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Danica in Japan

27. Mar 2023 
by Ziv Knoll
2042 views

The Indy Japan 300 was the third round of the 2008 IndyCar Series season. Originally scheduled for the afternoon of April 19, at the 1.52-mile (2.45 km) Twin Ring Motegi, the race was delayed by 22 hours until the next morning, due to water sweeping up onto the track, from previous heavy rains.

Due to rain in the Tochigi region, qualifying had been cancelled and the field was set by driver points. Brazilian Hélio Castroneves thus started from pole position for Penske Racing, while American Danica Patrick, always at ease on this short oval, started in sixth for Andretti Green Racing. She won the race and became the first (and only so far) female winner in IndyCar history. Hélio Castroneves (picture below) had to be content with second.

Danica Patrick first drove in the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Racing in 2005 and took three pole positions. She was named Rookie of the Year for both 2005 Indianapolis 500 and the 2005 IndyCar Series. In 2008, Patrick followed up her Japan victory to place sixth overall in the drivers’ standings. She improved on this to secure fifth in the following season, which saw her finish a career-high third in the 2009 Indianapolis 500, the best performance by any woman at the race.

Source: DR

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