One name is all that is needed to identify her.

Danica.

Instantly, everyone knows who she is and what she does.

Danica Patrick drives open-wheel race cars. She drives them like no woman ever has driven before. She was the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500. She is the first woman to win an Indy Racing League race.

She is famous. She is loved. She is ridiculed. She can be smooth and polished. She can be angry and emotional. In other words, she is like any number of other professional athletes.

Patrick is the face of the IndyCar Series. And when that face belongs to a 26-year-old woman in a man's world, it does not make everyone happy.

After the Iowa Corn Indy 250, Scott Dixon, this year's Indianapolis 500 winner, called her a "menace." After a collision with Ryan Briscoe on pit road at Indianapolis, which infuriated Patrick, Briscoe said it was her typical finger pointing.

"As far as being the face of IndyCar, I've enjoyed the role," Patrick said. "I don't know how it makes them [other drivers] feel.

"I know that one thing is true. The attention that comes to anyone in the series, whether it's me or Dan or Scott or Helio, I know that attention affects all of us. I hope with that in mind, people . . . can see it as a positive thing for everybody."

Patrick is not yet a driver the equal of Dan Wheldon, Scott Dixon or Helio Castroneves, the top drivers in the series.

She has one victory in 55 starts. She finished seventh in the points standings last year and stands at No.7 in the points standings through eight races this season.

She is two spots and seven points behind her rookie teammate, Hideki Mutoh. Yet when they were together for a press conference at Richmond International Raceway several weeks ago, almost all the questions were directed to Patrick. Shouldn't more people talk to Mutoh?

"No," he said. "I know she is very famous. She makes the league more popular. She brings more people to the track."

And there you have it.

Whether they like it or want to admit it, the other drivers in the series need Danica Patrick.

Earlier this year, Graham Rahal 19, became the youngest driver to win an IRL race. The impact that had compared to Patrick winning in Japan, was minimal.

In Milwaukee, Rahal and Marco Andretti started on the front row, perhaps signaling the continuation of two great open-wheel racing dynasties.

That was a ripple in the sports news of the day.

Rahal, Andretti and Foyt once were the names that carried open-wheel racing in the United States. One day, those names might carry the sport again.

But for now, Danica Patrick sells tickets, advertising and sponsorships unlike no one else in the series.

"If you're going to be honest about it, she does sell tickets," Rahal said. "But if she's not winning, those tickets won't be sold. I don't think people have an interest in backing someone who is never going to win.

"Even if you are the biggest PR machine ever, these teams want to win, and I think fans want to cheer for people who are going to win. If she doesn't win, she'll disappear. I think that's the truth."

Not necessarily. NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt Jr. recently broke a 76-race winless streak. He didn't exactly disappear during that slump.

That is why as much as the IndyCar Series needs Patrick, she needs the series. She's a fine open-wheel driver. She has five top-10 finishes this season. She is on a strong team in a 15-team series. In the IndyCar Series, she has found her comfort zone.

Maybe she will win a championship one season. But if she wins one race a year or every other year, remains competitive and is a consistent top 10 driver, she's not going to fall off the grid.

She will remain a marketing force, will continue to make her name a brand and keep the IndyCar Series in the minds of even casual fans.

"We need her for the league," Mutoh said.

Mutoh might be a rookie, but he's figured out something very important about the series.
Contact Paul Woody at (804) 649-6444 or pwoody@timesdispatch.com.