Written by Kevin Kelly

Courtesy of Cincinnati.com

http://bit.ly/qRT9Dl 

The next female Izod IndyCar Series driver from the United States could be in the sport's pipeline already.

Shannon McIntosh just finished her rookie season in the USF2000 National Championship. For drivers who hope to reach the IndyCar Series, the series serves as the first step on the Mazda Road to Indy.

"I want this more than anything," the 22-year-old Miamisburg native said. "I'm a driver, and I'm not just here for the glitz and glamour. I want to win. I'm going to persevere until I get there."

IndyCar set to race with no Danica

Once an aspiring NASCAR driver, McIntosh was the lone female on the USF2000 circuit this season. She finished eighth in the standings driving for Cape Motorsports with Wayne Taylor Racing.

"I knew going into it that it was going to be a steep learning curve, but I didn't realize how big of one until I was actually there and doing it," McIntosh said. "I learned a lot. I think, in preparation for next year, I'm in a really good place to be competitive."

Danica Patrick's decision to move to NASCAR full-time next season has raised McIntosh's profile as the only American-born female driver in IndyCar's feeder system.

"I've seen (McIntosh). She's really, really good," IndyCar chief executive officer Randy Bernard said. "From the appearance and the personality and her efforts in wanting to promote the series and the sport and herself, I really think a lot of her."

McIntosh has been working with BRANDed, a Florida-based agency founded by Sarah Fisher's former public relations representative. She gained national exposure this year as one of five finalists for Seventeen Magazine's "Pretty Amazing" cover girl contest, with a feature due out this month. The contest included an MTV special.

"It was a huge opportunity," McIntosh said.

The offseason figures to be busy with physical conditioning, some karting, networking and hunting for sponsorship for the 2012 season.

But McIntosh isn't of the mindset that she needs to be a carbon copy of Patrick to climb the IndyCar ladder.

"I have the confidence that I have the talent to be competitive week-in and week out and winning races in IndyCar in the next few years," she said. "I also believe that what I have to offer to IndyCar and all of (its) fans is something that they haven't seen before."