Changes in the Fast Lane

May 25, 2007 -- This weekend more than 400,000 fans will travel to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to watch one of the most recognized car races in the world, the Indianapolis 500.

Although the high speeds and tight turns always delight viewers, die hard fans of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" might notice something different this year.

This is the first race in which every car will run on ethanol fuel.

"Indy has gone green," ESPN producer Alexa Pozniak told ABC News Now. "This could definitely set a precedent for racing in general and hopefully for the rest of us in our cars. And ethanol, as you probably know, is made from corn so farmers are actually helping fuel the race cars."

But don't worry, the new type of fuel won't harm the quality of the race.

"If anything, it actually helps the cars go a little bit faster, believe it or not. It obviously helps the environment. There really are no downsides that we know of just yet," Pozniak said.

But ethanol fuel isn't the only new feature at the speedway this year.

This is the first time that three women will compete in the same race. Fan favorite Danica Patrick, the only woman to ever hold a lead in an Indianapolis 500, will be joined this weekend by racing veteran Sarah Fisher and rookie Milka Duno.

"Women have arrived in racing," Pozniak said.

The fans may be focused on this monumental feat, but the three female drivers are choosing to concentrate on their skills rather than rewriting history.

"They are race drivers first, women second," said Pozniak.

Patrick said she hasn't given much thought to the subject.

"Right now I'm a driver and we're out to beat everybody and the only people I really talk to or think about are my teammates," she told ABC News Now from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "From the outside looking in, for young kids out there or parents with children or just anybody who wants to break the mold a little bit, I think it's a nice way to show them that it's happening and it's becoming more of the norm these days."

The Indianapolis 500 requires tremendous mental and physical strength. The drivers must control their cars for 200 laps around the 2.5 mile-long track at an average speed of 220 miles-per-hour in the hunt for victory.

"Every second that they're driving they're going the length of a football field," Pozniak said.

Despite the physical demands on the body, these female racers are proving they can hold their own in a traditionally male-dominated sport.

"Racing is one sport that can allow competition between females and males on an equal level…racing is growing alongside the business world where women are CEOs and leaders, it's really special" said Fisher.

Patrick points out that gender issues aside, talent and performance are the keys to success.

"The car doesn't know if it's a girl or a guy in there and it takes what we give it," she said.

The growing popularity of Patrick and her fellow female drivers has increased young girls' interest in the sport. She hopes that her story will be an inspiration for them to break down gender-based stereotypes and to never give up.

"I talked to [Danica] last week and she is very adamant that she does not want to be called a female race driver. She wants to be called a race driver, period. She can hold her own with the guys, she doesn't want to be categorized as one of the girls," Pozniak said.

"My dad never brought me up to recognize that I was different [from boys] … but he did always bring me up to be the best I can be and if you have talent you should use it," Patrick told her fans through ABC News. "Just find something that you love to do and follow your dreams."

And follow her dreams she has. This is Patrick's third appearance in the Indianapolis 500 and she has become one of the most popular drivers in the world of motor sports. She and her new team, Andretti Green Racing, qualified for the race in the first round and have been at the track practicing for the past month. She is considered one of this year's top contenders for the trophy.

Patrick said, "My chances are pretty good. I think there are 10 or 12 cars that can win this race and I am definitely one of them."

Katie Slaman contributed to this report.