Danica Patrick goes NASCAR?

[nate-bama]

I hope the pit crews life insurance is paid up

[Snake]

Danica Patrick is a very good Indy Car driver and I think she would make a good Nascar driver as well.

[ninjabrewer]

And she's a hottie.

[ztrack157]

While I don't doubt her talent behind the wheel of an open wheel race car I do doubt it behind a Nascar steering wheel. Most drivers who have come to Nascar recently from other divisions have not faired well in NASCAR. Juan Pablo Montoya (via F1) is the only exception.

Danica should stay where shes at (IRL) if she wants a shot to win (shes only won once in Japan). She is a consistant driver there usually running up near the front but shes probably the second or third best racer on her own team. She has a good ride with the Andretti team and should stay there. She may earn more from Nascar but she will not win there.

[Sound Wave]

Originally Posted by ninjabrewer

And she's a hottie.

i gotta go with chris on this one. she's a hottie.

[00v_Lucky]

I'd be awesome if Mr. Hendrick signs her on the team 8)

[ztrack157]

^ That will not happen. At least not for a few seasons. Their stable has 3 of the best drivers ever and some little bugger named Junior who hasn't had the best luck the last couple of years. When Martin retires then possibly.

[nate-bama]

i just feel real bad for the pit crews..a nascar has to hurt more than a indy car

[camaroz1985]

She is for sure a hottie, but an overrated driver. She gets a lot of publicity because she is a woman (and hot), but her actual on track performance doesn't live up to the hype.

That said as long as she doesn't end up on the USF1 team I really won't care where she ends up.

On a funny note I like how this came up in the google ads thing at the bottom of the page.

Short Films by Honda
Discover the upside of failure through the eyes of Danica Patrick.
www.honda.com

[rockNroll]

She races real race cars now, I'd be bumbed if she started doing the Nascar demo derby

[tjkamper]

Open wheel racing is a lot different than "Stock car" racing. however, there have been a handful of great drivers who have come over in the years.

The fact of the matter is, it usually takes time to adjust. Our most recent Open wheeled star to come over to Nascar (Juan Pablo Montoya) His first race he finish 34th and in his first full year his average finish was 23rd. This year his average is 13th and he made the Chase.

however there are some guys who just simply know how to drive the wheels off of any thing that has an engine. Tony Stewart averaged a 10th place finish his first year in the cup series and 4th in overall points He was rookie of the year. He is a two time Cup champion and has other championships in Indy, IROC, MIDGETS and USAC Silver Crown Cars.

Kasey Kahne was an Open wheel driver before coming to Nascar and dispite driving a dodge, has been a competetive driver his entire carreer. Plus he's popular as hell. (damn pretty boy).

Forgive me for bringing up the other Stewart-Haas racer. But Ryan, (forgive his airborne acrobatics last week... and wrecking you boss doesn't help either...J/k it wasn't his fault) has been a great stock car driver, and he won a USAC championship before coming over to NASCAR.

But there are a lot of stories of guys coming over and they are just mediocre drivers in stock cars. One current example is Sam Hornish Jr. He's an excellent open wheel driver, and a three time Indy Racing League Champion, But in his two years he has not yet won a race, and his average finish is 28th not bad, but deffinately no where near impressive.

Basically, there has been a lot of successful open wheel racers who excel in stock cars. There have been a lot who don't, and there have been a few that can drive anything a soapbox racer to a cup championship if they were given a shot. Just remember, that it is hard to generalize. And speculation means nothing.

Remember Danica Patrick is going to start out in the Nationwide Series. This is a good thing. She can build some experieince and learn how to push people arround the track. According to rumors she will be driving there for two years. If she does well, I can see her moving up with the Good-Ol-Boys. The big deal is if she is good enough and does well, she will be one of few women to enter the series and could possible be the first one to do well. But once again, that is all speculation.

The important fact about Danica is that she is a Woman, and she is not afraid of letting people know she is. I wish her the same luck I would wish anyone going into NASCAR.

Remember, NASCAR is the only sport in the world where you love and help your opponents all you can, but you hate the idea of them beating you.

[Snake]

Go Danica go.

[tjkamper]

Hey I just thought of something.

If she does eventually get into the Cup series. Does that mean they will have to get a Mr. Sprint Cup, just incase she wins a race.

If not, does that mean millions of men will fantasize over Girl on Girl action NASCAR style?

[CC Cowboy]

This reminds me of the redneck joke;

What do you tell a girl with two black eyes?

Nothing, you already told her twice.


If Danica gets in the face of some of these NASCAR boys (like she does with Indy car drivers) she might get put in danger. Those guys don't mind penalties and fines.

[camaroz1985]

Originally Posted by tjkamper

If not, does that mean millions of men will fantasize over Girl on Girl action NASCAR style?

Might have to tune in for that....nah nevermind, I'll just catch it on youtube. It still wouldn't be worth torturing myself with the rest of the race.

[tjkamper]

What do yo mean torature. NASCAR Rocks!!!

[bob706]

Originally Posted by CC Cowboy

What do you tell a girl with two black eyes?

Nothing, you already told her twice.

but

[camaroz1985]

Really?

[marsha]

Originally Posted by Snake

Danica Patrick is a very good Indy Car driver and I think she would make a good Nascar driver as well.

[vet415]

Keep in mind, it is ALL about who brings money to the table. Car owners are going to bring folks up that can bring money/sponsors with them. Fact is, DP will bring money and sponsors with her. With that said, I think she will have just a good of a shot to do well as anyone else. There are plenty of good drivers out there, but if you can show up with several million dollars of sponsors for the team versus a driver that can bring nothing monetarily to the team, well...........I will be watchin'. Plus, as long as Milka Duno isn't on the same track with her, she will be fine, lol. Pullin' for ya Danica!!!!!!!

[backinthesaddleagain]

I would like to see a woman break into pro motorcycle road racing on a national level. I think the closest at the moment is Elena Myers (sp?), but she is only like 15 or 16 at the moment.

[ztrack157]

^think shes 16. If she doesn't do then sadly no woman will. She has more talent than most guys do.

[CC Cowboy]

I raced with a woman in the 80s. She was very talented, very pretty, and we diced it up at various tracks around the country (including the high banks of Daytona). She was from Canada but I never held it against her. Luckily I always came out in front of her ( it would have too much of a blow for a shallow guy like me to lose to her) but I did have a crush on her. She became a Hollywood movie stunt woman.

I believe there is a modern day female racer who is coached by Josh Hayes ( he is also the umbrella guy), Melissa Paris, who does fantastic in roadracing. If anyone is into 250s, that's one of the bikes she not only rides but is great on.

[camaroz1985]

I couldn't remember her name, but that's who I was thinking of. She did the WSS race at Miller.

[null0]

I'd hardly call 1 win and 4 2-3rd places in 81 races a good career. Maybe she'll do better if she only has to turn left.

[00v_Lucky]

Originally Posted by null0

I'd hardly call 1 win and 4 2-3rd places in 81 races a good career. Maybe she'll do better if she only has to turn left.

And a key right turn out of pit lane.
But I think she will be good for the Nationwide series because she might bring more fans to the races. Every time I watch the Nationwide series races, the grandstands are filled up as much as time trials for the Nextel cup amirite?

[Sailariel]

Danica Patrick is in my view an exceptionally talented driver. Personately, I would hate to see her in NASCAR. This woman should stick to open wheel cars and make a move to F-1. She could easily become one of the greats, like Moss. Fittipaldi, VonTripps, etc. This is a woman with incredible talent. I really can`t envision her in NASCAR. She has much to much talent to be racing with a bunch of OLD boys who would run her into a wall for grins and giggles. She is too talented and classy to do NASCAR. She needs to move into F-1.

[CC Cowboy]

Alex, I truly don't believe she has what it takes to be in F-1. Her record is not that good and F-1 is not only hard to get into but I don't think she could handle the pressures of the F-1 circus.

I have never been impressed with her as a driver. She does have a few good commercials though.

[camaroz1985]

I agree with CC. She does not have what it takes for F1, and would be stealing a seat from a better driver if she was given one. Sure she would bring publicity to the team, but its really just centered around her not the team. I bet most people know who she is but couldn't tell you what team she drives for.

She would be a back marker of the F1 grid. She just doesn't have what it takes. Look at Seb Bourdais. He was dominating CART, went to F1 and completely flopped. I just don't see Danica, who is far from dominating IRL, doing even that well.

[nate-bama]

She runs people over..... c'mon someone

[Sailariel]

Oscar and Ryan, You are probably spot on. I am probably expressing "wishful thinking". I have always found women who sky dive, race cars, ride sport bikes , to be attractive. I am not talking about physically drop dead beauties--I`m talking about a character thing--women willing to depart from "convention" and do what is not mainstream. I have always been close to my younger sister. She lives in Europe and rides an immaculate vintage Velocette Thruxton. She is also a very competent doctor. We have a lot of women on this forum who are beautiful because they march to a different drummer. Vacuous airhead Barbie Dolls to me are a total turn off and have fortunately not found this forum.

[250rinblack]

Originally Posted by camaroz1985

I agree with CC. She does not have what it takes for F1, and would be stealing a seat from a better driver if she was given one. Sure she would bring publicity to the team, but its really just centered around her not the team. I bet most people know who she is but couldn't tell you what team she drives for.

She would be a back marker of the F1 grid. She just doesn't have what it takes. Look at Seb Bourdais. He was dominating CART, went to F1 and completely flopped. I just don't see Danica, who is far from dominating IRL, doing even that well.

Couldn't have put it better myself. Danica is a fairly average steerer in terms of top-flight racing drivers. F1 drivers would eat her alive; I could not imagine her going wheel-to-wheel through Eau Rouge at Spa with some of the hard-heads in that game, they'd put her into the fence and not think twice about it. Not to mention the sheer physical strength she would require to drive an F1 car. Couple with that her psychological brittleness and she'd be a disaster. To be honest I can't see her doing much better in NASCAR, they don't mind a bit of bump and scrape there. She might get a bit of a hand initially but if she got near the front where it gets very serious I can't see any slack being cut for her by those guys.

I should add I am an unabashed Marcos Ambrose fan

[fastmark63]

Originally Posted by 250rinblack

Couldn't have put it better myself. Danica is a fairly average steerer in terms of top-flight racing drivers. F1 drivers would eat her alive; I could not imagine her going wheel-to-wheel through Eau Rouge at Spa with some of the hard-heads in that game, they'd put her into the fence and not think twice about it. Not to mention the sheer physical strength she would require to drive an F1 car. Couple with that her psychological brittleness and she'd be a disaster. To be honest I can't see her doing much better in NASCAR, they don't mind a bit of bump and scrape there. She might get a bit of a hand initially but if she got near the front where it gets very serious I can't see any slack being cut for her by those guys.

I should add I am an unabashed Marcos Ambrose fan

let get this this right ... she's has been one the top ten drivers in the IRL has won a race in the series THIS ONE DESERVES A LOOK OR A SHOT IN F1! Yes she has a temper and so do some other drivers too ! if she went to europe and raced it wound be a diffrent story and I think going to NASCAR is a mistake in her career ALL THIS MEANS IS MORE TALENT GOING TO NASCAR

[sofo]

I'm as sad to see Danica going to NASCAR as I am any other talented driver doing the same. Sorry NASCAR fans, but it's racing at it's worst and usually where drivers wanting to get a good pay check end up after being mid-pack in other series.

I'd prefer to see her do LeMans or WRC however with the near non-existant US media coverage of those series they aren't a factor for her. Regardless, besides her stunning looks and pit antics she can drive fast and clean as hell.

[ninjabrewer]

Originally Posted by nate-bama

She runs people over..... c'mon someone

I remember that has happened in NASCAR a time or two, that's not just because she is a....she. It is still the battle of the sexes, just because of her gender, the majority of the fans automatically think she can't drive and will be a worse driver. Not always so. Although to be honest, I don't remember if a female in motorsports has succeeded to the point of being a dominate figure (no pun intended). With todays modern race cars, how does physical strength play a role? Don't they all have power assist brakes and steering? As small as she is she might have problems absorbing the forces that injure drivers when the cars started bouncing off the wall and each other. A previous post mentioned the bump and scrape of being in the front, thats racing, pure and simple.

nb

[camaroz1985]

Originally Posted by fastmark63

let get this this right ... she's has been one the top ten drivers in the IRL has won a race in the series THIS ONE DESERVES A LOOK OR A SHOT IN F1!

That is no way to determine who deserves a shot in F1. She has won one race in 4 or 5 years, while that is a good accomplishment (I mean how many of us have done that?), it is not F1 worthy.

NASCAR might be a good fit for her. I know there are a couple ex-open wheel racers either in the series or looking at it. Even Jarno Trulli was rumored to be testing for a Toyota NASCAR ride, and this might have some more credibility given that they have backed out of F1.