Danica Patrick, who became the first woman to win an IndyCar race with a victory last year in Japan, said Monday she has signed a three-year contract extension to remain with Andretti Autosport.

Patrick completed her third season with the team in 2009, finishing third at the Indianapolis 500. It was the first podium showing by a woman at the signature IndyCar event, improving on her fourth-place effort from 2005.

"Michael Andretti has helped me become a better driver and we hope to accomplish a great deal during the next few years together," Patrick said. "My life-long goal is to win the Indy 500."

Patrick, who finished a career-best fifth in the IndyCar season points standings this year, had the team owner and son of racing legend Mario Andretti serving as her race strategist this season.

"All of us at Andretti Autosport are looking forward to having Danica back with the team," Andretti said.

There have been reports that Patrick would fill gaps in the IndyCar campaign by driving at some level in the US stock car series NASCAR.

ESPN, citing an unnamed source, said those talks continue as well with a possible February debut at Daytona before the IndyCar campaign opens in March at Brazil and up to a dozen other races in second-tier stock car races.