[Team Yates]

• Danica Patrick to NASCAR ... Again? Speculation that Danica Patrick could be headed to NASCAR is heating up once again because she is in the final year of her contract with Andretti Green Racing of the IRL. In a recent story published in the New York Times, Patrick didn't deny there could be an interest in the Sprint Cup Series. "I'm very flattered everyone is curious," Patrick was quoted. "It's interesting to me as well. Do I stay where I am? Do I try to change? It's all about evaluating options, and I think that's something any good business person does. One of the things I think of is the exposure level that you get in NASCAR with the ratings and viewership. Their numbers are so much larger than ours and with that comes a bigger following, comes more popularity, comes more demand for you to endorse other products. So I think it would be an exponential sort of growth." Patrick said these things before when her last contract was up in 2006. Some would argue she used NASCAR as leverage for a better deal in the IRL, that she had no real intention of leaving, and that she is doing so again. Patrick does have ties with several of NASCAR's top organizations. She drove in the Rolex 24 at Daytona with Casey Mears for Richard Childress Racing. Roush Fenway Racing co-owner Jack Roush extended her an open invitation to join his organization the last time she explored options. To make the jump to NASCAR's top series most agree Patrick would need at least a full schedule in the Nationwide Series, which she may consider a step backward. If she did transition to NASCAR, she likely would demand a top ride, and most of the top organizations don't have an opening. But at the age of 27, this may be Patrick's last legitimate shot to make the jump and have time to hone her skills in stock cars. Until she signs somewhere her name will remain a hot topic.(ESPN Insider)(5-7-2009)

[bob101]

Please let this die...then beat it with a stick again for a while.

Like NASCAR needs more of a circus and another drama queen.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by bob101

Please let this die...then beat it with a stick again for a while.

Like NASCAR needs more of a circus and another drama queen.

When some one gives us a post which is 100% correct, it's futile to try and make it more "correcter."

Truer words couldn't have been spoken, bob.

[nascaraddict]

I don't think that she'll make the jump right now. But I do see the move in the future. It's just with the current economic conditions, a move may not be in her best intrests if things don't pan out in the first couple seasons.

[mike honcho]

She's just using it to bargain a better contract.

[LSC9901]

PLEASE .... someone in IRL give her a contract. NASCAR doesn't need another name that has no knowledge of this type of car. She's not even that good in IRL.

[saltysenior]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

PLEASE .... someone in IRL give her a contract. NASCAR doesn't need another name that has no knowledge of this type of car. She's not even that good in IRL.

i don't know how you can say she is not that good....she is 6th in points w/ quite few good drivers behind her...plus she looks better in a bikini than tony...

[Racer Duck]

OK, I give...


Bring her in .. she can stand around in a bikini in the winner's circle and smile. Then all those with hormone imbalances will be satisfied, and all those of us who want to see real racing will also be satisfied 'cause she's not in a car.

[simple simon]

i dont think she stands a chance in cup ..... imo JPM is 10x's the driver she is and he is struggling ..... i do believe he deserves to be there .. but i dont think she would have even a chance in the series

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i dont think she stands a chance in cup ..... imo JPM is 10x's the driver she is and he is struggling ..... i do believe he deserves to be there .. but i dont think she would have even a chance in the series

Dario Franchitti couldn't make it and Scott Speed is struggling.

I, personally, think Sarah Fisher would have twice the chance of making it as would Danica and I wouldn't wager a lot of money on Sarah.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by simple simon

i dont think she stands a chance in cup ..... imo JPM is 10x's the driver she is and he is struggling ..... i do believe he deserves to be there .. but i dont think she would have even a chance in the series

everyone knows it's the bikini that's alluring, not the talent.


that aside, consider this: in the past several years we've seen several drivers who are multiple time champions in other types of cars come to NASCAR only to struggle. (Hornish, Allmendinger, Ambrose, Montoya, Villenueve, to name a few) It's no reflection on these people, it's just that when you reach the levels these people have (they've become specialists, if you will), many things are ingrained about driving and it's really hard to to go from one style to a completely different style. You almost have to completely unlearn what you know and relearn something else. An occasional few hours in an ALMS car for a 12 or 24 hour event isn't an indicator how well that transition will go.

I applaud folks like John Andretti, Tony Stewart, and Robby Gordon who are able to shift from one top tier series to a different top tier series and do as well as they have. But, each has a primary and a secondary: one in which they excel and one in which they are just "competent".

Danica has benefited from being a member of a super-team (Andretti Green) .. I doubt she would have achieved the success she has if not for that.

[wardfan]

Originally Posted by saltysenior

i don't know how you can say she is not that good....she is 6th in points w/ quite few good drivers behind her...plus she looks better in a bikini than tony...

lilsexy is having dreams right now of Tony in a speedo

[bob101]

To be honest if you want to see someone in a bikini there are better choices out there.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by saltysenior

i don't know how you can say she is not that good....she is 6th in points w/ quite few good drivers behind her...plus she looks better in a bikini than tony...

Very easily ... how many races has she won ??? I believe you can count them all on one finger !

Derrick Cope won the Daytona 500 ... does that make him a great NASCAR driver ??? I don't think so.

[Stewart Fan]

Well as much as I would LOVE to look at her in the pre race I don't think she would have success in Nascar. However I have no doubt the ratings would go up and she would sell a ton of t shirts and stuff.