May 29, 2005
On this day in 2005, 23-year-old Danica Patrick became the first female driver to take the lead in the Indianapolis 500. Driving a car co-owned by Bobby Rahal, winner of the Indy 500 in 1986, and David Letterman, the late-night talk show host, she took the lead with 10 laps in the race. Low on fuel, Ms. Patrick was forced to slow, however, and finished 4th in the race.