|
Daytona: Danica Patrick will start from the Daytona 500 pole position after posting the fastest qualifying speed for the Great American Race on Sunday and becoming the first woman to take the pole for a Nascar Sprint Cup event.
Patrick, who ran a partial Sprint Cup program last year, signalled she was ready to race full-time against the big boys of American stock car racing by clocking 316.11 kph around Daytona International Speedway.
Jeff Gordon joined Patrick on the front row for next Sunday’s race, joking afterwards that he was at least the fastest man.
Patrick’s top speed was the fastest qualifying effort at Daytona since 1990. “I’m just the driver, this is a team pole,” she told reporters after her qualifying effort. “I was a little bit nervous.”
“It would definitely be a high point memory. I think Daytona has such a legendary following.” The remainder of the 500 field will be set in a pair of qualifying races scheduled for Thursday. (Reuters)
| 
