Danica Patrick finds herself with total package at Indy

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Everywhere Danica Patrick goes at Indy, the crowds follow.

There's the camera crew documenting every move of her first month at the 21/2-mile oval, and a curious media corps - from ESPN to People Magazine - that continually peppers her with questions. When she finally gets a break from that, the autograph seekers are waiting.

It can be trying even for a veteran. But rookie Patrick sees it as a chance to prove herself.

"Driving around has been maybe the easier part," she said. "There's been a lot of media and a ton of interviews. On the track, we have a great team and great cars, and that makes it fun."

Patrick understands what's at stake: To go from being a novelty as the Indy Racing League's only woman driver to a top contender, she must show she can compete with the boys.

Her next chance comes this weekend, when Patrick hopes to join Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher as the only women to qualify for the Indianapolis 500.

Patrick has some advantages over her predecessors.

Unlike Fisher, who struggled to find full-time rides, Patrick is driving for the well-established and well-funded Rahal-Letterman Racing team. She has good equipment, an experienced crew and doesn't have to spend her time pursuing sponsorships - assets few drivers, men or women, get in their first major series ride.

The second-youngest driver on the circuit, at 23 she already is showing she can race. She has had a front-row start and a top-five finish this year, both at a race in Japan. On Thursday, she posted the fastest lap of the week - 227.633 mph - topping defending IRL points champ Tony Kanaan of Brazil (227.525) to became the second woman to lead a full practice session at Indy. Guthrie did it May 7, 1977.

Last year, she captured one pole and had 10 top-five finishes in the Toyota Atlantic series. In 2000, her second-place finish at Europe's Formula Ford Festival was the highest of any American, and she worked in St. James' driver development program as a teenager.

Team co-owner Bobby Rahal calls her the total package. Buddy Rice, the defending Indy champion, says he respects her as a teammate.

"The way she climbed the ladder is different than any other female that's come here," Rice said. "You have to pay tribute to that in some degree because her experiences and her learning curve are completely different."

Patrick also brings name recognition to a league desperately searching for prominent drivers.

Her bikini-clad photos in a men's magazine and a foray into broadcasting have helped establish her popularity. Each time she pulled into the pits during rookie orientation this week, fans cheered - an honor few rookies, including 1986 Indy champ Rahal, have received.

"There's a ton of females at the track and they need someone to root for," said Mishael Abbott, a rookie in the IRL's developmental Infiniti Pro Series.

Patrick is trying to take it all in stride.

"I think I'm a very serious, dedicated, focused driver," she said. "And I have a girlie side to me, too. I like skirts more than I like jeans."

Those who know Patrick best say there's more to this rookie than glamour. She's a darn good driver.

"She's very talented and gained a lot of experience," St. James said. "She's with a great team, and her solid foundation puts her in a unique position."

Rahal is pleased with her success so far, which includes finishing 15th at Phoenix and 12th on the road course at St. Petersburg, Fla., before last month's fourth-place showing in Japan.

But he worries about pushing her too hard, too fast.

"After Japan, there's a great deal of confidence," he said. "The whole thing for us would be not to add to the pressure she's already going to feel."

That pressure is likely to grow if Patrick finds success at Indy on May 29. "I don't think this is a different opportunity, it's just a bigger opportunity," she said. "I'm driving for a great team, with great teammates and reliable cars. I'm still learning, but I'm learning a lot."