Danica Patrick’s weekend in the nation’s capital took a sharp turn—literally. The former NASCAR star was on air for IndyCar’s Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C., and less than 24 hours later, she was in an operating room.
Patrick revealed on her Instagram story that she had surgery on Tuesday morning to remove a “chunk of glass” from her left foot—an injury she says happened over a year ago. The revelation came as a surprise to fans, especially since Patrick had been strutting the FOX pre-race set in heels just days earlier.
“Just a casual Tuesday morning surgery to remove a chunk of glass from a year ago,” Patrick wrote. “The propofol wasn’t so bad.”
The 43-year-old explained that while she could manage heels, walking barefoot was impossible. “I have no idea how I could walk in heels but I absolutely could not walk barefoot,” she added. “Doc said it was hitting my bone. Danced too hard in Ibiza a few weeks ago and it got more painful everyday.”
The surgery came on the heels of a contentious broadcast. Patrick faced heavy criticism for her commentary during the race, with many IndyCar fans taking issue with her praise of President Trump on live TV. The moment sparked a wave of backlash on social media, but Patrick remains unapologetic.
After the race, she took to Instagram to celebrate the event, calling it “a new great American race in Washington DC.” She thanked Bud Denker, Eric Shanks, Sean Duffy, and President Trump for making it happen, adding, “Although it felt like more like a dream all day.”
Patrick’s D.C. pregame remarks had already left some fans feeling uneasy, but she’s clearly not letting the noise affect her. In fact, she fired back at her critics ahead of the broadcast, making it clear she’s not here to please everyone.
Despite the backlash, Patrick is expected to remain part of FOX’s IndyCar coverage moving forward. Her foot is on the mend, and her schedule isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
For a driver who’s never been shy about speaking her mind, a little glass in her foot—and a few harsh words from fans—isn’t about to stop her.
