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 "We have a new hero in Illinois. Danica made history last
weekend, and all of Illinois is proud to honor her talent and
achievement," said Blagojevich. "I'm proclaiming Saturday, April 26,
as Danica Patrick Day in Illinois, and encourage everyone to join me
in recognizing her success and wish her the best of luck as she
heads back to the racetrack on Sunday. We all look forward to her
bright future in sports car racing."
During the Japan 300, the 26-year-old Danica started the race
from the third row and closely followed the leaders throughout the
race, making her final pit stop under caution on the 148th lap. She
was as low as eighth place on the 189th lap, but was able to seize
her chance when the leaders headed to the pits late in the race. She
took the lead in the final two laps of the 200-lap race, thrilling
the crowds as she pulled off one of the biggest upsets in all of the
race's history. In 2005, Danica became only the fourth woman to ever
race in the Indy 500 and the first woman to ever lead a lap in the
history of the race. That year, she also captured the coveted Rookie
of the Year trophy at the Indy awards.
Danica Patrick Day will take place on Saturday in honor of her
outstanding win.
Text of the
governor's proclamation:
WHEREAS, on Sunday, April 20, 2008, former Roscoe, Illinois
resident Danica Patrick made history by capturing first place in the
Indy Japan 300. The victory makes Danica the first female winner in
IndyCar history; and
WHEREAS, Patrick took the lead from pole-sitter Helio Castroneves
on the 198th lap in the 200-lap race, finishing 5.8594 seconds ahead
of Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval; and
WHEREAS, Patrick started the race from the third row and closely
followed the leaders throughout the race, making her final pit stop
under caution on the 148th lap. She was as low as eighth place on
the 189th lap, but was able to seize her chance when the leaders
headed to the pits late in the race; and
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 WHEREAS, Danica previously made history in 2005 as only the
fourth woman to ever race in the Indy 500 and the first woman to
ever lead a lap in the history of the race. That same year, she also
captured the coveted "Rookie of the Year" trophy at the Indy awards;
and
WHEREAS, thus far in her professional endeavors, Danica Patrick's
accomplishments have been impressive, highlighted by, among other
things, her third-place finish in the 2004 Toyota Atlantic
Championship final season standings and her outstanding performance
at the 2005 Indianapolis 500; and
WHEREAS, as a woman of only 26 years of age, Danica Patrick has
already made her mark on history with her sparkling achievements as
a professional driver. Illinois, being the state where Danica was
raised, is extremely proud of her recent success, and is pleased to
join in honoring her on this occasion:
THEREFORE, I, Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of
Illinois, do hereby proclaim April 26, 2008 as DANICA PATRICK DAY in
Illinois, and encourage all citizens to join in recognition of
Danica's historic first-place finish in the Indy Japan 300, and look
forward to even more success in the future for this highly-talented
young driver.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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