Posted on 05/21/2009 7:32:27 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
The Indianapolis 500 is Sunday and we know this because we’ve been treated to a month of questions to Danica Patrick about when she’s going to give NASCAR a try.
It’s a sign of how far general interest in open-wheel racing, not to mention its signature event, has fallen. The hard-core fans will still turn out and tune in this weekend, but it’s saying something when the most asked question is about the future of a driver who isn’t even a favorite to win the race.
Jimmie Johnson has heard the questions and Patrick’s open-ended answers about the possibility of a jump. As NASCAR’s Sprint Cup champion three years running, Johnson’s advice to a potential opponent is pretty simple.
Come on over, although not until you’re ready. And, trust me, you’re not ready.
His suggestion is for Patrick to re-sign with the Indy Racing League and spend her free time driving on minor league stock car circuits so she can learn to handle the vastly different machine. It’s not her lack of talent, he says, it’s her lack of experience.
“If she’s serious about doing it, she needs to spend a year or two, while racing IRL, running ARCA, running trucks, running Nationwide and really understanding the difference in the vehicles,” Johnson told Yahoo! Sports last week.
“Otherwise, she’s going to be put in a tough situation. … You can’t just show up in the Cup Series and go.”
That probably isn’t what Patrick wants to hear because such a transition makes little business sense and, if nothing else, Danica is about business. Patrick is a major-league star, and potentially failing in the minors isn’t worth the risk to her highly profitable image.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Personally, I think Danica should give up driving and focus full-time on being a swimsuit model. ;)
You are not alone .. not that I encourage that kind of stuff and all.. :-0
Come on Jimmie, I am sure that Danica, like you, is fully capable of driving car fast and making nothing but left turns.
I think Danica ought to come over here in a bathing suit and clean my house
“Come on Jimmie, I am sure that Danica, like you, is fully capable of driving car fast and making nothing but left turns.”
Now that I think of it, Danica does seem to have a tough time on road and street courses (which is a little surprising given her background in karting and the Atlantic Series).
Danica needs shave. ;O)
Well, sure, except Stewart was a two-time champ in the IRL before he came to NASCAR.
Yes, but she’s in every race.
Oh true, but I’m just making the point that he did make the jump to Cup without going through ARCA or the trucks.
“She’s had much more success off the track then on the track. I think she has won only one race.”
That is correct; her win at Motegi last year is the only one she’s achieved in anything other than a kart.
Hardly anyone has heard of her Stateside, but Katherine Legge managed to do in her first Atlantic start what Danica could not in two full seasons in the series.
Yeah, but Smoke had won a bunch of races and championships before he started racing NASCAR. On the other hand, Danica has only won one race and that was on fuel mileage.
I think Danica will try her hand at NASCAR. IRL isn’t going anywhere and she could make a lot more in NASCAR. And NASCAR could use a shot in the arm right now, with both attendance at races and TV viewership down.
“Yes, but she’s in every race.”
If Sarah Fisher could afford a full season, I suspect she’d run a full season. And if Milka Duno could drive fast enough to keep from getting lapped every 20 laps, maybe she’d get to run full-time too.
she would be almost perfect if her head lites were a bit bigger
think of ‘em as halogens
I don’t think she’ll help much. She’s just an easier on the eyes version of Scott Pruett.
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