American Danica Patrick became the first woman to win a race in the Indy Racing League (IRL) on Sunday, powering to victory in the Indy Japan 300 race.
It is a fascinating and rare opportunity to see a woman take on the men in a high-profile sport as so many other events keep men and women apart, even those with no physical contact and which come purely down to speed.
Formula One has not had a woman driver start a race in nearly 40 years and Danica Patrick, who nearly tested for Honda in 2008, has been through the rumour mill many times already.
Indy Car's most popular driver, was knocked out of the race in a pit lane crash with Australia's Ryan Briscoe during final fuel stops.
Jimmie Johnson cemented his place in NASCAR's list of greats by winning his second Daytona 500 on Sunday, while pole-sitter Danica Patrick placed eighth, the best finish for a woman in the 'Great American Race'.
Danica Patrick, who inspired young women to break into the male-dominated sport of motor racing, is now a fitness expert.
Danica Patrick left the door open to racing part-time in NASCAR on Tuesday after confirming a three-year deal to stay with Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar series.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
Danica Patrick may soon no longer be a race car driver but the only woman to win an IndyCar race remains as driven as ever as she speeds towards one last Indianapolis 500 and the end of a ground-breaking career.
Danica Patrick was not the first woman to race at Indianapolis; Janet Guthrie broke the gender line in 1978, followed by Lyn St. James in 1992 and Sarah Fisher in 2000.
Tennis star Maria Sharapova again tops the list of highest earning female athletes over the past year, according to Forbes.
Serena Williams was the highest paid female athlete for a third consecutive year in 2018, according to an annual list published by Forbes on Tuesday that was dominated by tennis players.
Serena Williams may have been second best at the French Open on Saturday but the American has moved ahead of fellow tennis player Maria Sharapova to top the women's earnings list in sports, according to Forbes Magazine. Williams ended the Russian's 11-year reign as the world number one women's money earner in sports by hauling in $28.9 million in combined prize money and off-field earnings over the past 12 months, the magazine said on Monday. Sharapova, who lost some sponsorship money after announcing she had tested positive for the recently banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open in January and is provisionally suspended, holds second spot at $21.9 million.
Beyond the empty stands and coronavirus-induced delay, this year's Indianapolis 500 will see another profound change at the famed Brickyard on Sunday -- for the first time in 21 years, there are no female drivers on the starting grid.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone caused a social media storm on Tuesday when he said women racing drivers would not be taken seriously in the sport and dismissed the contribution of immigrants to Britain.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Monday
Sport and society remain stuck in the 'stone age' when it comes to women's rights, Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton said on Thursday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday
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