Danica Patrick says no deal done, but she is serious about running in NASCAR in 2010

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick continues to consider competing in NASCAR on a limited schedule.

Chuck Yadmark
NASCAR Scene

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Danica Patrick said Tuesday she’s still serious about driving in NASCAR next season but does not have a deal done yet to drive a partial stock-car schedule.

Speaking during a national teleconference set up by the Indy Racing League a day after her announcement about her agreement to drive in the Izod IndyCar Series for Andretti Autosport, Patrick answered several questions Tuesday about the possibility of driving in NASCAR next season.

“We’ve been working on this and talking to people since the summer,” Patrick said. “We are serious about this. Whether or not things come together or not, we don’t know. But there’s no contract. There’s no deal right now. As I’ve said, if I could do both, I’d like to do that.”

The contract with Andretti Autosport is for two years with a joint option for a third year, team owner Michael Andretti said. Patrick has driven for Andretti the last three years, and while she flirted with running full time in NASCAR, she said she wasn’t ready to make that big of a change.

“We evaluated our options midsummer as to what was possible and the opportunities, but I really want to win the Indy 500, and I really like driving for Mike, and I like my teammates,” Patrick said. “I wanted that to happen, if it could. … I’m curious about NASCAR, but curious doesn’t mean I want to jump in with both feet.

“I still love IndyCar racing and where I’m at and the team that I’m with.”

JR Motorsports is considered the leading candidate to land Patrick for a NASCAR ride, which likely would include some events in the Automobile Racing Club of America series and Nationwide Series competition.

“In all the talks over the summer and meeting with people, there was a lot of emphasis on learning,” Patrick said. “I’d be very prepared to start small and grow and really learn the cars.”

Andretti admitted Patrick’s interest in pursuing another racing genre could be a distraction.

“It’s always a concern for sure, but having said that, I also support her if she wants to try it because first and foremost, she is a race car driver,” Andretti said. “I’ve been there. You always want to challenge yourself. For her to go and give it a try, I don’t want to get in her way if she really wants to do that.

“The goal will be we’ll have to work the programs to make sure that the IndyCar is her main focus. The main goal is to win [the] Indianapolis [500] and the championship with Danica, and I think we have a good shot at it.”

The IndyCar Series runs from March 14-Oct. 2.

“The primary focus is IndyCar and the Indy 500, but in and around that, there’s opportunity to drive the stock car,” Patrick said. “There’s not a necessarily an event amount I’m limited to, but the focus will be to run before and after the IndyCar season.”

Patrick, one of the most notable female racers, has one IndyCar victory in her career, winning in Japan last year. She finished fifth in the IndyCar standings this year.

And while she hasn’t accomplished all of her open-wheel goals, Patrick said the challenge of NASCAR has piqued her interest.

“I’d like to see how I get on [racing] the cars, and I just think the racing looks fun,” Patrick said. “I enjoy IndyCar racing through and through, but I mostly enjoy the oval racing.

“When you have wheel-to-wheel racing all day – it’s challenging, don’t get me wrong, it’s very stressful – but it’s a lot of fun at the same time, and they have a lot of it [in NASCAR].”

Patrick denied suggestions that the financial aspect of a potential move to NASCAR was a high priority in her decision-making process.

“It has come up in the past to run NASCAR, and I never really was [interested]. My heart wasn’t there; I didn’t want to at all,” said the 27-year-old Patrick. “I wasn’t really curious. Trust me, there were financial reasons why it would have been a much better idea.

“So that takes [money] out of the equation. I’ve always thought that the most important thing for me and my career is I go with my gut and go with what I want and not worry about the rest. So now my curiosity is there, and I’d like to just try it.”

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Comments

19 responses to "Danica Patrick says no deal done, but she is serious about running in NASCAR in 2010". Post a Comment.

1

mrclause said:
Dec 1, 2009 at 3:58 PM
If she doesn't want to "jump in with both feet", demands a car set in points so she doesn't have to qualify on her own effort or lack of same, if she demands giant bucks to play on our playground, who needs her? She's only showing her "brand" and a total lack of respect for the fans and the sport. I've been a Danica fanatic for years, until she brought her diva role over here. The end result will never equal the hype.
2

motorsportsnut said:
Dec 1, 2009 at 4:04 PM
I would love to see Danica run in NASCAR it will be great to see her in NASCAR along with Earnhardt jr. so we hope that she will be getting a deal done for 2010. I don't think it
s a great idea for her to run both series at one time I would love to see her run in NASCAR and stock cars but I wouldn't run the Izod Indy Car Series
3

tampabbay99 said:
Dec 1, 2009 at 4:09 PM
That would be cool. Both her and Dale can fight for last place.
4

satspeed9 said:
Dec 1, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Wow TAMPABAY99, what a tolken and obvious comment. Maybe both of them can move to the NFL and fight for last place with you're Bucs. Nice effort though.
5

cdeshon said:
Dec 1, 2009 at 9:30 PM
I don't want to see Danica Patrick move to NASCAR. #1 pretty much sums up my thoughts.
6

DWARFCAR75 said:
Dec 1, 2009 at 11:41 PM
At least the interviews would be better to watch.
7

xbrownsx said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 2:48 AM
Can't wait to see Danica get spun at bristol, Dover or Martinsville. Seeing her get out of the race car, stomp away, pout, will be funny.

She'd better hit the gym now in order to steer that 3400+ LBS. stock car, like driving a concrete block as compared to the feather-light and easy Indy cars she drives now.

Good luck Danica. You're going to need it, and five years, fully committed to start in this series.
Run two years in ARCA first.
8

Spacemaker24 said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 6:59 AM
It's funny that people think she won't have the strength to handle a stock car especially since they are equipped with cutting edge power steering technology. The simple truth is that she is probably in better shape that most of the NASCAR drivers and definitely in better shape than the "fans" who have an issue with her.

I applaud her for having the courage to leave her comfort zone and try something new. She is an extremely talented driver with mass marketing appeal which is exactly the shot in the arm NASCAR needs. The thing about Danica is that everyone has an opionion on her. Some will watch to see her succeed and some will watch hoping she fails. But one thing is for certain, and that's that everyone will be watching.
9

xbrownsx said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 7:19 AM
#8 Spacemaker, no kidding? The cars have power steering? You're kidding me? Who knew??????...
Duh! Yes, I know the cars have power steering. That's not the point or the problem. You must never has studied physics, it's apparent.
It's the weight of the cars, at speed, in corners and the numerous G forces ect. pulling at the car is the reason they are hard to handle.
You're 18 wheeler truck on the highway, your neighborhood trash pickup truck, the local FedEx or UPS delivery truck ALL have power steering. If all Danica had to do was turn and "steer" the car, there would be no issue.
You kill me. Thinking it's the "power steering", sure Danica can drive a stock car. Too funny.
You must have ignored the many comments / interviews Tony Stewert or Juan P. Montoya have said concerning driving a 'Cup car as compared to an open wheel car.
Wonder why Dario Franchitti couldn't survive in 'Cup? Maybe his cars didn't have power steering -- yeah that's what happened...
10

Spacemaker24 said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Indy cars create much more G-force than stock cars. The key to handling any car regardless of weight is steering input. Stock cars don't require any more brute strength than IRL cars do.
11

lulu said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Thinking back to when Montoya came over, that's all the announcers ever said......JUAN PABLO MONTOYA.....over and over and over and over. I couldn't stand the guy from the start and I think most of it was the hype that came with it!!!!!! Now that they've shut up about it, I can maybe appreciate the guy for his abilities. (Think Rusty and Steven and there have been others) But the thought of hearing DANICA DANICA DANICA over and over again already is making me ill.
Maybe she can handle it. I think she should start in ARCA and get some experience. Street cred would go along way. Erin Crocker's career was ruined even if she did have the talent. Put somebody in better equipment than the rest of the field and they already have a leg up. And Danica's ride won't be a s & p.....count on it.
I can't imagine the PC fallout when she gets some of that good old bumping and rubbing, or the chrome horn. Or will the vets just go out of their way to make sure they don't get caught up in the PC world.
If she comes, I hope she does FANTASTIC, or I wish she would just stay away. It makes it harder for the next talented woman to get a ride!
Nascar sees a cash cow (oops, probably not PC) and ticket sales. But that's racing!
12

Pepper said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Does anyone remember when Sarah Fisher drove for Richard Childress in the Nascar West? She didn't do well and went back to IRL and then later became a team owner/driver. As Lulu said I would hate to see DP do bad but still be hyped for NASCAR ratings and ruin any chance of some other women getting a chance. If you want to see DP race watch the IRL Series. It doesn't usually conflict with the NASCAR Series
13

trtruckin said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Another woman in NASCAR how quaint??????
14

timotheous12001 said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Just what we need. The Female Dale Earhardt Jr. Another Popular Driver that has too much media pressure on them and doesn't win very often
15

vermontcritter-1 said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 5:26 PM
I sure hope Danica that does get a good ride in a Nationwide car, if she has half the talent that I believe she has, things ought to be pretty interesting. You can malign her all you want, but you have to admit that she must have some talent in order for Michael Andretti, son of one of the greatest Indy Car drivers there has ever been, and a great talent himself, to have signed her to drive for him. I have a feeling that this is just another case of a bunch of NASCAR purists bashing Danica not only because she's a woman, but one who has garnered a lot of controversy in her short tenure in Indy cars. Go Danica, I'll wear a hat or t-shirt with you name on it.
16

b48orr said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Oh great # 15 now your turning her into another t-shirt salesman like Jr. allready! First off Franchitti could drive these cars but lacked sponsorship and good people in his corner. He made races with poles man. As far as G- force Indy cars do make much more. A guy passed out in the corner at texas in an indy car. All indy car drivers have balls and that includes DP. NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY! I seriously did see this woman stomp her feet and tantrum out following a crash when another driver crowded her, she looked twelve I swear. She better get used to other cars rubbing her in any stock car. I think personally that Jr. remembers the t-shirt sales when he was starting and would love 50% of another cash cow like that. The guy can sell t-shrts and hats. Her ego tells her she can do this, but should she really even try. Its not the weight of these cars,its the weight of these cars when they are a little loose, which is the fastest way to drive them. She will not like a heavy stock car when its pushing bad at 180 mph. I just hope she doesnt wreck every outing. No offense Mr. Hornish!
17

alisoeddie said:
Dec 2, 2009 at 10:15 PM
She going to have her doors blown off and her feelings hurt on a frequent basis.And that will happen in the ARCA series.She'll make Kyle's hissy fits look postively masculine.
All of the interest must be flattering to her,but deep down she must know that it won't work,that she's literally not cut out for bigtime stock car racing.
18

SS396Chevelle said:
Dec 3, 2009 at 9:20 AM
One name which pops out is Dario Franchitti. He was the IRL champ before coming to Nascar, stayed one year in Nascar and first year back in the IRL and he wins Championship again. Can Danica drive, she sure can, doing 230 MPH in an Open Wheel car proves that point. She needs several years in the NW and then move up if she proves herself.
19

vermontcritter-1 said:
Dec 3, 2009 at 5:35 PM
You all bring up the open wheel point time and time again, but what you fail to realize is that Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Juan Montoya, and others have all come from open wheel backgrounds. Jeff has 4 Cup, Tony 2, and I have a feeling that before all is said and done, Juan might end up with at least one cup. So Danica is a woman, does it make her less capable than anyone else out there. If she acts like a little brat at times, maybe there is a reason for her dismay. Could it be that she is actually a capable driver who is just lacking the crew and crew chief she needs in order to shine a little in the Indy car series. As I said before, give her a chance to prove herself. You never know, she might be the female driver NASCAR has been looking for al these years. Can't do any worse than some of the more popular drivers out there. Hint,hint.