Danica Patrick wins Daytona 500 pole position

Danica Patrick wins Daytona 500 pole position

February 17, 2013 BY JOSH STEWART
The big news for Danica Patrick at Daytona is no longer dating fellow NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year contender Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

On Sunday Patrick won the pole for next Sunday’s Daytona 500 with a speed of 196.434 mph, besting three-time Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon, who will join her on the outside front row.

It’s the second Daytona pole in as many years for Patrick, who won the pole position for last year’s Nationwide Series Drive for COPD 300.

With Sunday’s achievement Patrick became the first woman to win the pole for the Daytona 500 or any of NASCAR’s premier series events, which date back to 1949.

Only Patrick and Gordon locked in their starting spots for next Sunday’s race. The rest will be determined after Thursday’s Budweiser Duel qualifying races.

“Congratulations to Danica,” Gordon said following qualifying. “I can say I was part of history. I can say I was the fastest guy today.”