Indy thrill

last updated 8 January 2015

Indianapolis

Rookie racing driver Danica Patrick finished fourth this week at the Indianapolis 500, the best showing for a female driver in the race’s 89-year history. Patrick, 23, was also the first woman to take the 500-mile race’s lead, which she held three times for a total of 19 laps. The 5-foot-2, 100-pound Patrick brought the crowd of 300,000 to its feet when she roared into the lead for the last time with just 10 laps to go in the 200-lap race. Driver Dan Wheldon sped by her four laps later and went on to win, but Patrick said her performance still marked a victory for women in racing. “I made a hell of a point,” Patrick said.