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Bob Pockrass: Danica Patrick will struggle just like most open-wheel drivers in NASCAR
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Monday, November 09, 2009
Danica Patrick appears to be on track to run a limited NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule in 2010.
Chuck Yadmark
NASCAR Scene
It looks as if Danica Patrick is headed to JR Motorsports for a partial Nationwide Series schedule for 2010, and it has created a great debate of how Patrick will do in a Nationwide car.
She’s going to struggle, of course.
Just as former Indianapolis 500 winner and Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya struggled some in his first year of stock cars. Just as three-time IndyCar Series champion Sam Hornish Jr. has struggled. Just as Dario Franchitti, who won the IndyCar Series title this year, did last season in NASCAR.
The cars are too different and the competition too stiff for anyone to just plop themselves in a seat of a Nationwide car and, with no stock-car experience, finish in the top five. It just isn’t going to happen.
It’s going to take time for Patrick to learn how the cars handle in general. It’s going to take time for Patrick to then learn how to make the car go fast – a car that has no telemetry and where the data acquisition is acquired through the seat of her pants. It’s going to take time for Patrick to learn how tracks and cars change through 200-mile and 300-mile races.
So short term, no one – her sponsors, her owners, her crew – should expect her to be tearing through the field. And she’ll probably tear up some equipment.
Long term, could she make a career in stock cars? It’s possible, but again, there’s no guarantee. Just look at Hornish, who dominated the IndyCar Series.
Patrick has won only one race in the IndyCar Series, but she does have talent. She has been considered one of the top female drivers in the motorsports landscape for several years. She was performing well in racing before any of her photo shoots.
The big question for Patrick is whether she really wants to do this full time. It was just a few years ago when she was saying a 36-race schedule might be too many races for her in a season. And this is a different style of racing, one with a lot more rubbing of fenders, one where a little pushing and shoving is necessary on the track. This is a series where there is very little time to regroup, and if things are going sour on the track, a driver can’t remain sour and hope that things get better. The driver has to put the bad weeks – and the good weeks – in the rear-view mirror. And the media focus is much more intense through the entire season than what she’s used to on the open-wheel side of the sport.
The best thing about Patrick coming to the Nationwide Series is that she will bring some much-needed attention to the series. Maybe when people watch her, they will grow to enjoy the racing and the drivers and appreciate the teams (not just the Cup ones) that compete in the series.
NASCAR and its drivers and teams will welcome Danica Patrick. They will welcome her with open arms. Until she’s racing and learning at the same time, a half-second slower than the car coming up from behind her. And then she will get a real welcome to NASCAR. She’ll get pushed out of the way just like anyone else.
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6492 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -108 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -169 |
| 4 | Kurt Busch | -211 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -285 |
| 6 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -289 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -321 |
| 8 | Denny Hamlin | -352 |
| 9 | Ryan Newman | -411 |
| 10 | Kasey Kahne | -476 |
| 11 | Carl Edwards | -520 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -666 |
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Comments
29 responses to "Bob Pockrass: Danica Patrick will struggle just like most open-wheel drivers in NASCAR". Post a Comment.
sweetthings88 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 2:45 PMIf I was a team owner this would not of been my first pick. Not saying any thing bad about Danica. There is a lot of other young talent out there.But, I know its all about money and sponsor. Not how well she can drive nationwide car. But again time will tell. Best of luck!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMrWalleye2U said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 3:19 PMThis is stupid and i thought Kelley was the smart one.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportnascarnutsheeler said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 4:20 PMWhy is everyone so negative I'd laugh if she went out there and pulled off a few top 5s.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportnikki05 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 4:41 PMComon people, give the girl a chance. I wish I were younger and I would love to give it a shot.
Report as AbuseWhat has she got to lose?
She may surprise all of us and then , the experiance will be priceless.
Good Luck Jr. and Danica. HAVE FUN OUT THERE>!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWerner said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 4:52 PMa favorite line from a friend of mine comes to mind as to how she'll do..."you don't know"...lol
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrumbling said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:19 PMIt is all about sponsonship money. Money talks, and even if she fails to win races, the money will still be spent.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportwmvjr1960 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:24 PMNationwide is no place for learning how to drive "by the seat of your pants". There are plenty of better qualified drivers, including females, it's all about the metallic Sharpie, the meet & greet, and of course, the almighty dollar... Her only impact will be great tv tantrums for the highlights. I doubt she is strong enough to throw that helmet very far, it's so huge. (like her head)
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» Confirm Abuse ReportGrinnie said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:43 PMI think that JRM is making a mistake in signing an open wheel driver. Most the time they don't produce good results their first few years. That fact that JRM let Keselowski slip out of their stable is a big mistake in my book.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSTP43FAN said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:48 PM"....but she does have talent." Why do we pretend this? She is talentless; she's gotten some of the best cars in IRL and done nothing with them.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmeanjoegreen59 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:56 PMDanica, Welcome to NASCAR. Nascar need to appeal to more people. Danica will do just fine in the Nationwide Series. It will just take her a little time to get the hang of it. A good race driver is good no matter what car they drive.
Report as AbuseTony Stewart raced in the 500, so what's wrong with Danica being in Nascar, nothing!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportguardschoice88 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 5:56 PMhey i think it's great deal that jrm made they need all the money they can get from sponsors maybe then they can give breaks on the cost of merchandise to the fans
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 6:29 PMthey'll need all the money they can get to pay for the wrecks and little girl fit fines, forget the fines ,nascar wouldn't fine her
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» Confirm Abuse Reportmrclause said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 7:13 PMNow we've got a CRYL BUSH in panties! NASCAR is now complete!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJRSMOKEFAN said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 7:44 PMJRM had no choice but to let Brad go, unless youre going to sposnor a Cup car for him next year #8.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportlulu said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 8:08 PMConfidence is one thing, confidence with talent is another, and I don't think I'd debut in Nationwide if I was in her position.......It wouldn't hurt for her to earn her stripes and some respect to go with it, cause right now it just looks like she got a ride because she has a sponsor and long hair.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBILLFAN50 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 8:23 PMMoney talks..she probably can drive as good as some I have seen this year....
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» Confirm Abuse Reportwmvjr1960 said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 8:32 PMThis wasn't about Krash, but since somebody brought it up, yesterday he went flying into that wreck like he had a blindfold on. Brake is in the middle Brad.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportthelogman said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 9:34 PMJust like Tony Stewart struggled when he came from open wheel. Oops, wait... He won three times as a rookie and finished 3rd in points. Just goes to show how talented Smoke is.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportOSUSam said:
Nov 9, 2009 at 10:13 PMThis isn't even a news story. OF COURSE SHE WILL STRUGGLE. Do you think a NASCAR driver wouldn't struggle if they went to Indy Car? Give her a chance people. And all the anti- female, sexist comments are regretable. Rise above it people. This is the 21 st century.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportlulu said:
Nov 10, 2009 at 7:19 AMLove to see a woman win, I just don't want to see another Erin Crocker blowout. Fact is, when your different from the status quo, you have to be better faster and if they put you in a series you aren't ready for, it just makes it that much harder. EARN YOUR STRIPES, the old fashion way, even if it's an accelerated process. If she can hang, Bravo!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPepper said:
Nov 10, 2009 at 9:05 AM#18 Stewart had raced in the busch series 3 seasons off and on prior to running in Cup so it wouldn't be the same for Patrick just jumping in Cup. The thing I think many overlook is just how small she is and how heavy stock cars are. I personally don't think she's strong enough to handle a stock car, at least not successfully.
Report as Abuse#18 by the way "Smoke" got that nickname because he couldn't keep his right rear from smoking in dirt races and then officially when he kept blowing engines in the IRL.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRainier said:
Nov 10, 2009 at 9:42 AMTo PEPPER, Have you seen some of the male NASCAR drivers? A few are like 5 feet tall, they look like jockeys for pete's sake, and Danica could probably hold her own against them in a brawl. As long as her power steering is working, she'll do fine. The G forces she pulls in Indy cars have her plenty strong enough. And thanks for the info on Stewarts nickname, I always wondered where it came from.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportPepper said:
Nov 10, 2009 at 1:03 PMRainier, I have seen most of the drivers up close and they are quite muscular. For instance "little" Mark Martin. He has a tremendous workout regime. I have also seen Sarah Fisher up close and her arms are twice the size of Danica's I'm sure you have seen Danica's SI photo shoot. She's a stick. There is quite a difference between a 1500 lb Indy car and a 3500 lb Stock car. I hope you are right. I would like to see a female do well in stock cars. I just don't think Danica is the one.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSpacemaker24 said:
Nov 10, 2009 at 1:17 PMIt takes several years for even the best to adapt to NASCAR. Danica will do fine given the time. She just needs to be allowed to grow. Even the uber talented Juan Pablo Montoya is still learning.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRainier said:
Nov 10, 2009 at 1:44 PMI have never driven an Indy car PEPPER, but I did the Jeff Gordon driving school at Charlotte. They allowed me to go 159mph in an old #17 Dewalt Ford for 35 laps and the steering wheel turned easier than my personal vehicle. I could have driven with one finger if I didn't have a death grip on the steering wheel out of a mixture of fear and excitement. I can't imagine an Indy wheel is any easier to turn. Maybe in Indy it doesn't have to be turned as far.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSmokeLover said:
Nov 10, 2009 at 2:12 PMIf she comes in and respects the other drivers it'll be fine but if she comes in with a prima donna attitude that won't fly with me. IMO it'll be hard for her with twice the cars in the field as the other series. Does anyone know if she's ever driven a Nationwide or Cup car before?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJGR_P1 said:
Nov 12, 2009 at 9:12 AM#3 NASCARNUTSHELLER
Report as AbuseYou think she will surprise us by making some top 5's in the nationwide when she avgs 10.7 finish in 23 car field IRL. She would surprise me by making some top 3's in IRL.
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» Confirm Abuse Report88_20_42_Fan said:
Nov 13, 2009 at 11:42 AMShe's sure as hell no Tony Stewart or Juan Montoya. I'd give her a shot, but if she doesn't produce results after a year or two I'd put her in some of my inferior equiptment and sit back and rake in the $.
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» Confirm Abuse Reporttinynascarfan said:
Nov 14, 2009 at 11:47 PMfans like to compare danica to tony stewart, WHY? stewart raced on dirt in a full sized car and won races, stewart is one of the top 5 drivers in the world, danica is not! Danica is a pretty face who will garner media coverage and interviews and will be struggling to finish in the top 20 every race. Chrissy Wallace is a woman who deserves a chance in a full season ride, but she is not the instant star danica is, but head to head in a stock car, Chrissy would lap danica at most tracks, and there are many women who are great stock car drivers but they dont have the notariaty of danica so they wont ever get a shot, and we have Erin Crocker to thank for it. Because if you cant run up front, just sleep with the owner, and like Crocker, Danica will set women in nascar back another 10 years.
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