Race ace and model Danica Patrick has been cleared to drive in this weekend's Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup challenge in Florida after she was involved in a nasty crash on the track on Thursday.

Patrick was among the top 10 racers when she crashed one lap from the end of a qualifying race, but she walked away from the wreckage of her Chevrolet to seek on-site medical attention.

After getting the all-clear from medics, Patrick talked to reporters and admitted she was lucky to escape the accident unscathed.

She said, "It felt pretty big. I don't know what it looked like, but it felt pretty big."

Patrick has already qualified for the big race.