Danica Patrick's 3rd right now

[admin]

Danica Patrick is 3rd so far at Indy, I think she will go out and try for the pole...she sure was loose on that first lap.

I think it would be cool if she pulled it off and got the pole...

[cmorz]

Originally Posted by admin Danica Patrick is 3rd so far at Indy, I think she will go out and try for the pole...she sure was loose on that first lap. I think it would be cool if she pulled it off and got the pole...

I think she's way better than Sarah Fisher. And I hope she does make the pole for the Indy 500.

[admin]

She stood on her first run...starts 4th.

Her parents and fiancée will attest that IndyCar Series rookie Danica Patrick is headstrong. She’ll acknowledge being focused. Arriving for the Month of May action at the world’s most famous racetrack, her single-minded mission was to secure the MBNA Pole for the 89th Indianapolis 500.
Starting the May 29 classic from the inside of Row 2 isn’t, in her estimation, a defining moment in her career. But it’s a good start for her next goal – winning the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”
Patrick, surrounded by media and receiving ovations from the throng sitting and standing behind her Rahal Letterman Racing pit every time she entered and exited the No. 16 car, recorded a four-lap average of 227.004 mph (2 minutes, 38.5875 seconds) early in the six-hour window that constituted MBNA Pole Qualifying.
“I think it's important to keep in perspective at what point I'm at,” said Patrick, who was attempting to become the first female to sit on the pole in the 500-Mile Race. “This is my fifth IndyCar (Series) race. I'm a rookie. I'm pulling the rookie card now. I think it's been a pretty great month so far.
“I shouldn't be mad. I have a job, and I drive for an awesome team, and I have good solid sponsors, so why am I mad?"
Patrick was bolstered by the pre-qualifying practice session in which she set the standard for the month at 229.880 mph. But a bobble coming out of Turn 1 led to a first qualifying lap of 224.920 mph, and essentially prevented her from challenging provisional pole sitter Tony Kanaan’s time (2:38.1961).
She recovered, posting three laps above 227 mph, including the fastest of the qualifying session (227.860 mph on Lap 4). But the 23-year-old Phoenix resident, who was quickest on both days of the Rookie Orientation Program last week and among the fastest drivers each practice day, would have to settle for fourth.
“I was the fastest one this morning, and I just think that I was like, 'All I needed to do was lift in (Turn) 1 before I went in.' But if I would have done that and not been on pole, I would have been pretty mad at myself for leaving something on the table,” she said. “I drove my butt off and I drove it into the corner, and it stepped out on me, and I kept going around, got my foot back in it again. I knew I had to finish the run.
"I just about had it. I feel like I wasted a pole car. But maybe I saved it, too. I don't know if it was my mistake or not. Whether an itty bitty gust of wind or the tires weren't up to temp, God knows. But it's not easy to save an oversteer.''
Under the new qualifying format, each car is allowed three attempts per day to better their time. But once an entry records a qualifying time, it must be withdrawn to make another attempt. Team co-owner Bobby Rahal wasn’t in the gambling mood after seeing results from post-qualifying practice laps.
“I just don’t think we were quite comfortable with the setup,” said Rahal, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner whose driver, Buddy Rice, is the defending race champion. “The first lap is key and we couldn’t really get to where we needed to be on that first lap so we could go fast. But I don’t think we would have been consistent enough, so we had some discussion for the better part of an hour.
“Pretty darn good; fifth on the grid. She had a tremendous week, so we’ll put it away and get ready for the race.”
Patrick’s post-qualifying chronology:
2:15 -- In the garage watching teammate Vitor Meira's qualifying run. No. 16 car was on the setup pad.
2:30 -- She speaks with engineer Ray Leto. She 100 percent wants to go back out for a second qualifying attempt.
2:35 -- "Where are the bosses?" she says.
2:40 -- Rahal and team COO Scott Roembke arrive on golf cart.
2:50 -- Decision is made to go out and practice. Leto comes out with a list of changes to be made to the car.
3:08 -- Car rolls off the pad toward the pit. Patrick gets good luck kiss from fiancée.
3:20 -- Climbs into car during Sam Hornish Jr.'s qualifying run. Waits through Adrian Fernandez’s attempt.
3:43 – Green for practice. She takes the track for seven laps.
3:50 -- Back into the pits.
3:56 -- Car is refueled.
3:59 -- Goes out for second practice laps. Comes in after four laps.
4:04 -- Comes into pits
4:05 -- Out of the car, hug from Rahal. Decision is made not to go back out.
The top 22 cars in the field were set during a cool and breezy day. The next 11 slots will be filled May 21, with additional opportunities for bumping.
“I’m trying to stay focused, keep my head down and stay on the job," Patrick said. "It means a lot that so many people are being supportive.”