Jimmie Johnson may have won the Daytona 500 on Sunday, but much of the talk before, during and after the first Sprint Cup Series race of the season centered on pole sitter Danica Patrick and all of her accomplishments throughout Daytona Speedweeks:
- The first woman to win a pole in the Cup Series
- The first woman to lead a green-flag lap during a Cup Series race (she led five)
- The best finish by a woman in the Daytona 500 (eighth)
- The 13th driver to lead laps in both the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500
“You know, honestly when I say that I wanted to lead at some point, it was just because I was disappointed I didn't do it off the bat like I thought I should have,” said Patrick in the post-race press conference. “So it didn't really have to do with being a girl and leading. I think a stat that I found more interesting is only 13 people, including me now, have led Indy and Daytona. I thought that was a much cooler stat for me.”
Patrick drew praise from many of her competitors, including Johnson. “She's really comfortable in the car,” said Johnson. “Being close to other competitors, door-to-door, whatever environment takes place on the racetrack, at these speeds, she was very comfortable. Held a great wheel. Was smooth and predictable. Took advantage of runs when she had them. She did a really good job. It was just another car on the track. I didn't think about it being Danica in the car. It was just another car on the track that was fast. That's a credit to her and the job she's doing.”
Her former Nationwide Series team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. was impressed by her on-track choices during the race. “She's going to make a lot of history all year long,” said Earnhardt Jr., who finished second in the race. “It's going to be a lot of fun to watch her progress. I think she's done her best work in the Cup car myself. I think for whatever reason she seems to get a lot more out of that car.Every time I've seen her in a pretty hectic situation, she always really remained calm. She's got a great level head. She's a racer. She knows what's coming. She's smart about her decisions. She knew what to do today as far as track position and not taking risks, like she said. I enjoy racing with her. Look forward to more all year long. It's just going to be a lot of fun having her in the series.”
Third-place finisher Mark Martin echoed Earnhardt Jr.’s sentiments: “It's great for the sport. I agree with everything that Dale said. She did an incredible job today, as well as an incredible job a number of times last year. There will be more of that to come. And it will be good for the sport.”
Patrick’s crew chief Tony Gibson was excited for what’s to come with his new team. “I am so proud of Danica and everybody on the GoDaddy Chevy SS,” said Gibson on the Stewart-Haas Racing website. “It has been a great week-and-a-half. I couldn’t ask for it to go any better. She impressed the heck out of me the whole day long. Getting on and off pit road. The pit crew did a fantastic job.”
“I’m just looking forward to every week,” continued Gibson. “Every week we are going to get better and better and better. There’s going to be some bumps in the road, but we’re willing to suck those on and get us some high notes. I’m just jacked up. I’m so proud of her. She kept her head for a week-and-a-half. We wouldn’t let her race in the 150 (Budweiser Duel qualifying race). We wouldn’t let her practice hard. She came out here and ran up front all day long. To be the first woman to sit on the pole of the Daytona 500 and the first woman to lead a lap in the Daytona 500 is pretty damn impressive. And the highest finish ever. What else are you going to get from that?”
Quotes in this piece provided by NASCAR and Stewart-Haas Racing.
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