Danica Patrick crashes out with 17 laps to go at Daytona

Yahoo Sports ^ | 7-7-2012 | Nick Bromberg

[Hacksaw]

Danica Patrick's fourth and final Daytona start in 2012 ended just like the first three; with a crash.

Patrick qualified third and spent most of the evening near the front, leading five times for a career-high 13 laps, and missed the race's 14-car pileup because she was at the head of the pack. It wouldn't have been a stretch to say that Patrick might have had the race's best car.

But 17 laps later, Patrick wasn't so lucky. Jeffrey Earnhardt went around off the bumper of Ricky Stenhouse ahead of Patrick, and Patrick, who was on the outside as the field exited Turn 2, darted to the inside to miss Earnhardt's car. But as she made her move to the left, she clipped the front bumper of a car and off she went towards the inside wall.

[Caribou]

Maybe why it is now called N(ot) A S(tock)CAR, now.

[NormsRevenge]

I will admit she does try hard.. and there are some drivers who have no problem taking her out intentionally or otherwise.. on the track, I mean. ;-}

She’s an uphill racer in a downhill sport.. for her, nothing comes easy. some would question smoke and junior investing so much in her quest. it ain’t no sweat off their pocketbooks, in the end, the sponsors and fans pay the ticket price.

[Fightin Whitey]

>>>if you suck on the track you’re just making laps<<<

A really hilarious (and anatomically correct) way of labeling her a lapper!

[Roccus]

Ya mean like Crash Gordon and Juablo Moveover?

...and just why do you assume that I've NEVER blamed any of those you mentioned, as well as others, for their transgressions?

One thing that always amazes me about FReepers is how they know exactly what other FReepers know/don't know, have/haven't said and/or done/not done in the past.

[Chode]

there's a scary thought, and now my minds eye is blind...

[Rummyfan]

Patrick washed out of IRL and she’s in the process of washing out of NASCAR. If she weren’t mildly hot, she’d be nobody.

[FlyVet]

She isn't the worst driver on the track, otherwise she'd finish last, or near last, every time. She had her rookie Indy won, until she stalled in the pits. Even with that, she finished near the top, even though she had to lean it out in the last few laps. That year, her team had the best cars on the track, and that difference seems more pronounced in Indy than it does in NASCAR.

In NASCAR, I'm sure it's her attitude that has hurt her. No one is gonna help her out until she loses the attitude, and I think she's learning that.

I'm just a casual observer, but heard one of the ESPN race pundits say that Earnhardt, Jr. has been relegated to being a pusher for years. If that's true, there's an unwritten law called "pay your dues before you get the gravy, even if your daddy was famous". So, an attitude adjustment would be just the start for her.

[Waywardson]

Seven years of Professional racing. And six years rank in the top 10 and one in the top 5! For all the sexist haters out there, you are the same jerks that insult the QB’s who never won a Superbowl either. There are 50 Hall of Fame Quarterbacks who never won a ring !!

Danica not only has brought millions to the motor sports, but has been top 10 every damn year except her first year. That is six consecutive top ten winning seasons and she is currently ranks 9th this year, so she is pushing for seven in a row.

Lazy stupid couch potato critics. GTFOTH!

[nascarnation]

Patrick washed out of IRL

Indy 500 finishes - 7 attempts

4-8-8-22-3-6-10

A creditable record by any measure

Compare to Tony Stewart - 5 attempts

24-5-33-9-6 (I'm not a fan, particularly can't stand her parents, but have to give credit where credit is due)

[military cop]

blahblahblah.

This post is offensive without photos.

RLTW.

[Isabel C.]

That photo is so un-sexy. The only time she should be sitting like that is when she’s sitting on a particular item made of porcelain.

[bobby.223]

There are 50 quarterbacks in the HOF who never won a ring? You had better check your stats again...

[Chode]

but to be fair, but he DID win the IRL title in his second year...

[nascarnation]

I think Tony is one of the most awesome racers ever. I’ve watched him here since TQ midget days.

He’s far better than Danica could ever dream to be.

My only point is that Danica Patrick is a bona fide racer and anybody who claims she shouldn’t be on the track is wrong. Anybody who saddles up and runs 225 at Indy gets my respect.

[Chode]

with the millions pumped into her she should be...

[nascarnation]

I don’t think her rides at Indy had any more budget than her teammates.

[Chode]

all that time in Europe wasn't cheap... maybe millions was a tad high(i am counting cars also) but i guess damn near one mill was spent on her from the time she was first indulged by her parents

[nascarnation]

Money only takes you so far.

Case study: Milka Duno, LOL

[MNIL]

You take this very seriously, don’t you?

No amount of ‘white knighting’ will ever make Patrick care about you.

[nascarnation]

He’s one of an (apparently) diminishing number of FReepers who deal with facts rather than shoot from the keyboard opinion.