Danica Patrick's need for speed got the best of her Monday night.
In her first-ever Daytona 500 race, the driver was involved in a car crash during her second lap. Patrick's vehicle took a hit and swerved toward the infield grass, sliding between Elliott Sadler and Jimmie Johnson's spinning cars.
Patrick's crew made extensive repairs to her vehicle, and she eventually completed the race. The 29-year-old finished in 38th place.
"I would have loved to have got the experience when you actually were racing for positions as opposed to just feeling it out," a disappointed Patrick told reporters. "But I truly believe everything happens for a reason."
It's been a rough few days for Patrick, who wrecked her car during the qualifying race Thursday. She won the pole position for the Nationwide race Saturday, but once again wrecked her car after JR Motorsports teammate Cole Whitt bumped into her.
Patrick learned a valuable lesson from her multiple accidents: "The further up front you are, the better off you are. But then again, you need that experience to get further up front, which is what I'm trying to get."
"I'm sure this is not new territory for a new driver," Patrick told reporters. "I just wish it could have gone better for everybody that was so excited, especially the fans. It was great to see them cheering all around the track."
