By Mike Harris

Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — A deep-seated intensity that often turned to anger has fueled Danica Patrick’s racing personality — until now.

Preparing for her fourth Indianapolis 500 in the wake of her historic and long-awaited first win, Patrick is trying hard to focus that intensity in a more positive direction.

“I realize, over time now, how unproductive being angry all the time is and how it doesn’t really do any good for my driving,” Patrick said Thursday as rain washed away the second straight day of practice for the May 25 race. “I think that being positive does.”

It’s been a common sight after IRL IndyCar races the past few seasons to see a frustrated and irritated Patrick, her faced clouded by anger, stalking away from her race car — even after a good finish.

It wasn’t a pretty sight.

“I will say that it started, that whole being angry thing, because I wanted people to know that I wasn’t OK with finishing sixth,” Patrick explained. “I wasn’t OK with driving my butt off and finishing eighth. I wasn’t OK with those results. I’m not OK with finishing third.

“I want to win races, and I wanted people to know that. I didn’t want them to see me smiling and going ‘Woo Hoo’ and them saying, ‘That’s it? That’s all she hopes for?’ I wanted them to know that I wished and believed in more.”

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