Danica Patrick's First Cup Race at Daytona Ends with Hard Hit

The drama of the first Gatorade Duel qualifying race ended with Danica Patrick taking a vicious last lap hit on the back stretch after a solid run. The accident was not of her making and a really disappointing finish.

It appeared Jamie McMurray slid into Aric Almirola, who then came down against the No. 10 GoDaddy.com car, sending Patrick hard into the SAFER barrier and destroying her car.

Patrick had the presence of mind to take her hands off the wheel and put them in front of her helmet as her car disintegrated with only two more turns in the race.

In a post-race interview on SPEED TV, Patrick said, "I feel like I had a solid race. We were just looking to finish."

She had run a good line and was mid-pack throughout the first of two qualifying races for the 54th Daytona 500.

Patrick will now be forced into a back-up car that will start at the rear of the field for the "Great American Race."

She certainly proved that she could draft and run in the pack with her No. 10 Chevrolet. Patrick said, "I felt comfortable."

It was a tough crash for the GoDaddy.com driver, but she handled it well and despite the impact at speeds approaching 180 mph, she was safe and composed.

Patrick told a reporter from SPEED TV, "I'm just bummed." She then described her car as being "in a ball" after coming so close to the checkered flag.