The NASCAR star will be the first woman to lead the pack at the prestigious Daytona 500

NASCAR racing star and popular sports model Danica Patrick has made history by posting the best qualifying time for the Daytona 500 race.

Danica is already the top female racer in the US for her success at the IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500, and also popular as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. This achievement cements her position as a lady who's not afraid to take on the guys in what has always been a male-dominated sport.

This Sunday, she will start in pole position at the Daytona 500, which is the first race of the calendar in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and also one of the most popular.

Click on to see more pictures of Danica Patrick or read our article here.