DANICA PATRICK Makes History as First Woman to Win IndyCar Race at Indy Japan 300

April 11, 2025

GRRL! SUMMARY:

DANICA PATRICK made racing history on April 20, 2008, becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar race at the Indy Japan 300. After 50 career starts and constant questions about when she’d finally break through, she delivered a masterclass in fuel strategy and racecraft. Starting from the third row, she kept her composure through 200 laps and capitalized when leaders Dixon, Wheldon, and Kanaan were forced to pit late.
The victory came down to perfect timing and smart racing. With just two laps remaining, PATRICK passed Hélio Castroneves for the lead and pulled away to win by nearly six seconds. Her team’s fuel strategy was spot-on, and she executed flawlessly when it mattered most. “Finally, no more of those questions,” she said afterward, clearly relieved to have the pressure of being the “first woman to win” finally behind her.
This wasn’t PATRICK’s first time making history – she’d already become the first woman to lead laps at the Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and finished fourth, the best showing by a woman at Indy. But this outright victory in Japan proved she belonged at the top level and could win races, not just compete in them. Michael Andretti called it “long overdue” and predicted it would be “the first of many,” showing the racing establishment finally recognized her talent.