Woman to Woman: Alexandra Straub Interviews Rising Open-Wheel Star Danica Patrick

She is Woman. Hear her engine Roar

Paul Tracy, Sebastian Bourdais, Bruno Junqueira, and Michel Jourdain Jr. are all household names when it comes to North American open-wheel motorsport fans. If Danica Patrick isnt already a household name, it will be very soon.

The name may sound familiar because you might have seen her hosting Spike TVs Zero to 60, or posing in various magazines such as FHM, or most notably, you may have seen her racing on the track in the Toyota Atlantic Championship series, a feeder series to Champ Car. Although the 22-year-old racing phenomenon is renowned for good looks and commercial appeal, first and foremost, shes an extremely talented driver and has the credentials to prove it.

Racing since the age of 10, Danica has established herself as a consistent competitor who has set a few records along the way. In 2000, she finished second at the Formula Ford Festival in England, which was the highest ever result for an American driver. In 2001 she won the Gorsline Scholarship Award for the top upcoming road racing driver, and was recognized as the top female open-wheel driver with international experience. 2002 was a memorable year as Patrick signed a multi-year driving contract with Team Rahal (owned by motorsport legend Bobby Rahal and TV personality David Letterman) and was deemed the teams driver for the 2003 Toyota Atlantic entry. Prior to starting the season she captured the pole position for the 2002 Long Beach Grand Prix Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race and won the pro division, surpassing former Trans Am champion and TV host Tommy Kendall as well as experienced IRL driver Sarah Fisher.

More recently, Patrick became the first woman to place on the podium (top three) in the 30-year history of the Atlantic series with her third place finish in Monterrey, Mexico. Now Patrick has returned for her second year with Team Rahal to compete in the Toyota Atlantic Championship. Patrick still pilots the Argent Mortgage Company Toyota/Swift, but now she is joined by 18-year-old Rahal teammate Christ Festa.

Becoming a Toyota Atlantic champion and then continuing on to compete in a higher level open-wheel series such as Champ Car or the Indy Racing League (IRL), requires the same level of determination that has made her competitive in Atlantics. Success requires focus, talent and a whole lot of heart; all of which Danica has.

I recently caught up to the rising-star at the Molson Indy Vancouver after 1st round qualification on Friday where she placed third, and asked her a few questions. She is a fierce competitor on the track but a down-to-earth, humorous and generally amiable person off the track.

Alexandra Straub (AS): How did you feel about your finish today with regards to yourself and your car?

Danica Patrick (DP): Good. I think that were close which is important, and to always be in the hunt. I wanted to try and get pole so that I could ensure a front row tomorrow. Usually if you are close one day you will stay close the next.

AS: This isnt your first time in Vancouver.

DP: I came here two years ago for Barber Dodge. I really like Vancouver; I like the track a lot. I was disappointed last year when it wasnt on the schedule.

AS: Whats your favorite race track of the events youve been to?

DP: It depends on the city too. I mean this one was a great one two years ago. I really do like it. I like Toronto too because thats got a really good feel to it. Montreal is a great one too. I like all the Canadian races to be honest.

AS: Along side your racing career, Ive watched you on the TV show Zero-60. How do you manage to find the time to do everything?

DP: This (racing) is my only job. Other than the 12 race weekends and the test days, I devote all my time to TV and you know. What else am I going to do, sit on my butt?!

AS: In your off time, what are your favorite things to do?

DP: I like to travel a lot, I like to go shopping, I like to get manicures and massages.

AS: Other than Barber Dodge which youve been in, and go-karting, and now youre in Toyota Atlantic, are there any other racing series that you would like to pursue?

DP: My line has kind of been to become successful open-wheel race car driver whatever that may be. Whether thats Cart, whether thats IRL, whether thats Formula 1, I dont know. Thats my goal.

AS: I read somewhere that you do a 26-pose, 90 minute in extreme heat type of yoga in preparation for racing.

DP: Its called Bikram, its pretty popular and its a lot of fun. I dont do it as much as I used to because I moved back home to Illinois. I used to do it everyday in Ohio.

AS: So whats hotter, the race car or the yoga?

DP: The yoga!

AS: Whats the hottest you have ever been in a race car?

DP: I was in a race car that had a closed top. It was a Ferrari 550 Marinello that I raced in Road Atlanta and I think it got up to 160 or 180 (degrees Fahrenheit).

AS: What is your favorite street car?

DP: Ive always said I loved the 360 Ferrari. Im sure itll change by the time I can afford one!

AS: What kind of car do you own right now?

DP: I dont own a car but I have a Mercedes, an SLK 230.

AS: Have you always known you wanted to race cars, or was it something that just fell into your lap?

DP: It is something that evolved since I was 10-years-old to where it is now. I couldnt say that at the beginning that I was going to make a career out of it. Low and behold here I am and I would drop anything for it. Its all about finding what youre good at and what you love to do.

AS: Do you have any free time to spend here in Vancouver, or in any race city with your tight schedule of practices and qualifying, and press conferences?

DP: Sometimes I do, and sometimes I dont. Luckily enough this weekend I have the nights to myself so I can go out to dinner with my family.

This past Indy weekend she qualified 3rd on Friday, 6th in final qualifying on Saturday and then finished in an impressive 4th on race day, especially good considering the pileup that she was nearly under early in the race.

But no challenge is too overwhelming to keep Patrick from targeting her goal of becoming an open-wheel racing champion. She is currently ranked 3rd in the Toyota Atlantic Championship behind 2nd place Ryan Dalziel, and led by Jon Fogarty.

Frequently people tell me that as an automotive journalist I have their dream job, but I think that Danica might just have mine: racing fast cars, hosting TV shows and then back to racing fast cars.