The checkered flag dropped today in Japan, and with it came the paternalistic stranglehold on professional motorsports as Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300 — besting her previous highest finish of second place at the Detroit Grand Prix. The win, 5.8594 seconds ahead of pole-sitter Helio Castroneves on the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi oval occurring after leader Scott Dixon pitted with five laps left and Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan came in a lap later, makes Patrick the first woman to ever win an IndyCar race. Finally, people will be forced to look at Danica Patrick...

...as something other than a piece of meat. Well, she did do that Sports Illustrated photo shoot, so you can probably still look at her like a piece of meat — just now you'll also have to realize she's a piece of meat that's faster than you, Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, Dan Wheldon, Tony Kanaan and your brother Sal. [via ESPN] Picture Credit: Sports Illustrated

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