. >> patrick started racing as a 10-year-old girl in broadhead, wisconsin. >> how much is the pressuredon't think about that because there's nothing i can do but be myself. i just see it as an opportunity to do something new and different. perhaps show people, you know, what's possible in this world. >> what is possible is $13 million in annual salary. ranking seventh on "forbes'" list of nascar drivers. >> from illinois, danica patrick! >> reporter: and a very long list of sponsors. with her cent success at the daytona 500, nascar's super bowl, ratings increased 24% from last year, with 16.7 million viewers tuning in. >> danica patrick, the pole sitter. >> reporter: but that fame does not come without controversy. in nine yearses of professional racing in both the indycar series and now nascar, patrick has won only once in almost 200 races, leaving some racing fans and fellow drivers to climb she only gets the fa imbecause she's a woman. >> when i'm sitting there saying we're celebrating an eighth place finish. >> how much do you listen to those critics who say danica is just getting