Every driver would take the win, but EVERY driver knows it is a tarnished victory like a blemish in the record book.
Patrick had an unsuccessful career in terms of wins
She had an unsuccessful career on many levels. Her average finish, top 10's & top 5's considering the level of equipment she had were abyssmal.
She was completely exposed as a terrible driver having come from Indy car with greater down force, larger contact patches (more grip) and lesser competition and failed to convert to stock car racing.
Whatever. Even if it was pure luck, Patrick held the #1 spot when the race ended. If you want to put an asterisk by it in the record book, fine, but it still shows in the record book as a victory. Patrick was racing in the same conditions as every other driver.
She was completely exposed as a terrible driver
I never suggested otherwise. However, accumulating a net worth of $60 million by age 35 is a hugely successful career.