IndyCar's Patrick to run NASCAR races

Patrick won her only title in five IndyCar seasons last year at Japan.

Danica Patrick, who became the first woman to win a major open-wheel race last year in Japan, announced Tuesday she would compete in a second-tier US stock car racing series starting in February.

The 27-year-old American who signed a three-year IndyCar contract extension with Michael Andretti's team last week will serve as a part-time driver for JR Motorsports in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).

Patrick, who unveiled a green and orange Chevrolet bearing number seven here on Tuesday, will drive in her first stock car event on February 6 at Daytona International Speedway in the ARCA Series.

- It's going to be a lot to learn - Patrick said. - That's the real key part. -

While Patrick did not say how many stock car events she plans to race in next year, she would have approval to race in the Nationwide series, a level below the top NASCAR racers, as well as the truck racing series.

Patrick has committed to running a full IndyCar season for Andretti but will drive in as many events as possible for the stock car team owned by racer Dale Earnhardt Jnr and Rick Hendrick.

- When the idea came about a few years ago to run some NASCAR stuff, I wasn't as prepared mentally as I am now - Patrick said. - I'm finally ready. The schedule doesn't intimidate me as much it used to. -

The 17-race IndyCar schedule opens March 14 at Sao Paulo, Brazil, and concludes October 2 at Miami, with Patrick saying she expects to run most of her NASCAR races before and after the IndyCar campaign.

Patrick, a career-best fifth in the IndyCar drivers standings this year, won her only title in five IndyCar seasons last year at Japan.