Danica Patrick

In the fast and furious world of racecar driving, Danica Patrick was a world-record setter for female racers. In 2005, Patrick became the fourth woman to race in the Indianapolis 500; she led 19 laps of the race, and her fourth place finish was the highest ever at that time for a female driver. Having an affinity for racing at super-speedways, Patrick made history again in 2008 when she finished the season in sixth place in the unified IndyCar series, the highest-placing finish for women at the time. And, to show that she was more than just a racing novelty, she made an impressive showing at the Indianapolis 500 the following year, finishing in third at that event. Her biggest coup, however, happened during her second Daytona 500 in February 2013 after she joined the NASCAR Driver's ranks. In this event, she notched another milestone by becoming the first woman ever to lead laps in a NASCAR race, proving that she was a consistent contender on the track and a true game-changer for the sport.