Sports

LADIES, START YOUR ENGINES!

Once again, Danica Patrick takes on the guys at the Indianapolis 500.

When Danica Patrick revs up her car on May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, she’ll be seeking a happier ending than the bittersweet one of 2005. Two years ago, Patrick lost the lead in the final 11 laps because she was short on fuel. But, there was sweetness in finishing fourth: It was the best result ever by a woman in auto racing’s premier event, and it established her as a star and a role model for women.

Although Patrick had not won an Indy Racing League event entering the 2007 season, she’s the league’s most recognizable driver, which can be good and bad. “There’s a lot of attention on me, so if I do something bad or wrong, or not up to someone else’s standards, then that can be a negative, too,” she says. “If I draw in sponsors and generate my own endorsements, that’s wonderful. But that also takes up a lot of time, so I’m much busier.”

With an autobiography, Danica: Crossing the Line, and appearances on TV shows, commercials and even music videos on her resume, Patrick is likely to remain a hot commodity on and off the track.

The 2005 IRL Rookie of the Year has had to fend off criticism that her good looks make it easier for her to attract sponsors whether she wins or not and that, at 100 pounds, her body weight gives her an advantage behind the wheel. On the sponsorship issue, Patrick says her popularity brings more attention to the IRL, not just her. And as far as her weight is concerned, she says, “There are so many more things that go into a race other than just the weight. There are pit stops. There’s how fast you are on a restart. How good are you on cold tires? How quickly do you get by people? If body weight were the only thing that mattered, then you’d think I would have won a bunch of races by now.”

Patrick, 25, has won a legion of fans, including many women who want to follow in her tire tracks. Patrick, who won national go-kart championships before moving to England at age 16 to enter road races, advises, “It has to be a burning passion. You should want to do whatever it takes to make it up the ladder system and into the top form of racing, no matter what. Make sure it’s something you really, really love—I would be surprised that you could make it to the top on just liking it.” —Cecil Harris

SPORTING EVENT CALENDER

MAY 18-20
NEW YORK YANKEES VS. NEW YORK METS New York

For the first time since the 2000 World Series, the Yankees and Mets are defending division champions. Relief aces Mariano Rivera of the Yankees and Billy Wagner of the Mets should play major roles in this weekend series at Shea Stadium.

MAY 19
THE PREAKNESS, PIMLICO RACE COURSE Baltimore

This is the second jewel of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, held two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and three weeks before the Belmont. A bit of trivia: No horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.

MAY 27
COCA-COLA 600, LOWE’S MOTOR SPEEDWAY Concord, NC

Just outside Charlotte, at the track known as “The Beast of the Southeast,” NASCAR stages a nighttime race on Indy 500 day, where Kasey Kahne will be defending last year’s title. In past years, Tony Stewart has raced at Indy and Concord on the same day.