The USF1 project, due to be officially unveiled on February 24th, would be interested in signing female IndyCar driver Danica Patrick according to a co-partner of the operation, Ken Anderson. USF1 plans to be on the F1 grid in 2010, with the aim of showcasing the best American talent, and Anderson has singled out Patrick as being in with a shout, despite having no previous F1 experience.

In an interview with the Associated Press news agency, Anderson said: “[IRL chairman] Tony George would probably be pretty mad with me if I took her out of the IRL but we'll see. I don't know if it's something she wants to do. We'd certainly love to test her and go from there.”

Since 1950, a total of five women have entered Grands Prix, with only two successfully qualifying. The most successful of those women was Lella Lombardi, who scored half a point at the shortened 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. The most recent woman to enter a Grand Prix weekend was Giovanna Amati in 1992, but since then all-male grids have dominated the sport.

26-year-old Danica became the first woman to win an IndyCar race when she triumphed at the 2008 Indy Japan 300, and has three other podium finishes to her name. She was also named rookie of the year for the 2005 Indianapolis 500.