These mostly-SFW photos of Danica Patrick straddling a Cobra for the 2009 SI Swimsuit Issue join the showering Danica commercial in providing more buzz for her brand and more eye candy for teenage boys.
Patrick has proven herself as a driver by being the first woman to win an Indy Car race, which has nothing to do with her being the first Indy driver we'd be okay with seeing in a bikini (sorry Andrettis). In the end, this is more of the well-coordinated campaign to make Danica Patrick simultaneously a: sex symbol, pioneer for women in motorsports, bankable marketing figure, and relevant athlete. Thanks to Graverobber for the tip!
[More photos of Danica and other quasi-athletic women in swimwear at the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Microsite]