The IRL rookie driver will start ahead of Dan Wheldon, the Indianapolis 500 champion she has overshadowed since her sensational showing last month, and all but two other drivers Saturday night.

``If I don't do well, the story isn't as good,'' Patrick said after qualifying third Thursday night. ``So as long as I keep doing well, I'm happy.''

Patrick had a qualifying lap of 212.661 mph on the 1 1/2 -mile, high-banked Texas track, where she had never driven before two practice sessions earlier in the day.

That put her a spot higher on the starting grid than she was at Indianapolis, where she became the first woman to lead (19 laps) and the highest finisher (fourth).

``It's good to come to a track for the first time and be strong, but I put that down to the team, not me,'' she said. ``I really give credit to everybody else, but I guess I had to help out a little.''

Patrick will take the green flag ahead of both her Rahal Letterman teammates. Vitor Meira qualified fifth and Buddy Rice, who returns after not being able to defend his Indianapolis 500 title because of a crash in practice, was seventh...."

http://sports.yahoo.com/irl/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpOTZ0dThvBF9TAzk1ODYyNzM3BHNlYwN0bQ--?slug=ap-irltexas& amp;prov=ap&type=lgns

Anyone not rooting for Danica tonight gets no higher than twos from me for ratings all next week.

So there.