Danica Patrick to End Her Driving Career Following 2018 Indy 500

In a rare moment of pure emotion, a tearful Danica Patrick revealed yesterday exactly how she plans to walk away from her driving career following the 2018 Indy 500. Patrick, who managed to find fame and adoration in the male-dominated world of motorsports despite finding her way to victory lane only once in her professional career, announced earlier this year that 2017 would be her last year behind the wheel. Instead of relying on wins to build her fan base, Partick could have taken the easy road and played up her looks and simply being a female in the world of motorsports, but she also steered away from that route, instead using pure grit and determination, and a bit of charisma, to win over a sizable following.

The fact that she only took home one win – the 2008 Indy Japan 300 – doesn’t mean she wasn’t a competent and competitive driver. She finished her first stint in an Indy car with 7 podium finishes, and also had seven Top 10 finishes in both of NASCAR’s Xfinity Series and the Monster Cup series, proving she could get to the front of the field regularly, she just had a hard time getting her nose out front when it mattered. She built a list of “First female driver to…” accomplishments that will forever be hers to claim, and should be able to walk away from the driver’s seat with her head held high.

Next season, she will have one shot at adding “First female driver to win a NASCAR Monster Cup series race”, as she will be behind the wheel at the Daytona 500. After that, she will take a couple of months off, then begin preparation for her final race, the 2018 Indy 500. It’s unclear at the time who she will be driving for at either race, but we have to assume she’s secured competitive rides for both races to try to close out her driving career with a win, or perhaps two. It remains to be seen what Patrick will do next, but we already know if nothing else, she’s got a career as a Lyft driver waiting!