Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick

What is your definition of a hero? People have different definitions of a hero, mine is someone who does what they believe is right and does what they want regardless of what others will think. I think in the world of the Indy Racing League, Danica Patrick fits that definition. She was born on March 25, 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin. She is a professional race car driver in the Indy Racing League. I think that she can be considered a hero by many people not just beacuse she is good at what she does but also beacuse she had to do a lot to get to the point where she is in her career today.

Danica Patrick began go-carting in 1992. Much later is when her career really started heating up during the 2005 off-season. Rahal Letterman Racing officially announced that they would help lead Patrick when she started raceing for them in the IRL Indy Car Series in 2005. Then later in May 2005, Patrick became one of the only women to race in the Indianapolis 500. I think that is one of the huge reasons why she could be called a hero! A year before, in 2004, Patrick got married to Paul Edward Hospenthal. They got engaged on Thanksgiving and then married in a private ceremony on November 19, 2005 the next year in Scottsdale, Arizona where they currently live.

In 2005 after her participation in the Indianapolis 500, she was asked by Playboy to have her pictures taken to be published in a future edition of its magazine. She later declined the offer. I think because she declined the offer, that means she knows what she wants to do with her life and she doesn’t let anyone persuade her on what to do. That is another great reason why she makes a great hero, and why she also is a great role model too.

Later, she competed in the 2006 IRL Indy Car Series, giving her another chance at qualifying and racing in the Indianapolis 500. In the first race of the season, the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead Miami Speedway, Patrick qualified in third behind the Penske Racing teammates of Helio Castroneves and Sam Hornish, Jr. However, tragedy struck in the final practice sessions for the race as Rahal Letterman Racing teammate Paul Dana was killed in a crash the morning of the race. Patrick and fellow Rahal Letterman driver Buddy Rice withdrew from the race immediately. She took time off for something that affected her and I look up to her for missing a big race to take time for herself.

Patrick has also had to deal with sexist remarks from fellow racers, who feel that auto racing is a man's sport. In May of 2006, after an appearance on ESPN Sports Center’s Budweiser Hot Seat, Patrick made comments that ruffled the feathers of former NASCAR drivers. For her to be one of a few women racers out there today and be doing so well, even though there are mean people trying to stop her from doing what she loves, is why she is my hero.