Posted on 07/26/2005 8:34:44 AM PDT by gopwinsin04
Apparently everyone has not fallen head over heels for Danica Patrick.
According to a report in the Indianapolis Star, four Andretti Team racing drivers-Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon, defending IRL champion Tony Kanaan, Dario Franchitti and Bryan Herta-boycotted a mandatory autograph session Saturday night at Wisconsin State Fair Park because organizers at the fan-friendly event created a different line for Patrick.
According to the report, the drivers haven't been pleased with the way the IRL has promoted Patrick over the other drivers.'Its a serious issue, and one we need to talk with league officals about,' AGR co-owner Kevin Savoree told the Star.
The drivers will be likely fined for the protest, and maybe lose championship points, although IRL president Brian Barnhart told the Star that the scenario was unlikely.
AGR drivers have grown tired of all the media attention that Patrick has recieved since the Indy 500 in May, where she became the first woman to lead the race while finishing fourth overall.
Kanaan and Herta, who have taken shots at Patrick after recent races, chose not to comment about the boycott after Sundays Milwaukee Mile 225.
Savoree, however, says the issue is something the Indy Racing League has to deal with. 'We don't have an issue with Danica at all, She's a great young talent and she's proven it every weekend. But we've got some things to talk to the IRL about.'
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
I'm betting that Dan Wheldon doesn't look nearly as good in a bikini.
Although IRL drivers are mostly rich white boys they arent all southern. Most arent. Most are Prima Donna's and therein lies the problem. I too got tired of hearing Dancia's name at the 500 . They pushed her a little hard I think.
Get with the program guys. Life isn't always 100% fair.
She is promoting the sport and making the pie bigger.
Of course if these guys are smart, maybe a little he vs she might draw even more publicity?
This falls into the "No Brainer" category.
Erin Crocker's stats speak for themselves. She has two top-ten finishes in ARCA.
She will be making an impact in Busch and Nextel Cup very soon.
I'm just curious...would the same hype and publicity and apparent "segregation" be "tiring" if all the fuss was over a popular male driver with a separate line for fans?
If someone is in demand, it seems logical they might receive more promotion and their fans might receive some accommodation in the interest of traffic and time. Organizers would likewise be foolish not to capitalize on any racer's popularity while it lasts. Factors such as race, gender, age, and personality/charisma, can all play a role in an athlete's popularity and eventually, when novelty wears thin or successes fade, that spotlight always shifts to another person.
discostu wrote: I don't think it's segregation so much as simple logistics.
I agree this might be a factor...Hype might actually be playing a role, but I still don't believe it is necessarily a bad thing if it brings attention to the sport, giving the other racers at least the opportunity to grab some of that limelight with fans who might not otherwise have learned about them.
Perhaps this is a little WWE-style pushing and shoving to sweeten the ABC ratings pie a bit?
Waaaaaa! We don't want to make our fans happy! Screw the fans, its all about us!
I'd say it's about time some of these little boys grew up.
My sentiments exactly! I love NASCAR and any kind of auto racing as well and I happen to be female.
Wonder what the story behind this picture is?
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