Full Throttle

Danica Patrick used a fuel gamble to take a historic victory in the delayed Twin-Ring Motegi round of the IndyCar Series.

The Andretti Green Racing driver took the lead with just two laps to go as the rest of the front-runners had to pit for fuel and became the first woman to win a major American open-wheel race.

Patrick had run towards the foot of the top ten for most of the race, as Ganassi’s Scott Dixon and Penske’s Helio Castroneves dominated the event.

AGR’s decision to bring Patrick in for an additional sip fuel at the end of the final full course yellow paid off spectacularly, allowing her to take a remarkable last gasp victory and leave the “Kournikova of IndyCar” label behind.

Castroneves led the first half of the race, before being leap-frogged by Dixon during the mid-race pitstops. The Ganassi driver then pulled away from the field - leading by as much as six seconds - and looked set for victory until having to pit from the lead with six laps to go.

Fellow leaders Dan Wheldon, Tony Kanaan and Castroneves then had to follow suit, allowing Patrick to come through and snatch the win. Castroneves and Dixon completed the podium.

(You know it’s a good day when a legit reason to post a Danica pic drops into your lap - ed)

Quotes later…

“It was a long time coming, finally,” said Patrick, who drives for Andretti Green Racing. “I was managing to save fuel and keep the speed up and, when I saw Helio, I knew he was the one to beat.”

“I knew there was a good reason for coming to Japan,” she said. “I want to thank my team, the fans and everyone who supported me.”

Dixon took the lead from Castroneves on the 93rd lap, but he settled for third.

“We led for a lot of laps but came up short,” Dixon said. “But congratulations to Danica for her first victory.”

Technorati Tags: Danica Patrick, AGR, Andretti Green Racing, Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves, IndyCar, Twin Ring Motegi, Japan