It sounds like a plot twist that only Hollywood could conceive.

With time running out before her history-making turn as the first female driver/team owner to participate in the Indianapolis 500, Sarah Fisher received last-minute sponsorship from television star Patricia Heaton and her husband, actor/director/producer David Hunt. The couple was in Indianapolis, where Heaton is serving as grand marshal of the 2008 IPL 500 Festival Parade, when they heard of Fisher’s unusual situation. Although she qualified to run in the 92nd Indy 500, her promised sponsorship from an energy drink company didn’t materialize. So Heaton, best known as the star of Everybody Loves Raymond, and her husband stepped in and stepped up.

Heaton and Hunt’s production company, FourBoys Films, have become a sponsor for Fisher and her No. 67 Honda Dallara. With just a day to go before the race, Fisher’s prospects of finding sponsorship had seemed grim.

“I’m a big fan of Everybody Loves Raymond and just to know that Patricia and David were touched by our passion for open-wheel racing is inspiring to me,” says Fisher, who starts 22nd in today’s race. Check for results at Indycar.com.

Sarah Fisher qualified for the Indianapolis 500 for the seventh time last weekend, but Sunday’s race marks the first time she’ll be making laps as both a driver and a team owner. In fact, it’s the first time any woman has ever done that. The accomplishment, as great as it is, is somewhat bittersweet – Fisher was promised a sponsorship by an energy drink company but the check is, apparently, still in the mail.

Still, despite her lack of funding, Fisher has remained upbeat and seemingly undaunted in interviews. She knows that her chances of winning are about as slim as her wallet at this point, but she isn’t about to miss her history-making run. Fisher is showing that, like so many things in life, it’s more about the journey than the end results. If we had such a thing on this site as our She-ro of the Week, it would definitely go to Sarah Fisher.

If you want to show your support for the woman who was only the third female ever to qualify for the Indy 500, maybe you should pick up a new pair of TAG Heuer sunglasses. The motorsport-inspired eyewear company has been one of Fisher’s supporters since 2002, and they’re a favorite among racers because their flexible temples fit under helmets. However, for those of you who don’t wear a helmet – they just look good. So grab a pair and be sure to cheer on Sarah during Sunday’s race!