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Danica Patrick to end racing career at next year’s Indy 500

9 years ago in Sports

File - In this Feb. 22, 2015, file photo, driver Danica Patrick greets fans as she is introduced before the start of the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Patrick announced plans Friday, Nov. 17, 2017, to run just 2 races in 2018, the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500, and end her full-time driving career. Photo: Associated Press/John Raoux

JENNA FRYER, AP Auto Racing Writer

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Danica Patrick says she will run in the Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500 next year and then end her full-time racing career.

Patrick told The Associated Press on Friday it took her months to come to the realization that her career is over. The 35-year-old Patrick says once she accepted that then the idea of capping her run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway popped into her head.

She has been working on putting together “The Danica Double” over the last three weeks. Patrick would not reveal who she will drive for in either race next year, but the Indianapolis contender would be Chip Ganassi Racing.

Patrick is the only woman to have led laps in both the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500.

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More AP Auto Racing: http://racing.ap.org/

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