of turn four.
Restart lap, well no restart. We get a delay as Danika Patrick gets into Thomas Schecter on lap 157. It appears as she had gotten on the gas while cleaning off her tires when the field checked up. Patrick tore off the front wing and tore a hole in the nose cone. As the show is all about her though we do not get any ionformation on anyone else..
Finally restarting on lap 162. Meira leads but Wheldon takes over on lap 168.
Yatsukawa's engine smokes to bring out the yellow. We were in a commercial so I do not know what lap we are on.
Most of the field pits, but Patrick stays out and is the leader on the restart on 172. She is followed by Herta, Meira, Bourdaise and Franchetti.
Lap 185 Wheldon takes second and is gaining on Patrick who is forced to conserve fuel.
Just as Wheldon gets his nose in front of Patrick, the caution flies for Yatsukawa who gets into the wall.
Ok, I admit I like Patrick, but the show is not all about her. I find I am getting just a bit irritated that so much of the race is being ignored to talk about her. What caused the accident with Yatsukawa? We don't know and never will as it appears more important to look at Patrick and argue the obvious. She is in second. Get over it!
Restart lap 190. Wheldon leads followed by Patrick, Meira, Herta and Bourdoise.
Immediatly Patrick dives under Whledon and takes the lead. This only lasts for three laps though as Wheldon, without the same fuel concerns as Patrick, takes the lead back.
3 to go. Patrick's fuel problems get worse as she drops back to fourth. Meira assumes second while Herta takes third.
Two to go. Caution. We never do find out who it was or what caused the accident, but congradulations go out to Dan Wheldon and the Andretti team for the win!

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Indy car racing must be real easy when even a girl can do it!
Bring her down to Charlotte next year and see if she can even qualify for the race with the NASCAR guys.
PS. She did look good at the Indy race even if she does have to squat to peeee!

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Ramman, you're cracking me up.......lol!
You start out trying so hard to be fair to Danica..........then because of how the media handles it........you can "hear" the aggravation in your tone.........heh heh. But don't take it out on the poor girl. She did one helluva job!!! She had her few mishaps, but then we all knew that she would.....right?
I'm happy to say that it appears Miss Danica is the REAL DEAL! It's about time that a woman..........a competitive woman...........enters the ballpark.
That's been my one complaint with Nascar. They took forever to start allowing women the opportunity, but the few that they have just aren't competitive. Now, I don't necessarily put that all off on the driver, cause it takes alot more than just a driver to make a successful team.
I do see some light at the end of the tunnel though. Ray Everham has Erin Crocker working her way up, and she's looking strong. We'll just have to wait and see.
Hey, it was a great race and I was happy to see Michael Andretti get his first win as an owner............even if Danica didn't win.
I was a Mario Andretti fan back when I was a teenager and just getting into racing. He was alot younger then, too...........lol!

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Poor Dan Weldon won the race and all you hear about is the GIRL that was in the race!

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Yes but she made HISTORY he is only 1 of many who have won the race.

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I do like the girl, and she did make history. She did better than any woman in IRL. She is the first to have ever led the Indy 500. She is also cute and seems to have a nice personality.
However, as many who have changed with all the media attention, one has to wonder if she can handle the pressures fame will have on her. Driving the car and being successful is one thing. Putting this together with everything else only increases the pressure to be the best, but also adds it's own to the mix.
The first time she fails the public will turn on her and she will feel it. I kinda feel sorry for her.

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I would be more impressed if she came over to NASCAR Nextel Cup and lead a green flag lap there!

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You never know, she might. But with all the F1 training she also may get a ride there, eventually.
The one to watch in NASCAR is Erin Crocker. Evernham has her running ARCA and a few Bush races this year, The first ARCA race she was in she qualified #1 and led a good portion of the race till she made a rookie mistake and finished 12th. ARCA are old Cup chassis, so moving up won't be to hard. Also, Erin ran the World of Owtlaws and has won. Talk about a male dominated series.

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I saw a colum by Ed Hinton that stated she was given a tryout in a Bush car and did pretty darn good.

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From Ed Hinton's column;


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Or, could she possibly be courted by F1?


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