Danica Patrick is the Rookie sensation of the Indy Racing League, driving for Rahal-Letterman racing, which is co-owned by racing legend Bobby Rahal, and Late Show with David Letterman's David Letterman. Born in Wisconsin, she currently resides in Arizona with her miniature schnauzer "Billy" and her husband, physical therapist Paul Hospenthal. When she isn't racing around the track at speeds up to 229 mph, she enjoys traveling, yoga, and spending time with her family and friends.


She has a younger sister, Brooke. At the 2000 Formula Ford Festival in England, she finished in second place, the best result any American driver ever earned in the race. May 29, 2005 - First female ever to lead in the Indy 500 2005 Indy Racing League Rookie of the Year. Got hooked on racing when her sister, Brooke, took up go-carts (Brooke lost interest, Danica didn't). Named #42 in FHM magazine's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement. (2006). Voted INDY Series "Most Popular Driver" for 2007. This was her third consecutive award. Danica Patrick enjoyed her best season yet in the Motorola AGR No.7 during the 2007 INDY Car Series when she at one point led the Indianapolis 500 and three other races, finished 3rd at Texas and Nashville, and finished 2nd at Detroit. Earned approximately $5 million in endorsements during the 2007 INDY Car Series campaign. Danica Patrick's Rahal Letterman Racing No.16 Panoz IR5 IndyCar was formally placed in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for permanent display on May 5th, 2008. This was the car that Patrick piloted when she became the first female to lead the Indianapolis 500 in 2005. Patrick finished the race in fourth place, the highest finish ever for a female at the Indianapolis 500. Ranked #91 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list. The $21 million dollar value of the three year contract accepted by Danica Patrick and Andretti Green Racing in 2007 was the most lucrative in the history of IndyCar, Champ Car or CART to date. This value did not include additional revenue streams secondary to sponsorship, performance incentives and merchandising. The Business Week Power 100 ranking was released on October 3rd, 2008 and listed the most powerful people in sports worldwide. Danica Patrick was listed as the top female on the list at number 50. Danica Patrick topped golfer Tiger Woods, quarterback Tom Brady and Super Bowl champion Eli Manning as the most searched for athlete in 2008, according to AOL's annual list of top Web, mobile and video searches. Signed with IMG's Alan Zucker and Mark Steinberg in February of 2009 to represent her marketing and endorsement efforts. IMG is widely considered the world's premier and most diversified sports and entertainment company with such clients as Tiger Woods, Jeff Gordon, Peyton Manning, Sir Jackie Stewart, John Madden, Bob Costas, Gisele Bundchen, and Drew Barrymore among others as clients. Danica Patrick became the first IndyCar driver's image to be added to the famed ESPN Pardon the Interruption (PTI) set backdrop.