INDIANAPOLIS May 29, 2005 — Add another first to Danica Patrick's racing resume. The 23-year-old rookie, the highest-starting female driver in Indianapolis 500 history, became the first woman to lead the race when the three drivers ahead of her made their second pit stops before she did.

Patrick, driving for the Rahal Letterman Racing team, started fourth, on the inside of the second row directly behind pole-winner Tony Kanaan.

She stayed among the leaders and was still running fourth when Sam Hornish Jr., Dario Franchitti and Kanaan came in for pit stops on the 56th lap. That put Patrick in front briefly, but she came in for four tires and fuel the next time around and dropped back to fourth as she came onto the track.

The only woman to start from the pole in a major open wheel race was Sarah Fisher, who led the first 26 laps at Kentucky Speedway in 2002 and finished eighth. In five races at Indianapolis, Fisher's best start was ninth and her best finish was 21st.

The only other women at Indy were Janet Guthrie, whose best finish in three races was ninth in 1978; and Lyn St. James, whose best in seven races was 11th in 1992, when she was rookie of the year.

Patrick, who drove in the developmental Toyota Atlantic series for Rahal Letterman the past two years, moved up to the IndyCar series this season. At the series' most recent race at Motegi, Japan, she started second, led 32 laps and finished fourth.

Patrick went into Sunday's race in 12th place in the IRL series points.