NEW YORK — With Danica Patrick starting from the pole, the Daytona 500′s television ratings are much higher than last year’s.

Sunday afternoon’s race earned a 9.9 rating and 22 share on Fox. That’s up 24 percent from 2012, when rain pushed the event to a Monday night. The network said Tuesday it was the highest rating since 2008.

Jimmie Johnson won the race while Patrick was eighth, the best finish by a woman at the Daytona 500.

Photos: Danica Patrick and the Daytona 500

Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned to a program. Shares represent the percentage of all homes with TVs in use at the time.

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