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Press Releases by Danica Patrick
June 10, 2002
20-year-old
Female Driving Sensation Danica Patrick Signs with Rahal
MONTEREY,
Calif. (AP) _ American Danica Patrick has signed with Team
Rahal with the goal of getting behind the wheel of a CART
entry in the next few years. Patrick, 20, will drive in three
races this year in the Barber Pro Dodge series, the entry
level in the CART ladder system for drivers. Next year, she
will race a full season for Rahal in the Toyota Atlantic Series,
the level just below CART. She will be the first woman driver
in the Atlantic series since 1974.
"I
believe in taking things slowly and making sure that I'm ready
for the next step at all times,'' Patrick said at a news conference
before Sunday's CART Bridgestone Grand Prix of Monterey. "I'm
not sure how long it will take to get to CART. Right now that
is the goal. Whether it takes a year or two years of Atlantic,
only time will tell.''
Team
owner Bobby Rahal said he hopes the deal will mean a long-term
relationship that will result in her success as a driver at
the top level.
"My
goals for her are for her to be successful for the long run,''
he said. "The danger for a person like Danica who shows
so much promise is to be rushed, to get into a series when
they're not quite ready yet.''
Patrick's
combination of charisma and skill could bring new fans and
attention to CART, which has struggled in its rivalry with
the IRL. She welcomes those expectations.
"There
is no doubt that I can bring something different and something
new to CART,'' the five-foot-one, 100-pound Patrick said.
"I'd love to be a part of that. I'd love to see it grow
because of a different crowd coming in, and different sponsors,
just bringing something new and fresh to the championship.
With time, I think I can do that.''
Patrick
began racing go-karts at age 10 and won her first national
championship at the age of 12. At age 15, she won two World
Karting Association grand national titles and set her sights
on auto racing.
She
completed the Formula Ford racing school in 1998, and competed
in the Formula Vauxhall tour in England that winter and again
in 1999. She moved up to the Formula Ford European Series
in 2000. That year, she finished second in the Formula Ford
Festival championship in England, the highest finish ever
for a woman and tying the highest finish by an American. Danny
Sullivan was second in the race in 1974.
On
April 13, she won the pro division at the Toyota Pro-Celebrity
Race at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
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