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Danica--Crossing the Line
Danica Patrick's life moves at 220 mph. She drives every race and lives every day like she has something to prove -- and she does. As a 5-foot 2-inch, 100-pound woman, she had to qualify a little quicker and race a little faster than the boys -- just to earn the respect she would otherwise be given if she weren't the "girl on the track, driving the princess mobile." But you don't get to be an IndyCar driver without talent and determination. Danica is living proof that if you work hard and aim high, you can do whatever you set your mind to, that you can rise to any challenge, and that what makes you different is what makes you great.
Sharing secrets and stories, tales from the track, and insights into her personal life, Danica reflects on her extraordinary rise from a ten-year-old go-kart champion to a twenty-three-year-old Indy star. An inspiration to all, she offers her unique perspective on how to compete in life, how to stand out, and how to get the respect and attention you deserve.
Sharing secrets and stories, tales from the track, and insights into her personal life, Danica reflects on her extraordinary rise from a ten-year-old go-kart champion to a twenty-three-year-old Indy star. An inspiration to all, she offers her unique perspective on how to compete in life, how to stand out, and how to get the respect and attention you deserve.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
6 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
About the author
Danica Patrick
5 books8 followersDanica Patrick is best known as a trailblazing racecar driver (now retired), named in the TIME’s “100 Most Influential People” list, featured on the covers of various magazines, featured in 14 Super Bowl commercials. The list of her amazing accomplishment credits goes on.
Regarding her racing career: In 2005, Danica participated in her first Indianapolis 500 and finished in fourth place. She became the first woman to lead laps and score a top-five finish in the historic race. In 2008, Danica won the IndyCar Series Indy Japan 300. In 2013, Danica transitioned to the NASCAR Cup Series. In 2018, Danica completed her racing career and competed in two marquee events that were cornerstones of her career: the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.
Danica's next chapter involves: good food, great wine, fitness and helping others achieve their goals.
Regarding her racing career: In 2005, Danica participated in her first Indianapolis 500 and finished in fourth place. She became the first woman to lead laps and score a top-five finish in the historic race. In 2008, Danica won the IndyCar Series Indy Japan 300. In 2013, Danica transitioned to the NASCAR Cup Series. In 2018, Danica completed her racing career and competed in two marquee events that were cornerstones of her career: the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.
Danica's next chapter involves: good food, great wine, fitness and helping others achieve their goals.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 5, 2018
For my biography, I read the story of Danica Patrick. I have always been a fan of Danica's since I was very little. Actually, the main reason she rose to fame, the 2005 Indianapolis 500, I was in attendance for. Since a young age, I have followed Danica. The reason I chose this book was not only because of that, but she recently retired after the 2018 Indianapolis 500 in which I was there, too. This book is rather old (2006), so I would assume that there is a lot not documented in here. Because of this, I hope she decides to write another one soon to discuss the later part of her career as well as her newfound life in entrepreneurship and home goods.
Beginning: The book starts with her discussing her early life and how she got into automobile racing. She notes that her father raced snowmobiles in upstate Wisconsin (my home state, another reason I gravitate towards her) and eventually met her mom, Sue. The family lived their early days in Beloit, Wisconsin, and eventually moved to Roscoe, Illinois, just below the border. Danica and her younger sister, Brooke, raced go-carts around the midwest and eventually became pretty competitive as she moved up through her teen years.
Middle: Once Danica started having success and completely committed herself to the sport, she dropped out of high school and moved to Europe on her own to compete in open-wheel formula cars. However, the start of her demise happened when she found the party life and found herself distracted from the actual reason she uprooted herself. The team she was racing for was not amused and eventually released her. She returned home to the US and wanted to retire from the lack of interest in her career. Her dad had one last ditch effort and took her to a ChampCar race in West Allis, WI at the Milwaukee Mile in the Wisconsin State Fair Park (where I work for my summer job), and talked to team owners, pleading Danica's case for a chance. Eventually, Bobby Rahal, Indy 500 & IndyCar champion, took a chance and signed Danica for a developmental series opportunity in 2003 & 2004.
End: Danica eventually moved up to Indy Cars, the premier openwheel series of the United States, with Rahal Lettermen Racing. Danica quickly turned heads with her fast pace in the beginning of the season, but at the 2005 Indianapolis 500 is where she took for stardom. Danica became the first woman to lead the race in its 89 year history at the time, and eventually lead again in the late stages of the race, putting herself in contention to win. She ultimately finished fourth, a record she would later beat in 2009 (3rd) for the highest finish by a woman in the race's history. This is essentially where the book ends with her riding the peak of where she wants to go after.
Because this was written so early on in her career, there is so much more to her story. I greatly enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it for any athlete looking for inspiration. I think this book would also appeal to young women, too, because of how empowering and milestone-setting she was.
Beginning: The book starts with her discussing her early life and how she got into automobile racing. She notes that her father raced snowmobiles in upstate Wisconsin (my home state, another reason I gravitate towards her) and eventually met her mom, Sue. The family lived their early days in Beloit, Wisconsin, and eventually moved to Roscoe, Illinois, just below the border. Danica and her younger sister, Brooke, raced go-carts around the midwest and eventually became pretty competitive as she moved up through her teen years.
Middle: Once Danica started having success and completely committed herself to the sport, she dropped out of high school and moved to Europe on her own to compete in open-wheel formula cars. However, the start of her demise happened when she found the party life and found herself distracted from the actual reason she uprooted herself. The team she was racing for was not amused and eventually released her. She returned home to the US and wanted to retire from the lack of interest in her career. Her dad had one last ditch effort and took her to a ChampCar race in West Allis, WI at the Milwaukee Mile in the Wisconsin State Fair Park (where I work for my summer job), and talked to team owners, pleading Danica's case for a chance. Eventually, Bobby Rahal, Indy 500 & IndyCar champion, took a chance and signed Danica for a developmental series opportunity in 2003 & 2004.
End: Danica eventually moved up to Indy Cars, the premier openwheel series of the United States, with Rahal Lettermen Racing. Danica quickly turned heads with her fast pace in the beginning of the season, but at the 2005 Indianapolis 500 is where she took for stardom. Danica became the first woman to lead the race in its 89 year history at the time, and eventually lead again in the late stages of the race, putting herself in contention to win. She ultimately finished fourth, a record she would later beat in 2009 (3rd) for the highest finish by a woman in the race's history. This is essentially where the book ends with her riding the peak of where she wants to go after.
Because this was written so early on in her career, there is so much more to her story. I greatly enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it for any athlete looking for inspiration. I think this book would also appeal to young women, too, because of how empowering and milestone-setting she was.
July 26, 2023
Good bio on Danica.
September 20, 2009
I have a newfound respect for Danica Patrick after reading her autobiography. The book is an easy, one day read and dull at times, but tells you a lot about racing. I now realize that Danica does not just jump behind a wheel and start driving as fast as she can. I admire her for her courage and desire to breach a "man's world". There are times she comes across as arrogant, but yet there are even more moments of pure honesty in which she admits she is not perfect. She addresses her past mistakes and what she learned from them. I also enjoyed her witty comments here and there and I was surprised to find some of my own thoughts voiced. My personal favorite: "I've only just begun to share my spirit and my hope that someday we will live in a world where a woman can grow to become president of the United States and little boys can grow up believing it's not a mark of inferiority to stay home and raise children while their wives run the country!"
I could not have said it better, Danica.
I could not have said it better, Danica.
February 1, 2011
I think this book is good if you have anything to do with racing and is especially inspiring if you are a girl. It is about Danica Patrick's start in the racing industry and all the struggle and hard times she had to overcome to make it to the top. All those times obviously paid off for her to make her dream come true.
May 17, 2015
Loved this book as I am an avid Nascar fan and I have been to many races in person. Plus she is a lady driver which is great.The men were not too happy to have to her at first but she does bring a lot of publicity to the sport and they all like that.
May 22, 2011
cool insight to a racecar driver's life, i didnt realize that it took that much muscle to drive but now i see how that is nessessary, overall ok
November 28, 2011
So eye-rollingly craptastic I'm making up words. The most interesting thing was learning that Cowboy Mouth played at her wedding reception.
April 2, 2015
I thought the book was as good as racing could be. If your one those people who hate Danica by her racing. You should read this book then, see what its like from her perspective.
January 15, 2011
What a brat.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews