http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing...ory?id=3355226

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ins-at-motegi/

It took a little while (and me missing the race!!!!!!!!) for her fun but she finally took one. I'm curious as to how the rest of the season shapes up, now.

 

Good for her, she's def been knocking on the door for awhile now!!!

 

It was very cool.

She drove a good race, staying usually about 6-8th place. After she came in for the last minute splash and go, she continued to hang back, saving fuel. When everyone else but her and Helio pitted, you could tell Helio was in gas save mode, and Danica had saved enough to blow past him on the second to last lap!

A great win! Smart girl!

 

Yes this was a long time coming & she deserved the win. She has talent & now hopefully she can silence some of her doubters.

 

I wouldn't get too optimistic--and this is coming from someone who would like to see her do well (although she isn't always the nicest person in the world, at least to fans...). She has run good, but not great, the two races prior to this, and she one this more on strategy than on a great drive--not that there is anything wrong with that, but the scenario that played out to get her the win doesn't happen very often.

Good to see her (finally) get the win though, and I hope there is more to come this year...

 

Good to see! I was at her 1st race at Indy, she brings alot of excitement to the series.

 

I would wager that half of all oval races are won by someone who had the race fall in their lap.

Patrick, Castroneves, and Carpenter all played the fuel mileage game at the end. It worked better for Danica.

Would people be slamming Castroneves if he'd won the race using the exact same strategy?

 

No, and I'm not slamming Danica for winning the way she did either (that was that "not that there is anything wrong with that part in my post). And with all due respect, I disagree that half the oval races are won this way. One of the criticisms of open wheel racing is that the races aren't close, and don't usually play out this way--its usually a dominant car/team that wins the race.

All I'm saying is don't get your hopes up--she's not going to dominate this year, and it wouldn't surprise me if this is the only win for her this year--especially with the other teams in the mix from here on out (Which I'm also looking forward to, as they've proven they're capable of winning right of the bat).

 

It's a team sport & the win went to the team. Danica did her part & so did the team. Great work all around.

I hate to see races become fuel economy contests, but sometimes they do. Like Gromet801 said many others have won this way. It happens & I'm happy Danica & her team prevailed.

 

Excellent Danica! She has shown good form for a long while first with Rahal and now with Andretti Green. Great job, you go girl.

 

Speaking of her "good form" don't miss her pictures in this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.....

 

WHAT??? Good form all along? She was brought up too quickly, with very little Indy car experience (not her fault, and that's not the first time thats ever happened to a driver), and blew Indy--she had the best car in the field a few years back--by stalling not once, but twice in the pits. She is just now hitting her stride, and despite that, she is at best the second best driver--arguably third best--on her own team. Granted, its a pretty good team, and it will give her an edge--her pit boss certainly did on the last race.

She has talent, but she's just now beginning to put it together. She has been rightly criticized in the past for being too passive on the track, and expecting (initially actually demanding) that same passivity from other drivers. She is a notch below the best in the series, but is now capable of winning, and she's closing the gap. If she continues to progress at the rate she has the past couple of years, next year she could be a serious threat.

I'd love to see her win some more races--it'd be a great boost to open wheel racing, which FINALLY appears to be heading in the right direction. It would surprise me tremendously if she won more than one more race this year, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if this is the only race she wins this year. But I expect her to drive better than she did last year, and next year should be interesting....

 

2007 : two thirds and one second for three podiums, she's is a winner in the making.
2006 : new vehicle, teammate dies in wreck, off year.
2005 : IRL rookie with three poles.

All in all I'd give her good form.

 

With all due respect, she's a good driver. A great driver, with the equipment and teams she had--she had the best of the best--would have one more than one race, especially in 2005. Case in point in 2005:three poles, no wins. She can drive on an empty track, but she's still learning on a full one. She wasn't there in 2005, she made progress last year--2005 and 2006 were more alike than different. She's getting there, but she good form is a stretch--up until last year. She's not a great driver yet. She does have the potential, she's on a great team that is helping her out, and she has improved significantly to get to where she's at today. 3 poles in 2005 may look great, but she is a much better driver than she was in 2005, wether she gets a pole this year or not. She'd win at least one of those races from 2005 if she could do them over...

I'm sorry, but even she'd probably tell you her form wasn't so hot in 2005/2006 (her driving form that is; she's supposedly pretty happy with her "other" form, as are most males with a measurable testosterone...).

 

You mean this one?!

 

Well, years over (still digging that picture above), and I think its fair to say Danica is, well, a disappointment (on the track that is). One win (which was won on strategy, not by driving--there is nothing wrong with winning on strategy, but any driver would tell you given the choice between the two, they'd rather win by driving by someone on the track than on the pits).

She's also gotten a reputation for trying to hold position by driving with her mirrors, rather than trying to gain position by looking ahead and catching the car in front of her. This happend numerous times over the remainder of the year, and got her into trouble a couple of times. The "big, happy family" and Andretti racing isn't so happy anymore either; it'll be interesting how next year plays out. Danica may not get so much help from Kanaan next year (Marco though will probably get even less), and both of them need it.

And next year, with the merger, and more competition with this season under there belt, and few new tracks on the docker, things will only be tougher.

The best female driver may very well be the one without a concrete sponsor, Sarah Fisher (Milka is out of her league on the Indy circuit, at least at present, Danica DID get that one right).

 

It's hard to take anyone seriously who poses in such rediculous fashion.

 

I dunno. I seen more male drivers then I can count doing beefcake poses.

 

I don't mind the pose, she's a good looker & a great driver. But that signature makes her look like she has a Foo Man Choo mustache. Too funny!!!