Her green-eyed gaze is level and unafraid. "You know," she goes on, "when I was living alone in England I had faith in the fact that when I came back to the States I would get a ride. My dad was very concerned and nervous and didn't know what was going to happen. Was I going to work with my name on my shirt for the rest of my life? But for some reason, I just knew it was going to be fine. I don't know why, but I knew. "

Within the year, she had signed on with Team Rahal; she began to make her mark in Toyota Atlantics and, if the racing cognoscenti don't miss their guess, set out on a quick straightaway toward becoming the world's fastest woman. Already, in fact, she's instilling fear in some people. After riding a lap with her in that (relatively) slow Ford pace car last week, one local radio reporter emerged a bit weak-kneed and announced: "Good thing I wore my Depends."

In other words, look out, world: Danica's in the rearview mirror and closing in fast.