INDIANAPOLIS — Janet Guthrie, the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, says that the fourth woman qualifier — rookie sensation Danica Patrick — could capture Sunday's 89th race.
"It wouldn't be a shock at all," said Guthrie, an Aspen, Colo., resident. "Her chances are as good as anybody, and it would be great for the sport.
"She's driving for Rahal Letterman, and they have the fastest cars here."
Patrick, 23, qualified fourth in the 33-car field and produced the fastest speed of the month — 229.880 mph — in a May 15 pre-qualifying practice session.
"This is a pretty great way to come to my first Indy 500," Patrick said Thursday. "I guess I didn't expect to go fast right away, but I shouldn't really think any different when I'm driving for a team that's so good. I guess I'm just grateful and happy that I drive for a team that gives me the ability."
That's one thing that sets Patrick apart from the women who preceded her at Indianapolis. The deep pockets and expertise of Rahal Letterman Racing, headed by 1986 Indy winner Bobby Rahal and the "Late Show with David Letterman" host, helps put Patrick on the fast track for success. The same team produced last year's winning entry driven by Buddy Rice, who had not won an Indy Racing League series event until making it to victory lane here last year.
The best Indy 500 finish by a woman was Guthrie's ninth-place result in 1978. Guthrie qualified three other times, the first coming in 1977. Since 1992, Lyn St. James has made seven starts, and Sarah Fisher, 24, has started the past five races.
"The girl has been given the opportunity to drive something very first class," Fisher said of Patrick. "She's acclimated herself with it, and that's very cool."
No woman has won an Indy Racing League or Champ Car race, or a support series event in American's top two open-wheel circuits. That fact certainly is not lost on A.J. Allmendinger, last year's Champ Car rookie of the year, who won seven of 12 races with Patrick in the field, before Patrick jumped to Rahal Letterman's IRL team this year.
"I'll give her credit — she's a very good driver," Allmendinger said. "At the same time, she hasn't won anything in the three years I've known her.
"She's on one of the two best teams at Indy, but that's a place where it all comes down to experience. I don't believe the hype until it's proven."
The hype is rampant. Patrick, who created a buzz with a provocative photo shoot for FHM magazine in 2003, did 27 interviews on Monday when all 33 Indy drivers visited New York City. She appeared on Jim Rome's television show, taped a segment for CNN's "NewsNight with Aaron Brown" and was a guest on Letterman's show.
"I went through the same media frenzy in 1977," said Guthrie, who this month released her autobiography: "Janet Guthrie: A Life at Full Throttle."
"As I told her and as she'll be reminded in the driver's meeting, this track is problematic for rookies because of the turns and because the track is 'green' on race day because of the (little) activity leading up to it. Plus, the turbulence she'll have in race traffic makes things much more challenging.
"But Danica is a tough-minded individual, with three races already under her belt. She seems in command of her car and already is so comfortable with this place."
Patrick, who qualified second for the Indy 500 and finished fourth in her last IRL event April 30 in Japan, said she has enjoyed the media attention.
"I think the public and sports fans in general need role models, they need people to cheer for and read stories about," she said. "They need to find ways to connect with their children. I've heard stories about fathers coming to races with their little girls because all of a sudden that little girl has something to cheer for, and she's like, 'I can go to the race track now.'
"And that's cool."
Patrick, 5-feet-2 and 105 pounds, grew up in Roscoe, Ill. She began racing go-karts in 1992 when she was 10.
"My mom and dad met at a snowmobile race on a blind date and were married not that long after, and had me not long after that, so, you know, this is very much a racing family," Patrick said, laughing. "My sister (Brooke), who is two years younger than me, wanted to race go-karts. I just didn't want to get left out."
In 1996, Patrick won 39 of 49 karting races, and two years later she competed in Europe and attended the Formula Ford racing school in Canada. She returned to Europe in 2000 to compete the first of two full seasons in the British Zetec Formula Ford Championship.
In 2002, Rahal signed Patrick to compete in Champ Car's developmental series, the Toyota Atlantic Series. She finished sixth in the Atlantic points in 2003 and third last year. Her best race result in the series was second.
Carl Haas, co-owner of Newman/Haas Racing — winner of two of the past three Champ Car titles with drivers Cristiano da Matta (2002) and Sebastien Bourdais (2004) — said Patrick is a "terrific talent."
"She's extremely quick. I'm astounded, really," said Haas, who is fielding Indy 500 cars for Bourdais and Bruno Junqeira. "It's exceptional because there aren't very many females who can do that. But how she'll do in the race, I just don't know."
Buddy Lazier of Vail, Colo., who will start a row behind Patrick, said he expects her to drive a clean race.
"I've never raced with her, but I did make a point to practice with her, run behind her and watch what she does," said Lazier, who has made 12 previous starts at the Brickyard. "She was spot on, so during the race I'll know what to expect."
The spotlight on Patrick has never been so bright.
"I know a lot of people are watching, but my fiance and my dad took a ride in the two-seater (Thursday) and all of a sudden they have a new respect for me," Patrick said. "If anybody else thinks they can do this, go right ahead."