Danica Patrick has made racing history, becoming the first woman in the history of NASCAR to win the pole for any race. Here, Patrick sits in her car during practice for the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in 2012 in Avondale, Arizona. This slide show looks back at Patrick's exciting career through the years.
(CNN) -- She says she was brought up to be the fastest driver, not the fastest girl.
None of the boys were faster on Sunday.
Danica Patrick became the first woman to win the pole position for the Daytona 500, considered the Super Bowl of NASCAR, posting a lap of 196.434 mph.
She'll start next Sunday's "Great American Race" in the front row, on the inside part of the track. The polesitter begins the race with certain strategic advantages as well as the prestige of leading an elite pack.
Becoming the first woman to win a pole at any NASCAR top-division race is another milestone for a racer known for breaking barriers.
"I've heard stories about a kid, a boy or a girl, saying, 'But mommy, daddy. That's a girl that's out there racing.' And then they can have that conversation to say, 'You can do anything you want to do and gender doesn't matter.' Your passion is what matters. And that's cool," Patrick told CNN's Don Lemon on Sunday.
"When the pressure is on and when the spotlight is on, they ultimately become some of my better moments," she said earlier.
Danica Patrick: 'Gender doesn't matter'
Racing pioneer's advice for Danica
Danica Patrick revs up new video game
Danica Patrick enters world of NASCAR
Patrick, who was the favorite to win the pole, said she felt some nerves because of the high expectations.
"I feel more nervous when there is more on the line," she said. "It was, 'Just don't make a stupid mistake.'"
She said that driving a qualifying lap at Daytona, where drivers shift gears three times then run the engine pretty much wide open, was 90% crew preparation and 10% driver.
Not so, said her crew chief, Tony Gibson, who said it's an even split.
"I'm proud of her. She didn't falter," he said.
She will start her No. 10 GODADDY Chevrolet in the front row next week alongside Jeff Gordon, who ran a lap at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway at 196.292 mph in his No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet.
"She runs so smooth, keeps such a smooth line and that's what you have to do to carry speed here," co-car owner and fellow driver Tony Stewart said.
A pole position does not guarantee success.
Only nine of the pole winners in the first 54 Daytona 500s won the race and no one has earned both victories since Dale Jarrett in 2000, NASCAR spokesman Scott Warfield said.
The rest of the field will be set in two qualifying races scheduled for Thursday.
Patrick and Gordon are guaranteed two of the 43 slots in the final lineup. But they go to the back of the pack if they wreck their cars in the qualifiers, or at any time before Sunday's race, and have to switch to a backup car, Warfield said.
Patrick, 30, is in her first full year as a NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Last year she made 10 Sprint Cup starts, qualifying no better than 23rd.
NASCAR says Patrick still qualifies as a rookie for the 2013 season and she's the first rookie to win the Daytona 500 pole since Jimmie Johnson in 2002.
Before racing stock cars, Patrick raced open-wheel IndyCars for several years.
Patrick said winning a pole position in Kansas in 2005 was one of her top moments as an IndyCar driver. She also was the first woman to win a race in that series, in Japan in 2008, and was the first woman to ever lead a lap at the famed Indianapolis 500.
Patrick won a pole last year at Daytona in the Nationwide Series, NASCAR's second division. She finished 38th in that race and in the Daytona 500 and she said on Sunday that she plans on competing in both races again next weekend.
Janet Guthrie previously held both the records for qualifying by a female driver. She qualified ninth for two races in 1977 and her best Daytona starting position was 18th in 1980.
Gordon, a three-time champion at the Daytona 500, welcomed Patrick to the front row.
"This is great from the sport and the rest of us will benefit from it," he said. "I'm proud to sit on the front row with her."
She also said that the wait to see if she had won the pole was made more agonizing because she had gone to work out as other drivers went one by one, trying to best her top lap.
Patrick told CNN that understanding the scope of her achievement "is something that happens down the road. In the moment, it's about thinking about what I need to do for next Sunday and trying to make some more history."
Loading weather data ...
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Patrick sits in her car during the Open Test in 2005 in Phoenix.
Patrick speaks with her crew during practice for the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg in 2005 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida.
From left: Vitor Meira, Patrick and Tony Kanaan pose for a photograph in 2005 in Times Square.
Patrick looks on during Pole Day Qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 in 2005.
Patrick waits during practice for the Bombardier Learjet 500 in 2005 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Patrick rounds the track during practice for the Bombardier Learjet 500 in 2005.
Patrick is seen driving a Ferrari during the previews to the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in 2005 in Indianapolis.
Actor Patrick Dempsey and Danica Patrick make their presentation at the 13th Annual ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre in 2005 in Hollywood.
Patrick poses for a photograph during a media day in 2006 in Homestead, Florida.
Patrick walks the runway during a Marie Claire and Tissot fall fashion preview show at the Fashion Show Mall in 2006 in Las Vegas.
Patrick drives during practice for the Argent Mortgage Indy Grand Prix in 2005 in Sonoma, California.
Patrick prepares to get in her car during practice for the SunTrust Indy Challenge in 2007 in Richmond, Virginia.
Patrick prepares during practice for the Bombardier Learjet 550k in 2007 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Patrick waits to get in her car during practice for the SunTrust Indy Challenge in 2007 in Richmond, Virginia.
Tony Kanaan, right, and Patrick celebrate after placing first and second in the Detroit Indy Grand Prix in 2007 in Detroit.
Patrick is seen during practice for the ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 in 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Patrick gets ready for practice for the PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma County in 2008 in California.
Patrick walks the runway at the 10th Annual Gridiron Glamour Show in 2008 in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Patrick poses with the trophy after winning the Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 Mile in 2008 in Motegi, Japan.
Patrick poses for a portrait during media day at Barber Motorsports Park in 2009 in Leeds, Alabama.
Patrick waits during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 in 2009.
Patrick in car No. 7 leads a group during the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 in 2010 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
A detail shot of Patrick's shoes on the grid before the New England 200 in 2010 in Loudon, New Hampshire.
Patrick loses control of her car during the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 in 2010.
Patrick signs autographs during qualifying for the CARFAX 250 in 2010 in Brooklyn, Michigan.
Patrick, left, drives next to Dan Wheldon during practice for the Cafes do Brasil Indy 300 in 2010 in Homestead, Florida. 
Patrick attends an Auto Club Speedway and Tissot's event in 2010 in Hollywood.
Patrick pits during the Dollar General 300 in 2010 in Concord, North Carolina.
Patrick poses for a photograph during a media day at Daytona International Speedway in 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Patrick waits in the rain while her car is covered during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 in 2011.
Patrick speaks to a crew member in the garage at Daytona International Speedway in 2012.
Patrick gets out of her car after qualifying for the Daytona 500 in 2012.
Patrick sits in her car in the garage area during practice for the VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 in 2012 in Darlington, South Carolina.
Patrick drives during practice for the History 300 in 2012 in Concord, North Carolina.
Patrick drives as flames shoot from the back of her car after an incident in the AdvoCare 500 in 2012 in Avondale, Arizona.
Patrick applies make-up before an interview during the 2013 NASCAR media day at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, February 14, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Patrick speaks to the media after qualifying for the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 17, 2013, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
|