The biggest worst kept secret was finally confirmed earlier today when Ed Carpenter Racing finally confirmed that Danica Patrick will be driving for the team in this year’s 102nd running of the greatest motor race in the world, the Indianapolis 500!
As was previously revealed by a slip of the tongue, it is now official; Patrick will drive the #13 ECR Chevrolet and sponsored by long-time commercial partner GoDaddy in the May 27th race at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
After completing the first part of her racing swansong, dubbed by media as the “Danica Double”, at Daytona last month, Patrick’s attention will now focus on getting up to speed in the new DW12 Dallara and Chevy engine, something that she has not yet driven as the new cars chassis were introduced in 2012 by which time she had switched to NASCAR.
"I love how everything is coming full-circle," she said after the official announcement. "I am going to close out my racing career at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the place where so many amazing things have happened for me. Ed Carpenter Racing is consistently competitive at Indy. I can't think of a better way to finish out my racing career than at the Indianapolis 500 with this team and GoDaddy."
Team owner, and driver, Carpenter added: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – to be the team to power Danica in her final race, and to do it together here in Indianapolis is especially significant for ECR. When you consider the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is where Danica first made her mark in racing, it's easy to see why this is the perfect way for her to end her career."
When questioned why she had chosen the #13 for her race car, Patrick admitted that she liked it and had no superstitions about it.
"Back in the day, the colour green was also said to be bad luck in racing," she said referring to the GoDaddy green from her IndyCar and early NASCAR days. "I think it's cool. I'm a firm believer that superstitions are only real if you believe them."
Keen to get track time with the DW12 chassis, Patrick will spend a full day testing the #13 machine at the IMS on the 29 March during an official Chevrolet manufacturer test. Practice for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 begins on Tuesday, 15 May 15, twelve days before the race.
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