[Danica] Patrick runs right over doubts about women racers

NJOnline ^ | January 28, 2006 | KEN WILLIS

[em2vn]

What a nice stupid statement. Give me some more feminist lines, the fragile male ego one is getting worn out.
BTW what has Danica won?

[MarkL]

It's my understanding that the major complaint against her driving is that she never turns her blinker off -- which can be veeeeeery irritating after 500 miles.

Especially because it's her right turn blinker, and they only turn left!

Mark

[Chode]

then i guess that's why the silly cow shut her car off during the race here at TheGlen, cause she's so friggin smart... please.

[MarkL]

I agree that it's considered bad luck but it's nothing new.

Just in the US. Green was never thought of that way in Europe, in fact, Triumph's color was "Racing Green."

Mark

[MarkL]

BTW what has Danica won?

The hearts of thousands!

Mark

(chuckle!)

[Lady Jag]

[norton]

The 'must win something' club is a bit off point...

I seem to remember Harry Gant winning championship with a long string of second places - and no wins.
Only one person per race gets to win and 42 (NASCAR) to a handfull (IRL & CART) competent drivers follow up.
Any driver who is competitive, does not cause crashes and avoids most of them, keeps the car together, and finishes mid-pack can claim a successful career.
Lots of popular drivers seldom won but just had something that make you follow them.

IMHO Guthrie missed on all the points above and Patrick looks like she'd be well above the cut.
And I'll watch for Legge (no pun intended)

[em2vn]

Bill Clinton won the hearts of millions. Like Danica he was good Public Relations. Until she begins to win she is just a pretty face.

[wallcrawlr]

She's been racing now what... 2 or so years. She's had some top 5's with a 4th at indy even.

Thats pretty decent.

I'd give her more time ( a couple years ) before worrying about her star fading.

How long do others take to win their first race on average?

In the meantime, enjoy the view and skill

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Brake bias knob right next to engine switch. she was not the first to have it happen.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Allot of drivers don't gain victories in their first few years. Some go years in mid career without a single win. I don't think you can paint Patrick with a broad brush and not include other drivers with similar stats.

Bobby Rahal sees something in her, and I don't think he would waste time and money on a publicity stunt. she has earned respect in her sport, she just slows it at around the middle of the race for some reason.

[Loud Mime]

I'm glad the photographer considered the positioning of the tailpipes on that Chevy. He could have made it look quite, uh.....never mind.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If you have pdf here is a good article in todays paper with other pics, from same source as thread title

http://www.news-journalonline.com/pdf/fl_dbnj0128.pdf

[Chode]

she wasn't paying attention. this is what she looked like both times she was here last year when she didn't know the camera was on her...
she look's so cute when she pouts... 8^)

when she was here for open testing, she finished 16^Th out of 18 cars... #17 had gearbox problems after a half dozen laps and #18 never even made it onto the track and this was after her handlers dumped a TON of money on her in europe tooo...

[Polybius]

One of the biggest beefs among other Indy drivers is her weight, (less than 100lbs), Indy rules mandate a minimum car weight excluding the driver which gives her an average weight advantage of about 60 to 75 lbs. The experts claim that such a weight advantage with all things being equal would result in 1/40th of a second gain per lap.

Why don't they simply add weight as they do in horse racing?

Thoroughbred racing abides by a traditional scale of weights. In Triple Crown Races, which are exclusively for 3-year-olds, each horse carries 126 pounds. Fillies get a 5-pound allowance. These are minimum weights. For example, if the jockey weighs 120 pounds, lead inserts totaling 6 pounds are attached to the saddle.

[Echo Talon]

She looks like a girl that I dated in High School. :D Not sure what "nationality" Danika is but the girl I dated was 1/2 Irish(dad), 1/2 Italian(mom)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

She is running 24th right now, in the pits. Here is a live listen

http://grandamerican.vfx.com/Rolex/GrandAmerican_800.asp