If they can.
Ms. Patrick is the best thing to happen to the IRL since the invention of the wheel. The bottom line is that she's not just another pretty face - she's a pretty face who can just flat drive the H*LL out of an IRL car. You don't do as well as she has done this season without real talent.
The only interesting argument that I've heard from the drivers is that as she weighs 50 to 100 lbs less than most of the men, and since the cars are weighed without the driver, this gives her an advantage.
However, even if this were a valid complaint- and I'm not sure it is- if I were the IRL, I'd wait a season or two to change the rules.
"The only interesting argument that I've heard from the drivers is that as she weighs 50 to 100 lbs less than most oHowever, even if this were a valid complaint- and I'm not sure it is- "
It is a valid argument, just basic science will tell you that an object that weighs 60-70 pounds less than another object and both are pushed by the same amount of force (generally speaking) the lighter weight object will be faster. Heck racing teams over the years have cheated their asses over to find ways to shave just a few pounds off a car. NASCAR teams would put lead strips in the cars they could take out before a race, or happen to leave a box of racing gloves in the seat, but the box would have lead inside. I wouldn't change the rules because of it, but it is a very real advantage.
"However, even if this were a valid complaint-"
If the complaint about wait is valid, I expect more tiny people to be hired.