Patrick still seeking maiden win

When the 24-year-old took the lead from eventual winner, Briton Dan Wheldon last year, she became the first woman to do so at the classic American oval race.

Television watchers changed channels in hope of seeing history being made and they are still waiting.

Because of Patrick's photogenic and telegenic appearance she is compared to tennis beauty Anna Kournikova who never won a major tournament in singles.

Some feel it is not a fair analogy.

"It's really a non-issue," Lyn St. James, the second woman at Indy and Rookie of the Year in 1992, told USA Today. "There has been all the hype over Danica-mania and never having won a race, but this isn't comparable to Anna Kournikova."

Patrick in 2005 finished in the top-10 seven times, with two fourth-place finishes (including the Indy 500) and three poles.

Yet, she has not taken a podium or cherished victory.

This year her Rahal Letterman Racing team has remained with a Panoz chassis, which has not been as competitive as the rival Italian-made Dallara.

Loses Advantage

Also, since Honda has agreed to supply engines to the entire field, the team lost their horsepower advantage over rivals such as Penske and Ganassi Racing.

This year Patrick finished sixth at a road race in St. Petersburg, Florida, and eighth at the two mile oval at Motegi, Japan, in fields of 20 or less rivals.

Before qualifying for this year's 500 the team could not find competitive speed.

"It's tough right now. But, again, I don't think anybody thinks I'm a bad driver. It's just we're struggling right now," Patrick explained.

Too late to switch to Dallara for the Indy 500 this Sunday, Patrick and her crew worked on the setup and qualified a respectable tenth.

In the harsh world of racing a second place finish is called "first loser."

For Patrick, whose best finish has been fourth there is constantly the nagging question, 'When are you going to win?'"

Although the average first win in the Indy Racing League comes at the 33rd race, it is something that is on the minds of many despite the fact that Sunday's race is only her 20th start in this series.

When asked if she needs a win to validate, the smooth public relations veneer comes off and she replies, "I have a problem with people thinking that 'cause there's exposure, that I have to do something.

"I don't feel like I have to do anything. I feel like I have to get the most out of myself, but that's it.

"I promise you, there's not a single time I go out on the track without giving everything I've got."