Danica Patrick (hopefully) to the IRL IndyCar Series in 2005

[rustyfan]

Autosport.com reports;

Patrick set for IRL drive - Toyota Atlantic star in line to be the next woman to race in the Indy 500

Indy Racing League team boss Bobby Rahal aims to promote Danica Patrick from his Toyota Atlantic squad into Indy Cars in 2005. That should make the 22-year-old the fourth woman ever to race in the Indy 500 – after Janet Guthrie, Lyn St James and Sara Fisher.

Rahal said during the Indy 500 Carburetion Day on Thursday, that he aims to move his 22-year-old star pupil up into the IRL next season.

Patrick spent her early career in the UK and took an impressive second place in the 2000 Formula Ford Festival. She has been with Rahal in Toyota Atlantic since the start of 2003. The 22-year-old finished third in the latest round of the series at Monterrey last weekend.

"I've always been confident that I can drive," said Patrick, who visited the Rahal Letterman Racing garages at the Brickyard on Thursday. "It's not like I'm finally proving that. I‘ve got a great team to learn from between now and then."

Great news - for the IRL IndyCar Series. Not so great news for those who was hoping to see her race in Champ Cars.

I personally haven't seen her race (Toyota Atlantics aren't shown on TV here in Sweden), so I can't really comment on how she might do, but from a marketing stand-point, it's nothing but good news.

Then again, perhaps it should be noted Rahal aims to promote her to the IRL, so it shouldn't be considered a done deal. Just yet.