Right Turns
A NASCAR BLOG BY Jim Duff
Would NASCAR loosen testing ban to land Danica Patrick?
Danica Patrick just may be in a position to make NASCAR do something that no driver currently racing in one of its three national series appears to have the power to do: Change the rules that severely limit testing.
If NASCAR officials want her as badly as they’re said to, will they loosen those restrictions?
As long-time team owner Jack Roush and others have pointed out, Patrick already faces a very difficult path if she tries to move from the Indy Racing League’s light open-wheel machines with high downforce to much heavier stock cars with far less downforce. Just look at the struggles that other former open-wheelers have had.
If Patrick is forced to simply jump behind the wheel of a car in the Nationwide Series without a considerable amount of testing, the effort may be doomed before she ever starts. An hour or two of practice in the car on a race weekend isn’t likely to be nearly enough, no matter how talented a driver may be.
Testing – lots of it – could be key if Patrick’s to make a successful transition, and it will likely take a lot more than simply turning some laps at tracks that don’t host one of NASCAR’s three biggest series. She’ll want to have some time behind the wheel in a car with racing Goodyears, not some knockoff tires that aren’t used in NASCAR, and she’ll want to run on tracks where she’ll be competing.
So do officials with the sanctioning body want Patrick and her marketing power and the diversity she would bring to the sport to at least test the waters? Do they want to give her a fair shot at success? Would anybody benefit if she tries a few races and struggles?
Patrick’s in a rare position of strength in whatever negotiations may be taking place for her to run in at least a few races as early as next year. NASCAR may want her more than she needs it.
It will be interesting to see just how far officials are willing to go to get her.
Jim Duff
Veteran motorsports editor Jim Duff is special projects editor with NASCAR Scene and a former editor with On Track: The Auto Racing Magazine of Record and with NASCAR Illustrated.
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Comments
9 responses to "Would NASCAR loosen testing ban to land Danica Patrick?". Post a Comment.
mrclause said:
Oct 28, 2009 at 12:37 PMAnd she is that important to exactly who and for what reason? If she doesn't have the time and effort to invest, if she isn't willing to earn her way, who needs her? Simple question to all you hype writers for Danica. Is she a racer or not? If she's afraid of playing equally with the big boys in big cars, maybe she should stay where she is. Of course there is always ARCA if she was actually serious. Of course she might deem it beneath her, kind of like actually having to qualify a non points car?! Does anyone really think she's as good as Juan or Dario?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportlarisda said:
Oct 28, 2009 at 2:56 PMPlease! Enough with Danica. She is swell headed and over rated. Stay in open wheel, please!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsweetthings88 said:
Oct 28, 2009 at 5:14 PMAMEN!!!! #1 #2 STAY WHERE YOUR AT DANICA. ALL SHE CAN SEE IS $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjessydoyle49 said:
Oct 28, 2009 at 5:49 PMJust what NASCAR needs.,,,I do not think AFFIRMATIVE ACTION drivers will help bring the crowd up.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportvermontcritter-1 said:
Oct 29, 2009 at 3:41 AMIf you are all so deadset against seeing Danica in NASCAR, then how do you feel about Chrissy Wallace's attempt to break into the sport with the help of her family?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmrclause said:
Oct 29, 2009 at 7:17 AMIt has nothing to do with women! It has to do with Danica being a prima dona vs Chrissy,Erin, and the others that get their hands dirty, invest the effort for minuscule paychecks, just for the opportunity to be a racer, to maybe one day be a winner.Those that earn it deserve the opportunity. I would quickly chose the Chrissy types over the Danica types for any team I might have. See, Chrissy would appreciate the opportunity, Danica expects the opportunity. It's not an anti Danica deal. Until she demanded a points car to be guaranteed a starting spot, I was solid behind her. Chrissy is a racer and you need to understand the real meaning of the term "racer" to get the point I'm making. To a "racer" there is nothing else except to race. It's life itself, it's what you breath, what you eat. It's hard times, travel, dirt, grease. It's who and what you are.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSTP43FAN said:
Oct 29, 2009 at 10:04 AMDanica Patrick has no talent to race. What is it about this fact Jim Duff et al don't want to accept?
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» Confirm Abuse Report4-DA-88 said:
Nov 3, 2009 at 11:40 PMYES! I go with Chrissy, too!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportOSUSam said:
Nov 5, 2009 at 1:15 PMNASCAR would never let that happen. You've got to be kidding me. Can you imagine the firestorm that would create? This is like the Bob Pockrass blog about Bob Griese's comment on TV. This is a non-story.
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