Danica finishes 5th

Where are all the detractors now? Huh? Huh? What’s that? Nothing to say? Sorry, I…I couldn’t hear that. What was that again? Danica’s what?

INDIANAPOLIS (AP)—Danica Patrick’s rocky week at the Brickyard ended with cheers instead of boos.

The popular IndyCar driver shook off a poor qualifying run and a somewhat poor-handling car to finish fifth in Sunday’s Indy 500, her second consecutive top-five finish at the 2.5-mile oval.

That’s a helluva finish to a bad week. Wisconsin native Danica Patrick started the race in 23rd position and spent most of the last half of the race in the low teens, finally making a run into the top ten during the final laps and finishing fifth after a pretty spectacular crash that happened right in front of her.

That blue and yellow piece of trash in the picture? That’s a car. Danica went by about two seconds before that. I’ll post video as soon as I find some.

Of the crash. Video of the crash.

Oh, fine, I’ll post video of her post-race interviews, too. Especially the part where she thanks me for the loyal support, without which she couldn’t have done it. You’re welcome, Danica!

UPDATE - right, some guy with dark hair and a red car won. Missed his name. Ashley Judd’s husband, I heard. So…Mr. Judd. He won.