NEW YORK — Saying that her Indy Japan 300 win last year "finally silenced many of her Y-chromosomed detractors," Danica Patrick was named by Time to its 2009 Time 100: The World's Most Influential People list. Patrick was No. 93 on the list, behind such louts and luminaries as Bernie Madoff, Sarah Palin and Pope Benedict XVI.
Patrick was slapped by Time for "developing a rep for on-track temper tantrums and still hasn't won in her home country." But she was lauded for becoming "the first woman to win an Indy race, a feat that finally silenced many of her Y-chromosomed detractors and sparked rumors of a Formula 1 bid."
Patrick, 28, earned 523,545 votes in the online polling, Time reported. It was the first time she had made the prestigious list — one that usually includes a healthy dose of celebrities and politicians from around the globe. Her occupation was listed by Time as "racy driver."
Patrick had been more closely associated with other publications, most notably the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also recently made the cover of Shape magazine. She told CNBC.com in a recent interview that prior to those appearances, "I didn't eat anything for all of Thanksgiving or Christmas." She added: "It's probably good to do this type of thing every year."
She also recently took the wraps off her No. 7 racing car, which is sponsored by Boost Mobile and Motorola. Patrick said the brands represent "what I'm all about — being young, fun and edgy."
But the edginess apparently doesn't extend to Twitter. Patrick told CNBC.com that the DanicaPatrick on Twitter is not really her. "As soon as it hit, they put me on there," she said. "But I haven't done anything. I just don't get it. I don't want people to know where I am all the time. I don't think it's healthy or safe."
Inside Line says: Danica Patrick grows in stature, but don't be fooled by what you read on Twitter. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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