For Danica Patrick, that magical afternoon in 2005 wouldn’t just be a race start, it would create history. As Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down played in the background, Patrick was preparing to make her debut at the Indy 500, just months after securing a seat at Rahal Letterman Racing. Qualifying in fourth place, the driver had already made a name for herself, and by the time the race ended and she finished in fourth, she would become the first female to lead laps in the race. Now, as she returns to the track in a different role, Patrick has a candid take about her legacy.

At a time when racing remained overwhelmingly male-dominated, Patrick emerged as an incredible racer, captivating fans, critics, and sponsors alike with her presence on the track and also off it. And as she explained a few years after her debut, “My first Indy 500 comes to mind a little bit, just because I don’t race Indy cars anymore and I don’t have any more chances. That was a tough one. There were some things about that first Indy 500 that could have been different – a little more fuel left than I thought. I probably would have just led no matter what (she gave up the lead with seven laps to go), even if it meant running out of fuel, as opposed to just finishing.”

Seven years after retiring from racing, as the 2025 edition of the Indy 500 approaches, the spotlight again shifts towards Danica Patrick, as she will work as a presenter for the race.

For Patrick, her popularity at the peak of her career had meant something completely different altogether. Speaking to Bob Pockrass, she said, “I didn’t ever crash here until my very last lap of my career, when I crashed in 2018 when I came back,” Patrick said. “I didn’t crash in an INDYCAR before that. Not in practice, not in qualifying, not in the race, other than pit road with [Ryan] Briscoe.” 

Rounding out Turn 2 in her final Indy 500, Patrick’s neon green car got loose. And when the driver went spinning into the wall, the front left tire fell apart and Patrick went rolling backwards into the grass. She went on to say at the time, “Definitely not a great ending, but I said before I came here that I feel like if it’s a complete disaster, as in not in the ballpark at all, that people may remember that, and if I win people will remember that. Anything in between will be a little  part of a big story. I feel like that’s what it is.” 

That’s not all. Patrick has felt the pressure to make an impact, as she explained in her recent interview. “The only thing I thought when I was young, as I was coming up through racing, is I just thought to myself that if can make it, it’ll be a big deal. But I don’t know what that meant. I didn’t really put a lot of imagery to or ideas to what it would be to be a big deal. I just knew it’d be a big deal because it was just something that hadn’t really happened. Women had been in racing, but to do well is like a whole other thing.” 

She’s not wrong. Her impact has echoed across racing. At the Indianapolis 500 in 2009, she secured a 3rd place finish, making it the highest ever by a woman in the event’s 100+ year history, even today. That performance, along with her 2005 debut where she led 19 laps as a rookie, solidified her place among the elite group of drivers. This pressure is something she has discussed in the past, too. “I think all of my life I’ve kind of felt like you’re only as good as your last race. And it’s fine to live by that when you’re in the middle of it, because it drives you and pushes you. But for that to really be the reality of your entire career is really silly. People are going to remember … 20-some years of racing, the 13 years professionally at IndyCar and NASCAR level … not necessarily how I did at the Indy 500 in my very last year. Unless I win.” 

But her achievements did not stop there. In 2013, Patrick became the first and only woman to win a pole position in the NASCAR Cup Series, leading 5 laps and finishing 8th, securing the top spot at the Daytona 500. But the Indianapolis Speedway would always hold a special place in her heart. Patrick got nostalgic after her experience at the venue as she stated, “Real good feels. I always have a lot of reverence and respect for here, too, just with the facility, the history.” 

While many saw Danica Patrick grow up in the sport, they cannot help but also express how delightful it has been for them to work with her off track and her legacy on the field. “Thank you @DanicaPatrick for being a strong role model to the little girls in my life. It was an honor to race with you in your last #DAYTONA500,” said Jimmie Johnson on the lasting impact Patrick has made on the sport.

Now, returning to the venue without her gear but with a mic, it has been a wonderful journey of coming back after shaping a legacy that will be remembered for decades to come and generations to follow.

Danica Patrick Eyes Golf After Racing

As if racing and broadcasting were not enough, Patrick is ready to level up her skills from dirt tracks to green fields. Seven years after stepping away from professional racing, the 43-year-old Patrick was spotted fin-turning her swing at the prestigious Scottsdale National Golf Course, receiving training from the renowned coach Brian Daley himself.

This just shows that hopes have no limits, especially for a strong woman like Danica. Deciding to start playing Golf after almost 2 years, Patrick’s passion isn’t just casual; she plans to improve herself every minute and also seems to enjoy every bit of it. “I decided to actually learn how to play golf about 2 years ago,” wrote Patrick on her Instagram account. “Golf is a funny game…. And mostly played by those who just love to be hard on themselves. A game you will never master and repeatedly wonder – why am I doing this to myself?!” 

More than learning the sport, it is about what makes you happy internally. After retiring from motorsports in 2018, Patrick opened up about the emotional and personal reasons behind her decision to walk away. She said, “It wasn’t in my heart anymore. What I love about racing was that ability to progress and get better… and I just felt like that was becoming less and less something that was in my control.” 

Although she is no longer behind the wheel, she has been content in various spheres of life and will continue to be revered for her journey.