Danica Patrick is officially SINGLE ... kinda ... 'cause a judge has finally signed off on her divorce from Paul Hospenthal ... freeing her up to marry her new NASCAR boyfriend (no pressure, pal).

A judge stamped the papers last week in Arizona, officially ending the marriage that began in 2005 -- the same year Patrick burst onto the scene as the fourth woman to compete in the Indy 500.

The 31-year-old Go Daddy babe announced the split from Hospenthal back in November. The couple had no children ... but they did have a prenup, according to court docs ... and she footed the bill for court costs.

In recent months, Patrick has been open about dating Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. ... one of her competitors on NASCAR's Sprint Cup series.

Wonder who gets to drive home from the track.

Race car diva Danica Patrick knows how to rev people's engines ... by showing off her rockin' bod in a sexy red bikini in Hawaii this week.

The 29-year-old will drive you wild.

Race car hottie Danica Patrick made her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut today, but she didn't make it to the checkered flag -- a wreck on lap 68 knocked her out of the race.


Patrick's green #7 got caught in a pileup coming out of turn four at Daytona International Speedway, and she couldn't avoid the wreckage in front of her. 

At least she got her first Daytona wreck out of the way.

And at least she's still hot.

Sports Illustrated is finally defending their ridiculous decision to airbrush Danica Patrick's tat off of her lower back for her spread in the Swimsuit Edition -- and the explanation is just plain BS..



"The Swimsuit Issue emphasizes natural beauty," the SI spokesman told CNBC. "The freckles are left on and, in this case, the tattoos came off."

Right -- so SI creates "natural beauty" with an airbrush?! Anyone buyin' this?

Indy race car driver Danica Patrick has yet to learn that the funny little pedal on the left is the brake.

Cops confirm Patrick was busted earlier this month in Scottsdale, Ariz. for driving 54 in a 35 -- 19 over the speed limit -- which bested her last run-in with the fuzz where she was going 57 in a 40 -- only 17 over.

Danica received a citation and is due in court at the beginning of January.

Danica Patrick isn't just dangerous behind the wheel of an Indy car, cops say she also posed a threat on the mean streets of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Court docs which show the race car diva was popped by Scottsdale P.D. back in January for doing 57 in a 40 mph zone. But here's the kicker -- Danica was ordered to take defensive driving school to get the ticket dismissed!

Guess the class worked -- because 40 days after Patrick finished her court-ordered traffic class, she won her first Indy race.

Those Red Asphalt videos really do work!