Patrick’s Indy 500 ends early with a crash
INDIANAPOLIS – For Danica Patrick, the final chapter of her racing career was quick and cruel.
This was not the farewell Patrick envisioned. Not with an accident in Turn 2 of the Indianapolis 500. Not with a 30th place finish, her day over on Lap 68, not even halfway through the race.
Fortunately, Patrick was not injured and exited her Chevrolet under her own power after losing control and spinning into the wall. Instead of racing for the checkered flag, Patrick was soon riding a golf cart to face the media, to discuss an ending she wanted to forget.
Patrick has never been shy about expressing her feelings. After announcing that this year’s Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 would be her final two races, Patrick was knocked out early in both races – the “Danica Double” now over. She was disappointed. She was upset. And those emotions were crystal clear.
Even Patrick’s news conference did not go smoothly. First Patrick was thanked for coming into the media center. She responded honestly.
“I really didn’t want to,” she said. Then Patrick was asked a rambling question. She responded by saying what was foremost on her mind.
“Let me just talk,” said Patrick. “Definitely not a great ending. As I kind of said before I came here, that I feel like if it’s a complete disaster, as in not in the ballpark at all, and look silly, then people might remember that. If I win, people will remember that. But probably anything in between might just be a little part of a big story. So I kind of feel that’s how it is.
“I’m appreciative of all the fans, for GoDaddy, for Ed Carpenter Racing giving me a good car. Today was a tough day.”
A few seconds later, Patrick was interrupted when a broadcast of the race blared in the media center. Patrick made a joke, feeling like an actress being prompted to leave the stage during an acceptance speech. “Is that like the Oscars?” said Patrick, drawing laughs.
Then her microphone died. She switched seats to another microphone.
“Take my mike away, I’ll leave, I promise, like I don’t even want to be here, ‘cause I’m pretty sad,” said Patrick.
At the end of her news conference, Patrick said to the media, “Thank you guys, thank you for everything. I’ll miss you, most of the time. Maybe you’ll miss me just a little.”
Patrick will be missed without question, especially by fans drawn to her accomplishments and charisma. Kendall Pasley from Dallas came to Sunday’s race wearing one of Patrick’s GoDaddy racing tops. Pasley said she had attended other Indianapolis 500s, but was not sure she would have come this year if Patrick were not in the race.
“Knowing it was her last race, I had to come,” said Pasley. “I think she really raised the bar for what women can accomplish in this sport.”
Patrick is the highest-finishing woman ever at the Indianapolis 500, finishing third in 2009. She remains the only woman ever to lead the race, and finished in the top 10 six times in her eight starts at IMS.