Danica Patrick is the first female in NASCAR history to win the pole for the Daytona 500.  One day after recording the fastest lap in practice, Patrick made her qualifying lap around the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway at 196.434 mph to grab the top starting position for Sunday's season-opener in the Sprint Cup Series.  Jeff Gordon will share the front row with Patrick in the Daytona 500.  The three-time winner of NASCAR's most prestigious race of the season turned a lap at 196.292 mph.  The rest of the 43-car field will be set following Thursday's twin-qualifying races at Daytona.