[Racer Duck]

Thoughts from someone who knows how hard it is to jump from open wheel to stock cars.

Montoya: Danica would have some work to do

By David Caraviello, NASCAR.COM
June 26, 2009
02:06 PM EDT

LOUDON, N.H. -- If Danica Patrick chooses to make the jump to NASCAR, she's going to have her work cut out for her, according to another former open-wheel star who made a similar move.

"Danica, I think she's got the talent and everything, but I don't think she knows what she's getting into," said Juan Montoya, the former Indianapolis 500 and Formula One race winner who switched to stock cars in 2006. The Colombian-born driver is enjoying his best season in NASCAR, with an average finish of 15.2 and a realistic chance of qualifying for the season-ending championship Chase.



But it's taken him three sometimes uneven years to get to that point, proof that the move from open-wheel to stock cars can be difficult for even the best of drivers. The stock car is worlds removed from the grip-heavy beasts Montoya drove in F1, or the IndyCars that Patrick is piloting now.

"They're so different to drive. It's not the same feeling. When you drive an open-wheel car on an oval you have the grip, you turn the wheel and it turns, you get on it and it goes and you get on the brakes and it stops. This, it goes more with the momentum. You've got to give time to the car and you've got to get used to the feeling that you've got to go fast when the car doesn't feel right," Montoya said Friday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

"With time, actually it becomes kind of normal. Like for me, driving the Cup car now, it's normal. I've finally got to a point where I go every week and I'm not surprised, it doesn't feel weird, it doesn't surprise me, it feels like what I drive every week now and that takes a long time. If she comes I'm sure she can do it but it doesn't matter if you come to a winning team or anything, it's going to take time."

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Motorsports One

Didn't I tell you Mulhern was out of his freakin' mind?...

Yep. A good, hearty "I told you so!" is definitely in order.

Mulhern is kind of like the blind pig; every so often he finds an acorn but they tend to be few and far between.

[Team Yates]

Danica Patrick to Hendrick? Dale Jr. to.....UPDATE denied: If Danica Patrick does jump from the Indy Racing League to NASCAR, as increasingly appears likely, the battle for her, according to sources close to the negotiations, is down to car owners Rick Hendrick, of Chevrolet, and Jack Roush, of Ford. According to these sources, Hendrick and General Motors' Chevrolet division are now suddenly the heavy favorites to sign Patrick. And the key would apparently be Hendrick's willingness to put her in a Sprint Cup ride for the full 2010 season. Roush has said he would like to see her run some NASCAR Nationwide and/or Truck events, along with six or seven Cup events, to get her accustomed to stock car racing. Hendrick reportedly is willing to go further. Patrick might take Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spot on Hendrick's official four-team Cup roster, with Earnhardt moving to an expanded JR Motorsports operation. JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's own operation, run in partnership with Hendrick, would thus be stepping up to a full Cup program; Hendrick has already been talking with Talladega winner Brad Keselowski about Keselowski's future in NASCAR, with indications he could get a Cup ride with an expanded JR Motorsports venture, with Hendrick engines and Hendrick engineering. It is not clear how far along any Patrick-IMG-Hendrick negotiations have gone, but sources tell mikemulhern.net that the Patrick-Hendrick deal is very close to being a 'done deal.'(Mikemulhern.net)(6-28-2009)
UPDATE - denied:been told by Hendrick Motorsports reps that there is absolutely no truth to this.(6-28-2009)

[saltysenior]

if they say no no no....that has a track record of meaning yes! howbout that race she ran at richmond?????she does have talent..

[Jeffrey4396]

She will be in a Hendrick car next year but under the SHR banner. I follow her on twitter for a while now and not once has she mentioned a damn thing about Nascar. Not one! Until today. She mentioned she was watching the race. Then she mentions how good Tony is doing and how successful SHR has been. Could be nothing, or could be everything.

[loco4pablo]

I am hoping she comes to NASCAR. Who wouldn't?

[saltysenior]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

I am hoping she comes to NASCAR. Who wouldn't?

most drivers who do not have a sealed tight,no cut, 3yr. contract...

[LSC9901]

This is her usual ploy to get more money in IRL. She is already well aware that she has no experience in NASCAR and as soon as she created an incident she'd try that bad girl attitude and someone like Harvick would slap her silly ... and probably a well deserved slap.

Her coming to NASCAR would be like a Dentist doing brain surgery. Just because the Dentist is a Dr doesn't make him qualified. Just because she drives a race car doesn't make her qualified to drive a NASCAR automobile. If it so easy to make the switch where are all the good drivers from IRL ??? Why aren't they all in NASCAR and winning races ? OH ... wait a minute. Little miss Patty has won but one race. That hardly qualifies her to make the jump unless you are looking for trinket sales.

Let her stay right where she is. NASCAR has enough over inflated egos already.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Let her stay right where she is. NASCAR has enough over inflated egos already.

Ain't that the truth. Don't need her. It would be more trouble than it's worth to have her in the sport.

[loco4pablo]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Ain't that the truth. Don't need her. It would be more trouble than it's worth to have her in the sport.

why and how would Danica be more trouble then she's worth?? Please explain! I know where the worth is, but really where is the trouble?? Would she be worse then casey mears?....would she be worse then scott speed? Would she be worse then Reed Sorenson?
Come on... Look at what she is bringing to the table $$$ wise and look who is out there every week...trust me in NASCAR eyes's, the pleasure is worth the pain

NASCAR wants Danica so bad it's drooling.... And all the JPM haters jumped to the Joey hater boat and now they are jumping to the Danica hater boat!

[saltysenior]

can you bet on the forum???? i'm laying $ 80.00 at 8 to 5 that danica will drive in a nascur sanctioned race within 2 yrs. of today's date [7/5/09].....any takers......

[flflash47]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

This is her usual ploy to get more money in IRL. She is already well aware that she has no experience in NASCAR and as soon as she created an incident she'd try that bad girl attitude and someone like Harvick would slap her silly ... and probably a well deserved slap.

I doubt Kevin would, butt I GUARANDAMNTEE Delana would

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by loco4pablo

why and how would Danica be more trouble then she's worth?? Please explain! I know where the worth is, but really where is the trouble?? Would she be worse then casey mears?....would she be worse then scott speed? Would she be worse then Reed Sorenson?
Come on... Look at what she is bringing to the table $$$ wise and look who is out there every week...trust me in NASCAR eyes's, the pleasure is worth the pain

NASCAR wants Danica so bad it's drooling.... And all the JPM haters jumped to the Joey hater boat and now they are jumping to the Danica hater boat!

There in lies the whole point ... why get yet another fool who can't drive well enough to stay out of a wreck ???? Thanks for your help in justifying why she should stay right where she is.

[LSC9901]

Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports spent last weekend quashing rumors that they are bidding for Danica Patrick. One rumor that made the rounds online had Patrick replacing Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Hendrick. Given how much money Earnhardt generates, that one is hard to believe. Also, replacing the most popular driver in the sport can’t be an ideal situation for Patrick.
Still, speculation abounds. The Florida Times-Union reports that Patrick could be the shot in the arm the sport needs, given flagging television and attendance numbers. Not that it would be easy. The article features a quote from Richard Petty, who joins Darrell Waltrip in voicing his belief that girls can’t drive. "I just don't think it's a sport for women, and so far, it's proved out," Petty said. "It's good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity. It gives them publicity. But as far as being a real true racer, making a living out of it, it's kind of tough."
Knowing Patrick, this will just make her want it more.
The Web site The Sports Debates joins the growing chorus of those who believe Formula 1 is a better fit for Patrick. The site claims that if Patrick were to choose F1, she could easily net more than the eight endorsements she now enjoys with IRL. The debate goes on to say with Formula 1, Patrick doesn't need to win. All she has to do is show up. But given her competitive nature, she would do more than show up – she would win.

[saltysenior]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

There in lies the whole point ... why get yet another fool who can't drive well enough to stay out of a wreck ???? Thanks for your help in justifying why she should stay right where she is.

montoya can't drive???? surely you did not mean that the way it came out...