Each year, the IndyCar Series tops itself with strong storylines and characters, subplots and scintillating action. source: indycar.com / By Dave Lewandowski It will be difficult to surpass 2005 - with Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick creating a buzz outside the realm of sports, the addition of competitive street and road course events, and the pageantry and pressure-packed action of the 89th Indianapolis 500. But, given its history, the 11-year-old series will set new standards of excitement in 2006. "It's been such a year and been so much fun," said Patrick, who set off an international media storm with her fourth-place finish in the Indianapolis 500. "I went into the season hoping that I would be rookie of the year, hoping that I would be rookie of the year at Indianapolis, hoping that I would have successes, hoping that I would make progress each and every race. "I can say, 'Yeah, I did what I hoped.' '' Rahal Letterman Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal said her accomplishments exceeded his expectations. Patrick became the first woman in the history of the 500-Mile Race to lead a lap, and she was the pole sitter three times during her rookie season. "I feel very good about it because I did believe in her," said Rahal, the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner and Hall of Fame driver in an espn.com story. "She still has a ways to go, there's no doubt about that. My instructions to her were very simple. I told her over and over, the idea was to take care of the car and finish races this year. Seat time was more important than anything for somebody with no experience in these cars. She obviously did more than we expected of her "She's handled everything far better than I thought -- both the press and the demands. And she's done it with class and dignity when there have been some people that didn't deal with her the same way."
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