History-making season
Open-wheel racing wasted no time in setting records of historic significance once the 2008 season took the green flag. First, Graham Rahal became the youngest winner of a major open-wheel racing event at 19 years and 93 days at the IRL race in St. Petersburg, Florida in early April. Three weeks later, 26-year-old Danica Patrick followed by becoming the first female to win a major closed-course event when she won the Japan 300 on April 20 — also her first Indycar win in 50 career starts. Then, on April 27, Ashley Force wrote her name in the history books, becoming the first woman to win a National Hot Rod Association Funny Car title, defeating her father, John, in the process.