[vincesanity82]

Danica Patrick may be small, but she's not about to back down on the track or off.Patrick, one of two women in Sunday's ABC Supply/A.J. Foyt 225 at the Milwaukee Mile, had an on-track collision with the car driven by Dan Wheldon and then made a beeline for the Englishman in the pits after coming back to finish eighth. The incident took place on the 88th of 225 laps, with Patrick, who started 17th in the 18-car field, diving low on the track in an attempt to pass both Wheldon and last week's Indy 500 winner Dario Franchitti for fourth place.
She got past Franchitti with no problem and appeared close to passing Wheldon when the two cars came together, sending Patrick's car spinning into the infield grass. She made a great save, straightening out her car and getting back on track as the yellow flag came out.
The collision bent Patrick's suspension and forced a long pit stop for repairs, costing her a lap that she eventually made up with pit strategy and a timely late caution.
Wheldon's car was not damaged and he went on to finish third, behind winner Tony Kanaan and Franchitti.

Heres the footage:
YouTube - Danica / Wheldon Rift

SI.com - Racing - Danica confronts Wheldon after collision - Sunday June 3, 2007 11:04PM

[vincesanity82]

I have a feeling Danica will return the favor..

[SpaceCadet]

After viewing the tapes of the incident as well as what they both had to say after the race, I think 1) Wheldon did seem to come down as she was passing. She was pretty far into the pass when he kind of cut her off. Either his spotter is blind or Wheldon didn't care. 2) It will be, and should be, chalked up to "just a racing thing". And finally, 3) Ms. Patrick made one big mistake. After watching and listening to Wheldon's patronizing, "it's her inexperience", condescending post race interview, Danica should have swung from the shoulder and knocked his punk a-- out. I will not be surprised when Mr. Wheldon gets up close and personal with the wall at the next race.

[vincesanity82]

Patrick, Wheldon, IRL gear up for 'Rumble at the Speedway'

When Danica Patrick gets fire in her eyes, look out. ast Sunday at the Milwaukee Mile, she had run-ins with Dan Wheldon both on the track and off. The Indy Racing League called the on-track incident in which the two bumped wheels, sending Patrick on a wild ride through the grass, "nothing more than a racing incident," and handed out no penalties.
In the heated aftermath, Patrick said she thought she had made the pass, while Wheldon said he was still in front and had the right of way.
Patrick, the third-year IndyCar Series driver, and Wheldon, the 2005 Indy 500 winner and series champion, had another very public meeting after the race.
She caught up to Wheldon on pit road and, in front of a roaring crowd that appeared heavily in her corner, grabbed the Englishman around the waist, did most of the talking and, when she didn't get the answer from him she desired, gave Wheldon a light push and walked away.
Afterward, Wheldon suggested Patrick is feeling the pressure of not having won yet and warned, "She's messing with the wrong person if she wants to get feisty. I'm a lot tougher than she is on track."
Maybe.
It's true that Patrick, the woman who inspired a national "Danica-Mania" by becoming the first female to lead the Indy 500 and then setting a record for her gender by finishing in the race, has yet to win a race.
Some are already trying to equate the attractive Patrick, who made waves several years ago by posing for a men's magazine in a scanty outfit, with tennis player Anna Kournikova, who gained notoriety for her good looks and marketability but never won a major event.
But Patrick is showing on the track she's far more than just another pretty face.
Two weeks ago, in her third Indy 500, she finished eighth. But, before the race was cut short by rain and her shot at a victory ended by a fuel strategy that left her in the wrong place at the wrong time, Patrick was running competitively with the big boys.
"I thought she was very impressive," said Andretti Green Racing teammate Dario Franchitti, who won at Indy. "She had a fast race car and she was sticking her nose in there and racing with everyone.


Andretti Green Racing Andretti Green Racing, Danica Patrick, Dan Wheldon, IRL Series, AUTO RACING,Chip Ganassi Racing Chip Ganassi Racing - CBS SportsLine.com