“I’m Seeing Bright Lights & a Priest”- Danica Patrick Unmasks Biggest Racing Scare That Left Her Fearing for Her Life

Danica Patrick’s racing career has definitely been one to remember. Being the only woman to win an IndyCar Series race (2008 Indy Japan 300), the retired driver doesn’t have a dearth of tales to tell. However, not all of her stories are all rainbows and sunshine as Patrick recently revealed a frightening incident that took place on the track years ago.

As an IndyCar driver, Patrick did experience some hard crashes in her 14-year career. In fact, her final race also ended in a crash at Indianapolis. But this one accident left her scared and fearing for her life.

Danica Patrick’s horrific IndyCar debut

In an interview with Doug Bopst, Patrick opened up about the scariest moment of her racing career. At the Homestead-Miami Speedway during the 2005 IndyCar Series race – The Toyota Indy 300, the retired veteran experienced a horrific crash involving multiple cars. Shortly after a restart, Kosuke Matsuura spun in turn one, initiating the crash. On lap 159, Patrick avoided the spinning cars but clipped Ed Carpenter’s decelerating vehicle. This collision launched her into the air and then into a hard impact with the two outer walls. The crash left Patrick visibly shaken and with a minor concussion.

Recalling the incident, Patrick said, “I was probably like 18. I mean that was probably like the biggest transition as far as scary goes. Look, my first IndyCar race was a pretty big accident. Like my very first one first race in Homestead Miami 2005. It was like a very big crash and turns one into, you know, half three quarters of the way through the race. And a car came down and clipped my right rear and I shot up into the wall, and like, slid down the track. The car is on fire, like I don’t remember it you know… I had to go to the hospital in an ambulance.” However, there was also something unexplainable that went down during that heart-stopping moment. Or at least that’s what the racer thought initially.

Further expanding on her experience when she regained consciousness, she shared, “Before that, I woke up in the medical center at the track. Like looking up to a bright light and then I see a priest come over my head. And then I see my mom come over my head, and I’m like, ‘Am I in like, what happened?’ And I literally said, ‘What happened, like where am I? Like what happened?’ And my mom was like, ‘You just had a little accident’. I’m like, ‘Little accident, Mom? I’m seeing bright lights & a priest right now’. That was probably the scariest accident though as far as something physical.”

It’s understandable why the former Stewart-Haas Racing star was spooked after she woke up. Just imagine regaining consciously and seeing a priest coupled with blaring lights. Pretty weird, right?

Danica Patrick’s racing career took off in the IndyCar Series, where she quickly found success. Starting with karting, she progressed to Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford. In a historic 2005 Indianapolis 500, she became the first female driver to lead laps. Throughout her rookie season, her performances earned her three pole positions, equaling Tomas Scheckter’s record.

In her NASCAR career, Patrick competed in the Cup Series and the Xfinity Series. Over seven years, she took part in 191 Cup Series races with Stewart-Haas Racing. She finished 24th in both 2015 and 2016, her highest rank. She also raced in 61 Xfinity Series events, securing a top-ten finish in 2012. She brought an end to her career in 2018 with her last race at the Indianapolis 500 ironically ending with a crash.

Danica Patrick was left “disappointed” with how her career ended

Patrick’s IndyCar career ended in the same fashion it began- with a crash. Her car got loose as she drove through Turn 2 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, spun out, and slammed into the wall. It was a sour ending to a glorious career. Fortunately, Patrick was not injured but the abrupt ending of her final race left her devastated. In fact, she was even reluctant to appear in front of the media after the race.

“Today was really disappointing,” she said after being cleared by the infield medical center. Speaking to the media afterward she said, “Definitely not a great ending. As I kind of said before I came here, that I feel like if it’s a complete disaster, as in not in the ballpark at all, and look silly, then people might remember that. If I win, people will remember that. But probably anything in between might just be a little part of a big story. So I kind of feel that’s how it is.”

Despite the end, her legacy remains etched in the history of IndyCar. Although she never won a NASCAR race, her tenacity and presence made a significant impression on the racing world and its enthusiasts.