Patrick staying put

Three-year contract extension agreed with Andretti Autosport

Last updated: 1st December 2009  

Patrick staying put

Patrick: Three-year deal

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Danica Patrick has pledged her immediate future to IndyCar racing after agreeing a three-year contract extension with the Andretti Autosport team.

The 27-year-old, who last year became the first woman to win an IndyCar race at Motegi in Japan, has raced for the team for the past three seasons.

She finished third in this year's Indianapolis 500 - the first time a woman has taken a podium position in the race - to improve upon her fourth-place finish in 2005.

"Michael Andretti has helped me become a better driver and we hope to accomplish a great deal during the next few years together," Patrick said. "My life-long goal is to win the Indy 500."

Patrick, who also finished a career-best fifth in the IndyCar standings this year, had the team owner and son of racing legend Mario Andretti act as her strategist in 2009.

"All of us at Andretti Autosport are looking forward to having Danica back with the team," Andretti said.

There has been speculation that Patrick will switch from IndyCar racing to the higher profile NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

And despite the announcement of her new deal, Patrick has not ruled out driving in NASCAR at some level when her IndyCar commitments allow.

She told Fox News: "We've been working on it. I love to drive. I love to race. If I got the chance to run both series, I'd love that. I would be excited about the challenge."

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