She only led three laps. She wasn't the quickest driver out there. But don't begrudge Danica Patrick her breakthrough win at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan this weekend.
In her 50th Indy Racing League event, the woman everyone figured would eventually make history by becoming the first woman to win an Indy-car race finally did. And so what if it was strictly a fuel-mileage win, Patrick winning by getting more out of her last fill-up than any of her pursuers?
It's not like she's the first driver ever to win a race on fuel mileage. Ask Ricky Rudd, who won the 1997 Brickyard 400 exactly that way. Or ask Jimmie Johnson, who won on fuel mileage in Phoenix last week.
Last I heard neither one of them was giving back the trophy. So I don't expect Danica to, either.
-- Ben Smith
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