Patrick has found more than the success that eluded Janet Guthrie in her brief NASCAR stint. Patrick also has the acceptance ..... the driving fraternity never came. In her book, '' Janet Guthrie : A Life at Full Throttle,'' Guthrie recounted the
course of eight days, starting with time trials to the Daytona 500, Patrick annihilated the records originally set by Janet Guthrie in the 1970s. She backed that up by not only running in the top five for most of the race but Patrick also became the
and sped past Michael Waltrip for the lead - the first woman ever to lead a Cup race under full-speed conditions ( Janet Guthrie , the pioneer for women racers like Patrick, led a few laps under yellow in the 1970s). Patrick wasn't out front
eighth-place finish is the best for a woman in the Daytona 500. She barely missed the record of sixth place set by Janet Guthrie in the Volunteer 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 28, 1977. She also became the first female to lead a green-flag
everyone jostled for position. Still, it was the highest finish ever for a woman in NASCAR's signature event. Janet Guthrie finished 11th in 1980. Johnson, a five-time champion, also won the 500 in 2006. But he's had some tough finishes
eighth in the final flurry. The finish was the best by a female driver in the race, breaking the mark of 11th set by Janet Guthrie in 1980. ... Patrick became the first woman to lead laps in the Daytona 500, running in front for five laps
to lead a lap and was the highest female finisher in the famed Daytona 500. She led five laps and finished eighth. Janet Guthrie had the previous best finish for a woman in the Daytona 500 - 11th in 1980. ''You spend a lot of time thinking about
posted the laps in 1989 and 1990. 4: Times Jeff Gordon has started on the front row for the Daytona 500. 35: Years Janet Guthrie held the record for the top qualifying female (ninth) in NASCAR’s top division. Say what? When Danica Patrick
put her in the limelight for at least the rest of the week. The previous highest female qualifier in a Cup race was Janet Guthrie . She started ninth at Bristol and Talladega in 1977. ''It's obviously a history-making event that will last
us is everything that we need to win,'' Kahne said. Danica Patrick , the first woman to drive in the race since Janet Guthrie in 1976, was five laps down in 30th — her best finish in three career Sprint Cup races. Car owner Chip Ganassi