Could Nascar's Danica Patrick become America's first EVER female Formula 1 driver

UK Daily Mail ^ | June 9, 2014 | Jennifer Newton

[C19fan]

NASCAR racer Danica Patrick could be set to become America's first female Formula One driver after her boss hinted she would be a 'great candidate' for his F1 team. The 32-year-old is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing and has competed in NASCAR since 2012, finishing inside the top ten twice. Motorsport mogul Gene Haas, for whom Miss Patrick races for in NASCAR is preparing to launch a brand new Formula One team in time for the 2016 season.

[C19fan]

Considering how lopsided F-1 is she is a good candidate for a middling F-1 team as she is use to being in the back.

[Malone LaVeigh]

Janet Guthrie

[BBB333]

She must obtain attain a super-license first, and they are expensive to get and expensive to renew. Big money.

I watched the interview with Haas and he did mention Danica in response to Lee Diffey’s question, but I recall it was followed with a ‘not likely...’

As the owner of a new team to take the grid in ‘16, Haas will have many good drivers to choose from over the next year - all of them with actual F1 experience.

I do wish him good luck! Never thought Peter Winsor had a chance with his start-up...

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

The Peter Principle arrives in F1.

[oh8eleven]

Considering how lopsided F-1 is she is a good candidate ...
Why is she a good candidate? When I look at her results over the last 4 years, all I see is mainly zeros.

[rstrahan]

F1 drivers have been known to actually pay millions to the teams for the ride. Patrick is like Montoya, probably a better open-wheel driver than Cup driver. But F1 is engineering driven, not driver critical. Engineers can and do tweak the cars via electronics while the car is actually running on the track. How you finish often depends on where you start in qualifying and the car. A great driver cannot take a middling F1 car and go to the front like a Cup driver can (Kurt Busch).

[umgud]

Danica was not a top Indy driver, but better than average. Kyle Larson is doing quite well (10 in points)in the #42 and certainly far better than Montoya. Not all open wheel racers cut the mustard in NASCAR.

Danica is however, a huge sponsor draw and Haas ought to capitalize on this.

[Pollster1]

When I look at her results over the last 4 years, all I see is mainly zeros.

When I look at her results, I don't think it is the zeros that people notice. Danica is an athlete worth watching.

[rjsimmon]

Danica is however, a huge sponsor draw and Haas ought to capitalize on this.

This is the only reason she has sponsors:

[Rummyfan]

Maybe she could actually win some races? Other than that one IRL years back.....

[laweeks]

It’s amazing how someone who has lost every single race she’s been in gets all this publicity. Talk about overkill.

If she wants to focus on her looks (which are quite nice) then do so, but leave the NASCAR races alone.

[Big Red Badger]

Motegie, Japan

tough track.

[McGruff]

I would think she’d be better fit to try and get back into Indy car racing the F1. F1 is for the best drivers in the World and she’s not in that league.

[McGruff]

It was a fuel mileage race that she won.

Patrick took the Indy Japan 300 after the race leaders were forced to pit for fuel in the final laps. She finished 5.8594 seconds ahead of the Brazilian pole-sitter Helio Castroneves, who ran out of fuel in the final turns on the 1.5-mile

[Right Brother]

Danica is an athlete worth watching.

First, race car drivers are not athletes. Secondly, her miniscule achievements, if she were a male or unattractive, would not even rise to the level of discussion.

[Pollster1]

First, race car drivers are athletes. Just as the Olympic shooters are athletes even though they don’t perspire (except in biathlon), race care drivers depend on extreme levels of precise observation and precision movements.

Secondly, while Danica’s miniscule achievements, if she were a male or unattractive, would not even rise to the level of discussion, the same could be said for half the NFL players. People who are on the football field (or the bench) but rarely central to a critical play are still athletes, and drivers who are on the course but finishing well out of the lead (because they lack the reflexes, observational awareness, and hand-eye coordination of the top tier drivers - all the skills of the very best in football, except for the speed and muscle), are still athletes. Besides, we all know why Danica’s marketing efforts are so successful, and it’s primarily a byproduct of her “physical fitness”.

[laotzu]

if she were a male or unattractive, would not even rise to the level of discussion.

I agree.

We should continue to cede the public court to only homosexuals. Appreciating the form and talent of a good looking woman is shameful, and I join you in this public scorn.

[Bigg Red]

Foul-mouthed harpies is what she is.

[Right Brother]

So if your criteria for athleticism is eye/hand coordination, precision movement, reflexes, and observational awareness, then I guess video gamers are athletes as well? Perhaps musicians too?

[McGruff]

You probably couldn’t beat her in a 100 yard dash but hey she should be home making babies right.