Danica Patrick reveals IndyCar plans; driver's Web site indicates NASCAR in picture
Danica Patrick made an appearance on "Good Morning America” Monday morning to discuss her upcoming plans for the Indy Racing League. // Ivan Veldhuisen, NASCAR Scene
While IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick talked only about her non-NASCAR plans Monday morning, a photo on her Web site might have said more about her possible NASCAR plans than she did.
Patrick, who announced today she had signed a three-year deal to drive for Andretti Autosport in the IndyCar Series with GoDaddy.com as her sponsor for the next three years, had a picture of her as her Web site loads that showed her in a GoDaddy.com uniform with a Chevrolet emblem and what appears to be a JR Motorsports logo and the Nationwide Series logo. The photo was later changed to her IndyCar Series uniform. The picture was small and only appeared on the screen for a few seconds.
A representative of IMG, which represents Patrick, and JRM spokesman Mike Davis declined comment.
JR Motorsports co-owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick have confirmed interest in Patrick for what would be a part-time NASCAR schedule in 2010. Team co-owner Rick Hendrick said last Tuesday he had nothing new to report on Patrick.
Earnhardt Jr. has said he would like to run two cars in the Nationwide Series next year, one for Kelly Bires and another for a mix of several drivers, including Patrick. Sponsorship would determine whether both cars run the full season.
Earnhardt Jr. was sponsored by GoDaddy.com at the Nationwide level this year, but that sponsorship will move primarily to his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Mark Martin on the Sprint Cup side next year.
Patrick has one IndyCar victory in her career, winning in Japan last year. She finished fifth in the IndyCar standings this year.
“My life long goal is to win the Indy 500, and I’d love to do that in the GoDaddy.com car,” Patrick said in the news release announcing her deal.
