Patrick looks forward to winning again in a couple years

TOKYO, JAPAN — Danica Patrick waited a long time to win her first IndyCar Series race. It took her three years and fifty races to score her first victory, which came Sunday in Tokyo at the Japan Indy 300. But she promises that this win will not be her only one.

“I certainly look forward to winning again in 2011,” said the 26-year-old IndyCar heartthrob. “It’s been a long time coming, but I think with another fifty races of experience under my belt, I should be ready to take home another trophy.”

Patrick has been criticized as a driver for capitalizing on her looks instead of talent to get to where she was. The critics pointed to her numerous endorsement deals – despite never having won a race – as proof of that theory. But that is no longer the case, as Patrick dominated the field in Tokyo, leading a total of three laps after other drivers began to run short of fuel.

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Danica isn’t the only one convinced she is on track for another win sometime in the future. IndyCar legend Michael Andretti, an owner of the racing »”>Andretti Green Racing team that Patrick drives for, has lofty expectations for her, too. He boldly predicted that his hottest driver – literally and figuratively, now – will next hit the winner’s circle even sooner than the three years Patrick has eyed.

“You know what? It wouldn’t surprise me if she won again after two, maybe two and-a-half years,” Andretti told SSNN. “She’s a really good driver. It took her fifty races to get this far, and I’m willing to bet that she only needs about another thirty-five to forty races to get her next victory.

“Some people may scoff at that, but I’ve seen the talent she possess. Mark it down: 2010 will see Danica back on top. I promise.”