Danica Patrick has always been a lightning rod for attention at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Honestly, it doesn't matter if she’s behind the wheel of a neon green GoDaddy machine or holding a microphone for the FOX Sports broadcast—people are going to have an opinion.
The danica patrick indy 500 outfit choices have become almost as much of a race-day tradition as the singing of "Back Home Again in Indiana." During the 109th running of the Indy 500 in May 2025, Danica stepped onto the pre-race panel and immediately set social media on fire. It wasn't because of a hot take on Alex Palou's tire strategy. It was a black and white dress that looked, depending on who you asked, like a tribute to the checkered flag or a set of living room curtains.
The Checkered Flag Dress That Split the Internet
For the 2025 event, Danica opted for a bold, one-shoulder dress featuring heavy black and white diagonal stripes.
The intent seemed pretty clear: a sartorial nod to the most famous flag in motorsports. However, TV lighting and high-contrast patterns don't always play nice together. Within minutes of the FOX Sports broadcast going live, viewers were flooding X (formerly Twitter) with critiques. One fan bluntly suggested someone get a message to her to "change her outfit for the day," claiming she looked like she had a "curtain draped around her."
Another viewer called the look "hideous," complaining that the diagonal stripes showed poorly on television screens.
It wasn't all bad, though. Plenty of supporters jumped in to defend the look, calling it "awesome" and "great." This is basically the Danica Patrick experience in a nutshell. You’ve got a massive segment of the audience that loves her "red-pilled" persona and bold fashion, and another segment that seems to tune in just to find something to complain about.
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Why Her Fashion Choices Cause Such a Stir
Danica isn't just a former driver; she’s a brand. She has her own clothing line, Warrior by Danica Patrick, and she’s used to being the center of the frame.
In the world of racing—a sport that is still very much a "boys' club"—her refusal to wear a standard polo shirt and slacks is a statement. She leans into high fashion, even when it’s polarizing. Just weeks before the 2025 Indy 500, she faced similar backlash for a one-shoulder "bedsheet" dress at the F1 Miami Grand Prix.
The pattern is consistent:
- Bold Geometry: She loves asymmetrical cuts and loud patterns.
- The "Toga" Look: One-shoulder designs are a staple for her.
- High Contrast: She frequently picks colors that pop against the gray asphalt of the track.
More Than Just Fabric: The History of the Fire Suit
If we look back to her final race in 2018, the danica patrick indy 500 outfit was strictly functional but still uniquely "Danica." She actually helped design her own fire suit for that "Danica Double" farewell tour.
Most drivers just take what the sponsors give them. Not her. She worked on a suit that featured neon green to match her Ed Carpenter Racing Chevy, but she insisted on specific tailoring to ensure it didn't look like a "baggy potato sack," which is how many standard suits fit. That 2018 suit also featured logos for her vineyard, Somnium, and her fitness book, Pretty Intense. It was a walking billboard for her life after racing.
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The Evolution of the Broadcast Booth Look
Since retiring from full-time driving, her transition to the booth has seen her style evolve from "athlete in a team shirt" to "high-fashion analyst."
In 2024 and 2025, her outfits for F1 and IndyCar coverage have included:
- Vegas Cold: Icy plaid pants and a heater to survive the dipping desert temperatures.
- Mexico City: A colorful "Dia de Muertos" inspired look.
- Austin: A minidress and cowboy boots that were a total Texas salute.
- Montreal: A collared "prom minidress" that fans compared to bowling attire.
She basically treats the paddock like a runway. While some old-school racing fans find it distracting, it’s undeniably effective for engagement. People who don't even care about the difference between a Honda and a Chevy engine are suddenly Googling what she’s wearing.
Dealing with the "Change Your Outfit" Criticism
It’s worth noting that Danica rarely, if ever, responds to the fashion police.
She’s been criticized for everything from her driving style to her political views. A few comments about a striped dress aren't going to make her switch to a corporate blazer. There’s a certain level of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) she brings to the track that transcends her wardrobe. She is still the highest-finishing woman in Indy 500 history (3rd in 2009) and the only woman to win an IndyCar race.
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When she talks about how the car feels in Turn 1 at 230 mph, she knows what she’s talking about.
The irony is that the more people complain about the "distracting" clothes, the more the networks realize she is a "talk-about" factor. In the 2025 broadcast, the cameras stayed on the panel long enough for everyone to get a good look at that checkered dress. Whether it was "hideous" or "heroic," it kept people from changing the channel during the pre-race lull.
What to Look for Next Season
If you're planning on watching the 110th Running of the Indy 500 in 2026, expect more of the same. Danica has found her niche as a polarizing fashion icon in a sport that usually prioritizes Nomex over silk.
If you want to emulate the "Danica look" without the internet backlash, stick to one bold element. If you're going with a one-shoulder cut, maybe skip the "busy" diagonal stripes that can cause a moiré effect on digital cameras. But then again, if you’re trying to get noticed in a crowd of 300,000 people at the Brickyard, maybe a "curtain" dress is exactly what you need.
Actionable Insights for Racing Fashion:
- Consider the Camera: If you're going to be on a digital broadcast, tight, high-contrast stripes can "vibrate" on screen. Solid bold colors (like her Miami white or Vegas red) usually photograph better.
- Function over Fashion (at the track): Unless you're in a suite like Danica, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a brutal environment. Wear breathable fabrics.
- Branding is King: Notice how Danica often incorporates "racing" themes (checkered patterns, "GoDaddy" green) into her high fashion. It keeps her "on brand" even when she's not in a car.
The next time the Indy 500 rolls around, don't just watch the grid. Keep an eye on the FOX or NBC pre-race stage. Love her or hate her, the Danica Patrick outfit will be the first thing everyone talks about before the engines even start.