December 7, 2009
By Matthew Pizzolato
Matthew Pizzolato
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Several months ago, Danica Patrick took the NASCAR world by storm when rumors began to swirl about her interests in competing in stock cars. At the time, popular speculation was that she was using the idea of racing in NASCAR as leverage to increase the size of the contract that she was negotiating with her Indycar team, Andretti Green Racing.
However, last Monday Patrick announced that she had signed a three year deal with Andretti Green but that news has not lain to rest the idea of her competing in NASCAR next season.
There are only 17 races on the 2010 Indy Racing League schedule and it would allow Patrick plenty of time during off weekends and before and after the IRL season for dipping her toe in the NASCAR pond. Dale Earnhardt Jr., has confirmed that Patrick is currently involved in discussions to drive a part time schedule for his Nationwide team next year.
"It's still sort of in the negotiation stages," Earnhardt was quoted as saying in an Associated Press article on nascar.com. "Her and my sister are, I guess, managing that entirely. I have not been in any way, shape, or form, involved."
One of the issues that have been discussed to the point of being run into the ground is how she should make the transition into NASCAR. Should she go directly to Cup competition or should she get her feet wet in the Nationwide and Truck series? It seems that everyone has an opinion when it comes to Danica Patrick, and it's obvious by the fan reaction that she a polarizing figure.
There are two groups of people, those that would like to see her in NASCAR and those that wish she would stay in IndyCar. Her detractors say that the move from open wheel racing to stock cars is too difficult and point to the fact that many open wheel racers who have tried to make the switch have failed miserably and gone back to open wheel racing, even drivers who have won championships in IndyCar.
She has only one race win in Indycar to her credit, despite becoming the first female to lead the Indianapolis 500. A lot of people believe she should focus on driving open wheel cars for the time being.
However, America is still a free country and if the opportunity for her to compete in NASCAR next year presents itself, she should pursue it if that's what she wants to do. And apparently, she does.
"As I said, I've made no mystery that I'm curious about NASCAR and I would like to do it," Patrick said in a Pete Pistone article for cbssports.com. "As a driver if I had the chance to be able to run in both series and try it and challenge myself, I would like to do that."
Patrick would be a breath of fresh air in NASCAR and a major victory for stock car racing. If indeed she does make the transition, the chances are that she would fix NASCAR's sagging ratings problem overnight.
She would eventually be able to rival Dale Earnhardt Jr. in terms of popularity, whether she is successful on the track or not. Not to imply that she can't win in NASCAR, she'll have as much a chance for success as any other driver on the track.
Danica Patrick is already a media sensation due to her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue and FHM magazine. There is no such thing as bad publicity and the rumors that have been swirling for months now only serve to stir the pot.
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