Danica Patrick Hints At Possible Indy 500 Return

Danica Patrick has insisted that a race winning car is imperative if the female star is to make a return to the Indianapolis 500, a race where she made her name in IndyCar racing during her debut season back in 2005. The 30-year-old female driver left the IZOD IndyCar Series at the end of last season, to pursue a career in NASCAR.

Danica Patrick’s one and only IndyCar victory in 2008

Arguably one of the most famous female sport stars in America, Danica Patrick’s shining moment in motor sport came in 2008 when she became the first female driver to win an IndyCar race at the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi. Since making the full-time switch to NASCAR, Danica Patrick has been hinting at a possible return to the Indianapolis 500.

“The Indy 500 next year, I would love to do it,” enthused Danica Patrick. “I’ve said that all along; I love the track, I love the race. I feel like it was always one of my strongest races of the year in IndyCar, so I feel like that’s something I would like to do, and maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t. But I can tell you the only way it’s going to happen is if it’s with someone I really feel I can have a shot to go out there and win.”

Danica Patrick enjoyed a highly successful IndyCar record at the brickyard, finishing within the top ten in all but one of her seven Indy 500 appearances. She also led the race on several occasions, most notably in 2005 during her debut season with the Rahal Letterman team. Danica Patrick would therefore only return if she had the opportunity to equal or even better her previous results at the legendary race, which is the crown-jewel of the IZOD IndyCar Series.

“It’s unfair to the history I’ve had and to my memory to do anything less than that,” continued Danica Patrick, explaining her desire to battle for victory. “I wouldn’t want to wreck anything I’ve experienced here with something to take away from that. So if we do it, it’ll be with a shot to be able to win. On top of that, there’s a whole lot of logistical issues to iron out. But first and foremost, a good car.”

Danica Patrick failed to make a return to the Indy 500 this season, due to commitments with the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the NASCAR calendar for both tiers of the sport consisting of over 30 rounds, Danica Patrick will be lucky to one day fit in the Indianapolis 500 around her exceedingly busy NASCAR schedule. She currently sits 9th in the Nationwide Series, with 443 points scored.