Fast woman: Danica Patrick races in the Bombardier Learjet 500, Sat.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Back to You, Danica
Two years ago Fort Worth got a front-row seat when Annika Sörenstam cracked the PGA’s gender barrier at the Colonial, playing well and ruffling the feathers of a few Neanderthals who didn’t like the idea of a woman competing on their turf. This weekend, Danica Patrick, fresh off her fourth-place finish at the Indy 500, comes to North Texas to race at Texas Motor Speedway in the Bombardier Learjet 500.
We’ll also be getting Dan Wheldon, winner of the Indianapolis race and the leading driver in the IRL standings. The Englishman wasn’t altogether pleased that his victory two weeks ago had been upstaged. You can see where he was coming from, but still, Patrick’s success is great for a segment of auto racing that’s running a distant second to NASCAR. The glamorous glory days of A.J. Foyt, the Unsers, and the Andrettis have given way to a string of anonymous European and South American drivers. If the 23-year-old Patrick — a rookie who can drive like hell (as her ninth-place IRL ranking testifies), give good interviews, and look good in a dress — can give Americans a reason to follow Indy-car racing in large numbers again, well, power to her. Tony Kanaan will be defending his title in this race, but when the engines start, all eyes will be fixed on Patrick’s Number 16 car.
The green flag waves on the Bombardier Learjet 500 at 7pm Sat at Texas Motor Speedway, I-35W & Hwy 114, FW. Tickets are $30-76. Call 817-215-8500.
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