Popular IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick spent Friday behind the wheel of the AirTran/Hewlett-Packard 2-seater giving rides to seven lucky contest winners and guests.

Danica, AirTran Contest Winners Fly Around Brickyard in 2-Seater
AirTran Airways and spokesperson Danica Patrick gave seven lucky contest winners and their guests a memorable Indy Racing Experience 2-seater ride around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Friday

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Oct. 2, 2009) – One month ago more than 15,000 AirTran Airways A+ Reward members logged on and entered a nationwide sweepstakes to become Danica Patrick’s Backseat Driver.  On Friday, seven lucky winners and their guests earned that chance to ride with the popular IndyCar Series driver in the AirTran/Hewlett-Packard Indy Racing Experience 2-seater at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Contest winners were treated to a full day at the Brickyard, taking in the Hall of Fame Museum, racing in a full-size IndyCar simulator wrapped in Patrick’s No. 7 Boost Mobile paint scheme, snapping pictures with Patrick, and having the chance to sit in on her midday press conference at the IMS Media Center, before heading to a meet-and-greet luncheon with the IndyCar race winner.

AirTran, for whom Patrick serves as a spokesperson, flew the 14 thrill seekers on its airline from several regions of the country, including Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.

The contest also marked a milestone for the Indy Racing Experience as Patrick was behind the wheel of the 2-seater for the first time in her racing career.  In addition to nine Indy 500 winners, Patrick now joins a list of nine other former or current IndyCar Series drivers who have piloted the popular ride.  Click here to view the list of drivers who have driven the Indy Racing Experience 2-seater.

In her press conference Friday, Patrick echoed the sentiments of several other 2-seater drivers of just how important taking laps at the Brickyard is to an IndyCar pilot.  Her point was emphasized when she ranked leading laps at the 2005 Indy 500 – an event which she became the first female to accomplish the feat – as a more important accomplishment than winning her first IndyCar Series race in Japan last year.

"I have to say that '05 Indy was my best memory (in racing), it really was," she said. "I know a lot of people might say I'd say my first win (in the series) was, but I knew that was coming somewhere, somehow, some way, and I wasn't shocked (when it happened last year in Japan). I was relieved.

"But that first Indy was all a surprise. There was so much about me leading up to the month, running fast and then almost getting the pole. People tuned in and I almost won the race, too, coming back from a spin, losing my front wing, stalling in the pits early.

"It was a crazy day -- a life-changing day."

Four years ago the “World’s Greatest Race Course” forever changed one of the world’s most popular drivers.  And thanks largely in part to the personable Patrick, 14 lucky guests departed her favorite track Friday with a greater appreciation for her day job and memories of an experience that will last a lifetime.