The Dynamics of Danica Patrick to NASCAR By Nadya Vlassoff
NASCAR has a long and storied history of big name stars, with drivers like Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhart Sr., Bobby Allison, and Rusty Wallace who paved the oval road for such modern day stars as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhart Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Bush and Kasey Kahne to name a few. In today’s NASCAR world, drivers have risen to new heights of celebrity, turning up at red carpet premieres, film festivals, and Hollywood parties while dating models and appearing on shows like MTV’s Cribs. Recent speculation surrounding female IndyCar racing phenom, Danica Patrick after being spotted at NASCAR haunts such as Stewart-Haas Racing’s racing shop has fuelled rumours that Patrick could be making the switch to stock car racing and the world of NASCAR.
Patrick toyed with Formula One fans when she was scheduled to test drive for team Honda in 2008, but the media spectacle ended before it began when Honda F1 pulled out of the agreement. Danica had allegedly drawn the attention of Team US F1 after allegations surfaced that they were considering Patrick to test for the team in 2010. However, Patrick rebuffed those allegations herself, saying that she was content to stay with IndyCar. But now word has it from Patrick that she will only make the jump to NASCAR to a team with current winning ability.
For those who don’t know the worlds of NASCAR or Indy, the best way to describe the differences is to say they are, for lack of a better analogy, worlds apart. From the closed to open wheeled cars, the engines, the tracks, rules and pit stops, even the fans, both leagues are vastly different. However, that hasn’t stopped a slew of Indy drivers from making the transition over the years, which, in recent years have included Tony Stewart, Juan Pablo Montoya, Robby Gordon, Patrick Carpentier, and Dario Franchetti who failed to maintain a ride in NASCAR and went back to IndyCar.
Perhaps the most interesting jump from Indy to NASCAR in recent years has been former Indy champion Jacques Villeneuve who blew away the competition in his early open wheeled career to become a CART IndyCar champion before jumping to Formula One to win the world championship overseas only to return to North America to try his hand at NASCAR. How difficult can the switch to NASCAR be for some of the most accomplished drivers in other leagues? One of the best drivers in the history of racing, Villeneueve has conquered CART/Indy, the legendary Indianapolis 500, and is a world champ of F1, but the 38 year old Jacques has had to start over in NASCAR to learn the ropes of not only the NASCAR circuit but also how to navigate the challenges of getting a NASCAR ride, which he recently did this week with Braun Racing to find a position in the NASCAR NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the legendary track named after his father.
With word that Danica Patrick may be making the jump to NASCAR, it’s also significant to note that former IRL driver, Sam Hornish Jr. made the switch to NASCAR although he hasn’t found the same success in stock car racing as he did in the Indy league where he was a multiple champion. Like Hornish, if Danica were to make the jump to NASCAR, her best bet may be to start in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series before leaping to NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, if that’s even possible. But what may make a potential jump to NASCAR for Danica Patrick more viable is the recent uncertainty of Formula One given the clash between the Formula One Teams Association and the governing FIA over rule changes for 2010, which spawned word of the creation of a potential rival series within F1. However, given the resignation of 16-year FIA president, Max Mosley, Danica Patrick could make the jump to F1 to become part of the new post-Mosley era of drivers.
However, if Danica Patrick does move to NASCAR, she’ll need to contend with more than just a switch in automobile technology and handling if she intends to find longevity in the NASCAR world. Patrick will have to take a long, hard look at the precedents set by fellow female IndyCar driver, Sarah Fisher. Fisher managed four top-10 wins in the NASCAR West Series and was also the series Rookie of the Year but was unable to build a NASCAR program and went back to IndyCar in 2006, like many Indy-to-NASCAR converts. Of her time in NASCAR, Fisher explained in an interview, “What I was doing by running the West Series into the Busch Series and then the Sprint Cup Series was the right track. It's unfortunate because the money is not there to grow someone and invest in a driver.”
Danica Patrick has already established herself as one of the IndyCar’s biggest stars, not simply because of her Hollywood looks or swimsuit appeal, but also due to her driving and the pockets of her sponsors. Patrick is currently driving a new car outfitted by Boost Mobile, a subsidiary of Motorola, which is one of Danica’s biggest sponsors and a helping factor as to why Patrick made the 3rd place podium at the Indy 500 in 2009. After winning her maiden title in 2008 at the Indy Japan 300, one of the biggest compliments Danica received was from Tony Stewart, a former IRL driver who made the successful transition to NASCAR. “She's been successful in every form of racing she's been in so far and I don't see why she wouldn't be successful here,” Stewart said in an interview last year. Jeff Burton also commented on Patrick’s ability to win on fuel mileage, stating. “Every week when you watch the race she runs in the top 10. She consistently runs from 4th to 8th, that’s what it looks like to me.” Patrick is the first woman to ever win a race in the IndyCar series and with so much praise coming from big names in NASCAR, she has the support that would help ease her transition to the welcome mat before jumping into the heat of competition.
As a current member of Andretti Green Racing, Danica Patrick has been no stranger to controversy despite her accomplishments. On her rise through the standings, Patrick has been criticized on a variety of fronts, from her driving skill and going to any lengths to win to driving for her career than for the benefit of women in IndyCar. However, Patrick has already raised the stock of women in NASCAR by her on-track rise through the standings and the awareness of women in NASCAR via her image. Although she’s clashed with pit crews and drivers, anger on the track isn’t solely relegated to women as exemplified by the many off track clashes we’ve seen from her male counterparts that date back to the creation of the sport on the sands of Daytona in the 1930s.
Although Danica Patrick has been coy about her NASCAR intentions, Patrick made it clear in a February interview with the Associated Press that she was happy with her relationship with the Andretti Green Racing team. "The good news is I'm on a good team. We're always competitive. It's just that do we have the edge or not. But I'm excited about the changes within the team. I have a new engineer and Mike [Andretti] calling my races now. I'm excited. I think it's going to be fresh and different." However, Danica also made a statement in 2009 that may give insight into what she's thinking about in terms of her Indy future in regard to how she looks at NASCAR. "It’s kind of like the Indy 500 every weekend. That’s a lot of fun as a driver to be part of something important, and something people want to watch." The racing world will have to hold its breath and see if that excitement will be enough to keep Danica in her #7 car.
Whether Danica Patrick makes the switch to NASCAR, Formula One or ultimately decides to stay with IndyCar, Patrick will continue to shine in the media spotlight. Sponsors love her, fans can’t get enough of her, even if it is to criticize her, and Danica continues to improve where it counts most, on the track. If Patrick does move to NASCAR, Sarah Fisher’s words of warning may ring true for Danica since any team will need to have the money and the patience to develop her as a NASCAR driver. Given the many former Indy champions who have failed to crack NASCAR, will it be a woman that eventually shows them how it’s done?
OK so let us hope that she gets a try out in F1, then we will see how good she might be.
By the way winning American open wheeled championships and the Indy 500 is a huge distance from real competitive top open wheeled racing in the world.
F1 is in a completely different league.
Don B
July 19, 2009 - 21:02
Subject:
Very good article, Nadya.
Note to Steve Marino: The race in Motegi, Japan which Danica won was not called off early. It ran the full 200 laps. Danica, Helio Castroneves and Ed Carpenter were on the same fuel/pit cycle, and both Danica and Helio managed to stretch their fuel to the end of the race to finish one/two, while everyone else had to make one final stop. Danica finished six seconds ahead of Helio.
Most folks don't want to admit it, but Danica is currently the top US open wheel driver, currently sitting fifth in championship points, and sixth last year. She also leads all drivers for Andretti/Green Racing, including Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti. Her career IndyCar stats are: 74 starts, 1 win, 16 top fives, 44 top tens, and 3 poles. She also has the highest finish percentage in the IRL for all drivers, 84%.
I think she will stay with the IRL next year, most likely driving for Target/Chip Ganassi Racing, unless Andretti/Green can better what TCGR offers. Mike Hull, managing director of TCGR said this:
"Danica Patrick is one of the best IndyCar drivers on the face of the earth. She is a quality IndyCar race driver and the thing that bothers me the most is first of all she doesn't get credit for being one of the best American drivers that's runs IndyCars and that needs to be said.
"I would hope she would concentrate her efforts on winning an IndyCar championship, winning IndyCar races and the Indy 500 because really that is what open wheel racers wants to achieve in the world.
"I think that goes without saying for any sponsor whether you are with Target/Chip Ganassi Racing or any other team in this garage area -- she provides value back to the sponsors," Hull said. "I'm a racing guy. I work for the race team. If a race driver wants to talk to me about racing I would love to do that. Danica and I have talked about racing and that is it. The conversations have not been serious in any other way. I believe she has what it takes -- the ability and the desire. She has the primary focus. She wants to be a race driver and she has the ability to carry that off. When you see that in somebody and you see the fact that all they want to do is make themselves better every day, those are very special qualities."
autogyro – uk
July 19, 2009 - 13:30
Subject:
It would be a great thing to have a competitive woman F1 driver.
However, even with all the support she has from sponsors and the emotional fans, this one I do not believe has the very top level of racing skill needed to compete in F1.
F1 with or without Max is at a totally different level to any American racing.
steve marino – albuquerque, nm
July 19, 2009 - 12:46
Subject: danica going to nascar
She's only one 1 race, and that was a race that was called off early and she just happened to be in the lead at the time. Where Danica goes is no big news. If she was a proven winner....but she's a middle of the pack driver no matter which league she's in.
NASCAR has a long and storied history of big name stars, with drivers like Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhart Sr., Bobby Allison, and Rusty Wallace who paved the oval road for such modern day stars as Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhart Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Bush and Kasey Kahne to name a few. In today’s NASCAR world, drivers have risen to new heights of celebrity, turning up at red carpet premieres, film festivals, and Hollywood parties while dating models and appearing on shows like MTV’s Cribs. Recent speculation surrounding female IndyCar racing phenom, Danica Patrick after being spotted at NASCAR haunts such as Stewart-Haas Racing’s racing shop has fuelled rumours that Patrick could be making the switch to stock car racing and the world of NASCAR.
Perhaps the most interesting jump from Indy to NASCAR in recent years has been former Indy champion Jacques Villeneuve who blew away the competition in his early open wheeled career to become a CART IndyCar champion before jumping to Formula One to win the world championship overseas only to return to North America to try his hand at NASCAR. How difficult can the switch to NASCAR be for some of the most accomplished drivers in other leagues? One of the best drivers in the history of racing, Villeneueve has conquered CART/Indy, the legendary Indianapolis 500, and is a world champ of F1, but the 38 year old Jacques has had to start over in NASCAR to learn the ropes of not only the NASCAR circuit but also how to navigate the challenges of getting a NASCAR ride, which he recently did this week with Braun Racing to find a position in the NASCAR NAPA Auto Parts 200 in Montreal at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the legendary track named after his father.
Danica Patrick has already established herself as one of the IndyCar’s biggest stars, not simply because of her Hollywood looks or swimsuit appeal, but also due to her driving and the pockets of her sponsors. Patrick is currently driving a new car outfitted by Boost Mobile, a subsidiary of Motorola, which is one of Danica’s biggest sponsors and a helping factor as to why Patrick made the 3rd place podium at the Indy 500 in 2009. After winning her maiden title in 2008 at the Indy Japan 300, one of the biggest compliments Danica received was from Tony Stewart, a former IRL driver who made the successful transition to NASCAR. “She's been successful in every form of racing she's been in so far and I don't see why she wouldn't be successful here,” Stewart said in an interview last year. Jeff Burton also commented on Patrick’s ability to win on fuel mileage, stating. “Every week when you watch the race she runs in the top 10. She consistently runs from 4th to 8th, that’s what it looks like to me.” Patrick is the first woman to ever win a race in the IndyCar series and with so much praise coming from big names in NASCAR, she has the support that would help ease her transition to the welcome mat before jumping into the heat of competition.
Although Danica Patrick has been coy about her NASCAR intentions, Patrick made it clear in a February interview with the Associated Press that she was happy with her relationship with the Andretti Green Racing team. "The good news is I'm on a good team. We're always competitive. It's just that do we have the edge or not. But I'm excited about the changes within the team. I have a new engineer and Mike [Andretti] calling my races now. I'm excited. I think it's going to be fresh and different." However, Danica also made a statement in 2009 that may give insight into what she's thinking about in terms of her Indy future in regard to how she looks at NASCAR. "It’s kind of like the Indy 500 every weekend. That’s a lot of fun as a driver to be part of something important, and something people want to watch." The racing world will have to hold its breath and see if that excitement will be enough to keep Danica in her #7 car.