She says Tony Stewart, race winner Jimmie Johnson told her she made smart moves 
Danica Patrick says her team owner told her she did the right thing in how she elected to race the final laps of the Daytona 500. (Photo: Sam Sharpe, USA TODAY Sports) Story Highlights - First woman to win Sprint Cup pole and lead Daytona 500 doubted how she finished race
- Team owner Tony Stewart told her 'I think that you did the right thing'
- Patrick slipped from third to eighth on the final lap
AVONDALE, Ariz. – Danica Patrick was initially angry with herself for dropping from third place to eighth on the last lap of Sunday's Daytona 500.
But after hearing from a couple of NASCAR's top drivers, her attitude softened.
NASCAR: Dale Jr.'s detox diet
Both team owner Tony Stewart and race winner Jimmie Johnson told Patrick there wasn't much she could have done different on the final lap, Patrick said Friday at Phoenix International Raceway.
"I was just frustrated that I didn't have a better plan," she said. "Tony told me, 'I really feel like you had more to lose in your position than you had to gain by trying something. So I think that you did the right thing'. So that made me feel better - a little bit."
Patrick, who became the first woman to win a Sprint Cup pole and lead the Daytona 500, said she was still disappointed about losing her track position, even if she wasn't mad. Stewart's comments "put it in perspective," she added.
VEGAS: Little faith in Danica at Phoenix
Patrick said the Daytona 500 winner told her she did "a nice job."
"And I said I had wished I had a better plan, but thank you and I have a lot to learn," Patrick recalled. "He said that the two (Daytona) wins he had, he didn't have a plan, and sometimes you just have to take it on the fly and work with what happens in the moment.
"He…said he'd seen the end of the race, and said, in his opinion, the only thing I could have done was back up to (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) when he backed up, but as far as what happened on the back straight when Junior went low, in his opinion, he thought I did the right thing."
Patrick said she still wanted to have a better plan for how to win the race in the future, but having some top drivers tell her she made good decisions "was a really nice thing."
As for Phoenix, Patrick said she knows the Daytona results won't be able to carry over. After all, this is not a restrictor-plate track, and Patrick has much to learn on downforce-style tracks.
"I need to keep realistic expectations and I think everybody else does, too," she said.
PHOTOS: DANICA PATRICK'S NASCAR CAREER 
Danica Patrick waves to the crowd as she is introduced before the 2013 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick (10), the first woman ever to start on a Sprint Cup pole, leads Jeff Gordon (24) to the green flag at the start of the 2013 Daytona 500. Jerry Lai, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
By virtue of winning the pole, Danica Patrick got to pick the first pit stall for the 2013 Daytona 500. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick waves to the crowd as she is introduced before the 2013 Daytona 500. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick waves to her fans after making NASCAR history by becoming the first woman to win a Sprint Cup pole. Patrick qualified first for the 2013 Daytona 500 on Feb. 17. Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick poses with the pole winner sign after becoming the first woman to win the Daytona 500 pole position on Feb. 17, 2013. Chris Graythen, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick is nothing but smiles as she addresses the media after winning the pole position for the 2013 Daytona 500. Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick was the eighth driver out on the track during qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500. She posted a speed of 196.434 mph, which held up throughout the day. Douglas Jones, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick prepares before heading out onto the track during qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500. Kevin Liles, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick walks from her hauler to her garage during practice for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17, 2013. Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. went public with their romantic crelationship in early 2013 after rumors swirled about the fellow Sprint Cup rookies. Chris Graythen, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick applies makeup before a television interview during NASCAR media day at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 14, 2013. John Raoux, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick gets a hand from her crew as she prepares to take the track for qualifying practice for the 2013 Daytona 500. Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick has formed a tight bond with her team owner and fellow competitor Tony Stewart. Davis Turner for USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
In preparation for her first full season as a Sprint Cup driver, Danica Patrick speaks with the press during the NASCAR Media Tour on Jan. 21, 2013. Jeff Siner, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick high-fives fans prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. Ross D. Franklin, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick (10) lands on top of Paul Menard during a crash on the final lap of the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images for NASCAR Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick behind the wheel during practice for the AdvoCare 500 at Phoenix International Raceway. Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images for NASCAR Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick is introduced before the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Patrick would go on to finish a career- and season-best 24th. Jerome Miron, US Presswire Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick takes on tires and fuel during a pit stop at the Nov. 4 AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race. Patrick was one of 25 drivers to finish on the lead lap. Tom Pennington, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick finished 24th at the AAA Texas 500 Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4. Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images for NASCAR Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick waves to the fans during driver introductions at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sept 2, 2012 in Hampton, Georgia. By John Harrelson, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Danica Patrick during qualifying for the AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Aug 31, 2012. By Kevin Liles, US Presswire Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick presents the award for Best Team onstage with NBA player Steve Nash at the 2012 ESPY Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A on July 11, 2012. By Kevin Winter, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick, driver of the http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/03/01/danica-patrick-daytona-500-tony-stewart-jimmie-johnson/1957583/%2310 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet, leads a group of cars during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on Sept 30, 2012. By Tom Pennington, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Pat Summitt, left, head coach emeritus of the Tennessee women's basketball team, greets Danica Patrick before the Food City 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race on Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, in Bristol, Tenn. Summitt was the grand marshal of the race. By Mark Humphrey, AP Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick starts her car prior to practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series IRWIN Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Aug 24, 2012 in Bristol, Tennessee. By Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images Related story Fullscreen ![None]()
Danica Patrick sits down for an interview with Pardon the Interruption co-hosts Tony Kornheiser, left, and Michael Wilbon on Feb 21, 2012.
Danica Patrick says her team owner told her she did the right thing in how she elected to race the final laps of the Daytona 500. (Photo: Sam Sharpe, USA TODAY Sports) AVONDALE, Ariz. – Danica Patrick was initially angry with herself for dropping from third place to eighth on the last lap of Sunday's Daytona 500. But after hearing from a couple of NASCAR's top drivers, her attitude softened. NASCAR: Dale Jr.'s detox diet Both team owner Tony Stewart and race winner Jimmie Johnson told Patrick there wasn't much she could have done different on the final lap, Patrick said Friday at Phoenix International Raceway. "I was just frustrated that I didn't have a better plan," she said. "Tony told me, 'I really feel like you had more to lose in your position than you had to gain by trying something. So I think that you did the right thing'. So that made me feel better - a little bit." Patrick, who became the first woman to win a Sprint Cup pole and lead the Daytona 500, said she was still disappointed about losing her track position, even if she wasn't mad. Stewart's comments "put it in perspective," she added. VEGAS: Little faith in Danica at Phoenix Patrick said the Daytona 500 winner told her she did "a nice job." "And I said I had wished I had a better plan, but thank you and I have a lot to learn," Patrick recalled. "He said that the two (Daytona) wins he had, he didn't have a plan, and sometimes you just have to take it on the fly and work with what happens in the moment. "He…said he'd seen the end of the race, and said, in his opinion, the only thing I could have done was back up to (Dale Earnhardt Jr.) when he backed up, but as far as what happened on the back straight when Junior went low, in his opinion, he thought I did the right thing." Patrick said she still wanted to have a better plan for how to win the race in the future, but having some top drivers tell her she made good decisions "was a really nice thing." As for Phoenix, Patrick said she knows the Daytona results won't be able to carry over. After all, this is not a restrictor-plate track, and Patrick has much to learn on downforce-style tracks. "I need to keep realistic expectations and I think everybody else does, too," she said. PHOTOS: DANICA PATRICK'S NASCAR CAREER Story Highlights
