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Andretti Green Racing announced that it has signed Patrick to drive one of the team's IndyCar Series cars, beginning in 2007. She is the third driver under contract to the team for next season. Patrick joins 2004 IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti, who was named the Chase Rookie of the Year after finishing second in the 90^th Indianapolis 500 in May.

Patrick was in the final year of her contract with Rahal Letterman Racing. The team also fields cars for Buddy Rice and Jeff Simmons.

"I've been grilled a little bit lately for what I'm going to do in the future," Patrick told ESPN News from Chicago, where she was making an unrelated media appearance. "I've said all along that I just want to win races. Andretti Green has won more races (22) than anyone in the series. I've said all along that my passion, my heart, my soul has always been in IndyCar racing.

"If there was a team that was going to give me a chance to win in the Indy Racing League, that's where I'm going to be."

Patrick has recorded top-10 finishes her two Indianapolis 500 starts, both with Rahal Letterman Racing. Last year, she burst into the international spotlight with a fourth-place finish and became the first female to lead a lap. She finished eighth this year.

"I obviously informed (Rahal Letterman Racing officials) recently that I wasn't going to be coming back to the team, and thanked (co-owner Bobby Rahal) for every thing he's done," Patrick said. "Nobody stepped up four and five years ago. He did and gave me a chance and brought me to the Indy Racing League. I wouldn't be here without him. I will be forever grateful for what he's done for me."

Andretti Green fields four full-time entries in the IndyCar Series, and the team announced its intentions to do so in 2007. Bryan Herta and Dario Franchitti also compete in the series.

The team fielded a fifth car in the 90th Indianapolis 500 for team co-owner Michael Andretti, who drove to a third-place finish.

Andretti Green Racing has won IndyCar Series driver and team championships the past two years and its cars have recorded at least three top-10 finishes in the Indianapolis 500 each of the last three years. AGR had four cars in the top 10 at the finish in 2005 and 2006.

Team co-owner Michael Andretti said Patrick's is "all about winning."

"She has the same attitude as my son Marco, who if you remember after the Indianapolis 500 was not satisfied with running second," Andretti told ESPN News. "I see Danica with that same attitude. She wants to win, and that's the kind of attitude I like bringing into the team."

Andretti wouldn't divulge specifics of the contract or the sponsor.