Then came Monday, where Patrick once again was in the wrong place at the wrong time. BY CHRIS JENKINS | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ADVERTISING DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Danica Patrick got caught in an accident just two laps into her
BY CHRIS JENKINS | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Danica Patrick got caught in an accident just two laps into her Daytona 500 debut. She eventually got back in the race and made it to the finish, but it was a rough end to a disappointing Daytona Speedweeks for NASCAR’s newest star.
After her crew made extensive repairs to her battered race car, Patrick finally returned to the race down 62 laps to the leaders — earning cheers from the grandstands as she pulled out of the garage area.
She finished 38th in a wreck-filled race won by Matt Kenseth that was delayed a day because of rain, then came to a screeching halt to repair the track.
“Any lap that I turn is progression, that’s for sure,” Patrick said. “That’s why I was so proud of everyone working hard — and they were working hard to get me back on the track. There wasn’t much to gain as far as position-wise, but what there was to gain was for me to get the experience running out there.”
The accident came just minutes after the green flag dropped Monday night, beginning when Elliott Sadler turned five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson. He shot into the wall, then rolled back down the track.
Patrick was coming along behind the accident and was caught in the chaos.
“I just wish the beginning of the race could have been a nice single-file line like it was when I got back out there, but it wasn’t,” Patrick said. “And honestly, that’s my lesson to learn, maybe. Write off that first little bit if you’re not up front.”
Her car took a hit and swerved down to the infield grass, where she somehow slid between two spinning cars.
That was about the only good luck she’s had all week.
Her Daytona Speedweeks tally is three wrecks in three races, and none were of her doing.
She was wrecked in Thursday’s qualifying race, and after winning the pole for the Nationwide Series race, she was wrecked by JR Motorsports teammate Cole Whitt.
Then came Monday, where Patrick once again was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
