Patience, Perseverance and Determination rewards Danica Patrick

It took 50 starts to win her first open-whel series but Danica Patrick was able to get the job done. Many would question her racing skills and think of her as just somebody who is on the circuit only because she's a woman. But her determination and her perseverance enabled her to make history by becoming the first woman to ever win a major series race.

As a woman, it was easy for her to accomplish other milestones in her racing career. These feats include being only the first woman to qualify for the Indy 500 and grabbed the highest pole position for a woman, the first woman to ever lead a lap in the Indy 500, and the first woman to win Rookie of the Year. Danica has showed much patience throughout the few years that she's been a part of the IRL and has raced farely well since she's been on. The level of respect for her was high from the fans, but it wasn't shown by her opponents on the race track.

Its almost like the being new kid in school.

When she came in the IRL and didn't show any legitimate skills, she was basically being ripped by many. Sexist remarks were made on occasion, she was labeled as "overrated", and many felt that she just didn't have what it took to compete on the track. But the win on April 20, 2008 at the Indy Japan 300 has finally taken the pressure off of her. With all of the monkeys off of her back now, will she be able to race consitently year in and year out? She could be a one race wonder, or she could be on the verge of breaking out and accomplishing all of the success that she was expected to pull off when she first came onto the IRL. Of course she is the sexiest racer to ever hit the track, but that's all people would look at her as. Just a model.

But this story is just an example of how patience and perseverance will eventually get you what you want. Danica showed us that it may take a while in order to get you what you want, but with a little bit of patience, it will all happen.

Congrats to Danica Patrick on her first when on the IRL circuit, on behalf of FGS.