[TN_Gal]

What do you think of this???


Danica considering jump to NASCAR

First, it was Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Now America's top female driver, Danica Patrick, is considering competing in NASCAR.

Photo Gallery...
Danica Patrick




The Orlando Sentinel reported Patrick's father, T.J., was having exploratory discussions with some NASCAR teams and attended Sunday's race in Chicago as the guest of Roush Racing.
That report fueled speculation on the first of three days of testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that Patrick, whose contract with Rahal Letterman Racing expires after this season, could be leaving the Indy Racing League for NASCAR.
Team spokesman, Brent Mauer, declined to comment on the report on Monday but confirmed that the Rahal team has been discussing a contract extension with Patrick.
Montoya announced on Sunday he was leaving Formula One to join NASCAR's Target Chip Ganassi team.
"I feel like it says a lot about NASCAR's popularity if folks like Juan Pablo and Danica are coming," NASCAR driver Carl Edwards said. "I think it's awesome."
Patrick quickly emerged as an IRL fan favorite last season when she became the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500. She finished fourth, the highest ever for a woman, and was named the race's rookie of the year in 2005.
This season, however, has not been as magical.
Poll
Rahal's team has struggled against the IRL's best teams, owned by Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi, and Patrick's best finish of the season came on the road course at St. Petersburg, Florida where she was sixth. Despite four top-10 finishes, Patrick has, at times, shown her frustration with her No. 16 car.
Would she be welcome in NASCAR?
Stock-car icon Richard Petty said in May that women had no business getting behind the wheel, but today's drivers seem more receptive to welcoming Patrick.
"That would be another huge one for sure," said veteran Mark Martin, a Roush driver. "I think it would be great, absolutely fantastic. She is definitely a major, major, major draw. It would be fantastic to see her getting involved at this stage in her career, which is in the early stages. It would give her enough time to really adapt to the cars and everything and make a go of it." The transition from open-wheel cars to stock cars can be challenging, but it has been done successfully. One notable driver who made the switch is Tony Stewart, who left the IRL for NASCAR in 1999. Since then he's won two Cup championships and last year's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. He also embraced Montoya's commitment to the Busch series, which the Colombian said he would run in later this year and all of next year to help gain experience.

[LSC9901]

I hope she realizes that if she comes to NASCAR and she starts winning right away we may just have to start sh__ing all over her for being a goody two shoes.

Anyway this is going to be a good story to follow. My initial guess is that Rahal & Letterman will up the paycheck.

[TN_Gal]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

I hope she realizes that if she comes to NASCAR and she starts winning right away we may just have to start sh__ing all over her for being a goody two shoes.

Anyway this is going to be a good story to follow. My initial guess is that Rahal & Letterman will up the paycheck.

But what pretty shoes she will have...

[Smoke842]

(inhale breath) Did LSC just use a bad word?? I think Miss D doesn't know what she would be in for if she decides to do Cup. Or anything Nascar. Stay away! Stay away! No woman has ever been able to drive the current cars.

[Nevadastars]

I would love to see it, and would hope she does well, but in all honesty, she will get eaten alive.

[Souporscotty]

I don't think it's any secret how I feel about my sweet Danica. But I still don't think you'll ever see her in a Cup race. Maybe trucks or possibly Busch, but not "The Cup". After all she is a GURL!

[LADY3]

Originally Posted by Smoke842

(inhale breath) Did LSC just use a bad word?? I think Miss D doesn't know what she would be in for if she decides to do Cup. Or anything Nascar. Stay away! Stay away! No woman has ever been able to drive the current cars.

Oh come on smoke if I had a chance to drive in the cup races I'd be there in a heart beat. A herd of elephants could'nt keep me away. What a rush !!!!!!

[LADY3]

I think it would be awesome. I bet she could kick some a$$. Has anyone seen her race? She gave those boys at indy a run for their money. What else can I say she's good.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by LADY3

I think it would be awesome. I bet she could kick some a$$. Has anyone seen her race? She gave those boys at indy a run for their money. What else can I say she's good.

She would kick Mikeys butt, and maybe a couple of others but that's about it. I guarantee you she would get the same treatment Erin Crocker is getting, always in wrecks not of her own doing. Indy cars are far different than stock cars. Let's just say, stock cars take a little more testoserone. Should I duck?
Remember when Scott Pruitt came to cup? He always qualified well, but the pack treated him as a pinball and usually ended up in the wall. I think you would have the same results with Ms. Patrick. Sad to say, but I feel is the truth. Although I would root for her if she made Cup, as I love the underdogs to do well.

[Lefty Noob]

Personally, I think it would be different with Danica, because she would come into NASCAR with a pre-existing star quality about her. Unlike Erin Crocker or Scott Pruitt, she's a big name, even amongst those who aren't racing fans. If nothing else, I could see NASCAR trying to "convince" its drivers to lay off of her. Imagine the bad press for the person who put pretty little Danica Patrick into a wall!

[WVGrandma4Kasey]

Originally Posted by LADY3

I think it would be awesome. I bet she could kick some a$$. Has anyone seen her race? She gave those boys at indy a run for their money. What else can I say she's good.

You tell them Lady 3, I say FEMALE POWER

[LADY3]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

She would kick Mikeys butt, and maybe a couple of others but that's about it. I guarantee you she would get the same treatment Erin Crocker is getting, always in wrecks not of her own doing. Indy cars are far different than stock cars. Let's just say, stock cars take a little more testoserone. Should I duck?
Remember when Scott Pruitt came to cup? He always qualified well, but the pack treated him as a pinball and usually ended up in the wall. I think you would have the same results with Ms. Patrick. Sad to say, but I feel is the truth. Although I would root for her if she made Cup, as I love the underdogs to do well.

I hope that your wrong about that, but I have a feeling that youmay have a point. I would still like her to try anyway.

[LADY3]

Originally Posted by WVGrandma4Kasey

You tell them Lady 3, I say FEMALE POWER

Love ya Grandma. If I ever get to drive a nascar I'm goin take you with me.

[LADY3]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Personally, I think it would be different with Danica, because she would come into NASCAR with a pre-existing star quality about her. Unlike Erin Crocker or Scott Pruitt, she's a big name, even amongst those who aren't racing fans. If nothing else, I could see NASCAR trying to "convince" its drivers to lay off of her. Imagine the bad press for the person who put pretty little Danica Patrick into a wall!

I think she is agressive enough to some of the guys in the wall. ha ha ha

[Bob Tanner]

Danica, IMNSVHO has a lot of things going for her, should she make the move (and I doubt if she will, but...??? What do I know?), and she has some things which don't lend to her success in NASCAR.

Pluses: She is talented, fearless, intelligent, and will bring beau coup sponsor appeal with her.

Negatives: Size (5'3 and 100 lbs is shorter and lighter than either John Andretti or Jeffie-Pooh).This may be a tad small for racing a stock car
Her racing experience since she started focused on road courses (karting, Formula Ford and Barber Dodge Series'. She ran ovals only rarely prior to going to IRL and there, if you take away her first Indy performance, hasn't been exactly earth-shaking. (A couple poles and 5-6 top ten finishes in 1 1/2 seasons? Yawn) Almost all the open-wheeled successes in NASCAR have come from sprints, outlaws, sprints and Silver Crown cars, These series' are a far cry from what Danica raced.
I believe Erin Crocker and Sarah Fisher are better suited to NASCAR.

I'd like to see Danica switch and be ultra successful. It'd bring a new dimension to NASCAR, but I don't see it happening. However, I sure could be waaaaay off base one this one, couldn't I?

OK, you gals, take aim and fire away...