[Robertdjr]

Yep, looks like Danica and Milka got into it Saturday after practice...

"Patrick, who started a career-best second here a year ago, was 11th in the morning practice at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

After getting out of her car, Patrick quickly walked to where Milka Duno, the only other woman racing here this weekend, was pitted and confronted the less experienced driver about getting in her way several times during the practice.

The confrontation lasted only about a minute, but witnesses said it grew heated and that Duno flung a towel in Patrick’s direction at one point as the two exchanged words. Patrick eventually walked away."

Full Story with Video

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by 3fanforever

Yep, looks like Danica and Milka got into it Saturday after practice...

"Patrick, who started a career-best second here a year ago, was 11th in the morning practice at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

After getting out of her car, Patrick quickly walked to where Milka Duno, the only other woman racing here this weekend, was pitted and confronted the less experienced driver about getting in her way several times during the practice.

The confrontation lasted only about a minute, but witnesses said it grew heated and that Duno flung a towel in Patrick’s direction at one point as the two exchanged words. Patrick eventually walked away."

Full Story with Video

I saw that. The first thing which popped into my mind was: "CAT FIGHT!!!!!!

Then I thought, "Well at least now she's picking on someone more her own size."

I don't especially care for Duno but I'm glad she stood her ground. Of course I'm glad Danica didn't roll over . She needs to stand up too. From what I see the guys don't give her many breaks out there and I get the feeling that there isn't a lot of camaraderie with her peers.

[Phils20]

Loved hearing her call Danica a "Diva".

Other than that, not much opinion on it. Really not much substance there.

[LSC9901]

I suspect that Danica was right in this case. I'm sure this type of action goes on at every series, every weekend, but without all the fanfare that the media gives to these females.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I suspect that Danica was right in this case. I'm sure this type of action goes on at every series, every weekend, but without all the fanfare that the media gives to these females.

I would venture a guess that it was all hormonal but that'd label me insensitive and a sexist, chavinistic pig and we all know I'm not.

[onearmsteve]

1. Danica needs to learn to shut up sometimes.
2. they need to get Milka off the track before she kills somebody.

[Phils20]

Did they actually show the incidnet that Danica was upset with???

If not, I'm sceptical. She has been called out by many drivers for how she drives, so I'm not just going to jump to Danicas defense without seeing it.

If they did show it, and Milka was at fault, fine.

The IRL needs to step in and take care of it. Just seems they have been too willing to let any driver with the money race.

[Racer Duck]

I use a form of statistics that I think shows the bottom line on a racer's skill, luck, and other factors. It's so simple anyone can do it: you just calculate the number of positions the driver improves or looses in each race .. in other words, did they finish better than they started or not. The driver that averages a better finish than they started, by standard logic, should be deemed the better driver.

So, lets look at these two ladies statistics for this year.

Milka Duno:

• competed in 8 races to date in 2008
• 3 races where she lost positions
• 5 races where she gained positions
• average start when she lost positions: 18.0
• average start when she gained positions: 25.8
• total number of positions lost: 7
• total number of positions gained: 34

Danica Patrick:

• competed in 12 races to date in 2008
• 5 races where she lost positions
• 5 races where she gained positions
• 2 races where she finished in the same position as she started
• average start when she lost positions: 3.4 (every race where she started in the top 5, she lost positions)
• average start when she gained positions: 14.4 (this includes her win)
• total number of positions lost: 45
• total number of positions gained: 38

I'll let you draw your own conclusion. But I believe some folks are letting their prejudice against a Venezuelan sponsored by a Venezuelan oil company cloud their judgment.

The source of this information is IndyCar.com, the math is mine (but easily checked.)

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

I use a form of statistics that I think shows the bottom line on a racer's skill, luck, and other factors. It's so simple anyone can do it: you just calculate the number of positions the driver improves or looses in each race .. in other words, did they finish better than they started or not. The driver that averages a better finish than they started, by standard logic, should be deemed the better driver.

So, lets look at these two ladies statistics for this year.

Milka Duno:

• competed in 8 races to date in 2008
• 3 races where she lost positions
• 5 races where she gained positions
• average start when she lost positions: 18.0
• average start when she gained positions: 25.8
• total number of positions lost: 7
• total number of positions gained: 34

Danica Patrick:

• competed in 12 races to date in 2008
• 5 races where she lost positions
• 5 races where she gained positions
• 2 races where she finished in the same position as she started
• average start when she lost positions: 3.4 (every race where she started in the top 5, she lost positions)
• average start when she gained positions: 14.4 (this includes her win)
• total number of positions lost: 45
• total number of positions gained: 38

I'll let you draw your own conclusion. But I believe some folks are letting their prejudice against a Venezuelan sponsored by a Venezuelan oil company cloud their judgment.

The source of this information is IndyCar.com, the math is mine (but easily checked.)

Thanks for those stats, RD. I was thinking that I hadn't seen much in the races I have watched that made her stand out as that bad of a driver.

Maybe not a great one, but not the menace that some call her.

I've seen worse. I know Robin Miller was very outspoken against her, but I can't always take him seriously!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

. But I believe some folks are letting their prejudice against a Venezuelan sponsored by a Venezuelan oil company cloud their judgment.

I readily admit guilt on that one as far as CITGO goes, and feel absolutely no shame. I think that it is a disgrace that IRL would accept sponsorship from a company literally owned and run by an anti-American dictator like Hugo Chavez.

The fact that she's a Venezuelan bothers me a lot less than her lack of driving skill, as displayed by your stats.

For example:
Milka Duno:
competed in 8 races to date in 2008
3 races where she lost positions
5 races where she gained positions
average start when she lost positions: 18.0
average start when she gained positions: 25.8
total number of positions lost: 7
total number of positions gained: 34
Danica Patrick:
competed in 12 races to date in 2008
5 races where she lost positions
5 races where she gained positions
2 races where she finished in the same position as she started
average start when she lost positions: 3.4 (every race where she started in the top 5, she lost positions)
average start when she gained positions: 14.4 (this includes her win)
total number of positions lost: 45
total number of positions gained: 38

Milka's average starting position this season is 22.87. Danica's is 9.08. It is just much harder to gain positions and easier to lose them the farther toward the front your starting position is.

Sorry Charlie. Her sponsor aside, I think she's a reincarnation of Rick Wilson, only with different plumbing and driving IRL. But, that's just my opinion and like anal bodily orifices, everyone has one.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Phils20

Thanks for those stats, RD. I was thinking that I hadn't seen much in the races I have watched that made her stand out as that bad of a driver.

Maybe not a great one, but not the menace that some call her.

I've seen worse. I know Robin Miller was very outspoken against her, but I can't always take him seriously!

If you look at Danica's history, she didn't do much before Rahal signed her. Since then she's been in first class equipment and still not accomplished what other drivers in equivalent equipment have. Milka did win several professional championships and significant events before coming to IndyCar. Danica got Rookie of Year in Rahal equipment. Milka finished 2nd in Rookie of Year running a limited schedule in SAMAX equipment.

OK, I admit, I like Milka and don't care for Danica. But I've seen much more potential in Milka than Danica, though I doubt Milka will ever get the breaks Danica has for a number of reasons that I won't go into.

Something else that I've noticed about these 2 drivers is the content of their picture galleries at IndyCar.com

There are many, many pictures of Milka posing with fans, many of them not at autograph sessions. And she is almost always smilling.

With Danica, it seems to be just the opposite: not many pics of her posing with fans, but almost all of them during autograph sessions. Lots of pics of her fans posing with autographed pictures of her, but not her.Most of her pics with serious, even scowling, looks not many smiles at all.

Maybe it's just the difference in their personalities, but it makes you wonder...

[WestCoast]

I saw the "incident", and thought that Danica could have passed easily during the practice session if she wanted, but I believe she decided that she needed more respect from Milka than she got. My conclusion = "princess".

The Cat Fight was fun to watch, outside of the girls going at it, It was great the way all the male team members stood around with a wide grin on their faces, trying to suppress laughter, personally I was laughing.
When the Team had enough of Danica, one member just stood in front of her with his back to her until she left.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

I saw the "incident", and thought that Danica could have passed easily during the practice session if she wanted, but I believe she decided that she needed more respect from Milka than she got. My conclusion = "princess".
.

That's pretty much the way I saw it but I only got a glimpse of the on-track incident. To be honest with you I'm about up to here with the Danica hype. I'd like to see some success out of her but I don't see it coming anytime soon.

True. She won on a fuel mileage strategy in Japan but you have wins, and then you have WINS.

[WestCoast]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

True. She won on a fuel mileage strategy in Japan but you have wins, and then you have WINS.

Agreed, it would mean more if she "passed cars" to gain position or a win, as opposed to doing it by default.

[onearmsteve]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

That's pretty much the way I saw it but I only got a glimpse of the on-track incident. To be honest with you I'm about up to here with the Danica hype. I'd like to see some success out of her but I don't see it coming anytime soon.

True. She won on a fuel mileage strategy in Japan but you have wins, and then you have WINS.

pretty sure the win and the WINS both pay the same prize money and points, therefore, they are the same.