Danica Patrick Wins Daytona 500 Pole

Danica Patrick raised expectations for her competitiveness against the boys of NASCAR this season by winning the pole position for the 55th running of the Daytona 500. Patrick edged out Jeff Gordon for the spot with a speed of 196.434 mph. Gordon quipped that at least he was the fastest guy. Insert the Jeff Gordon is gay joke of your choice here, should you deem it necessary.

Winning the pole does not guarantee victory. The last driver to win the Daytona 500 pole and go on to win the race was dale Jarrett in 2000. But it does have its strategic advantages and makes history. Patrick is the first woman to win a pole in NASCAR.

 I avoid any and all accusations of bandwagon jumping, so I do not want to imply I am Patrick’s biggest fan now. But I would not mind seeing her win a race like the Daytona 500 this season so she can make history. If nothing else, watching feminists’ heads explode at the prospect of the first woman to win a NASCAR race being sponsored by the risqué GoDaddy.com would be amusing.