Danica Patrick says team strength helps dictate NASCAR success for former open-wheelers
Danica Patrick says the strength of a NASCAR Sprint Cup team is important to a rookie driver. // Ivan Veldhuizen, NASCAR Scene
Danica Patrick, whose contract with Andretti Green Racing ends this season, says that as an IndyCar driver, she must take notice of the struggles of the drivers who have migrated from that series to NASCAR, but that wouldn’t necessarily deter her from taking that path.
Patrick has seen Dario Franchitti go to NASCAR and come back to IndyCar. Three-time series champion Sam Hornish Jr. is in his second full season as a Sprint Cup driver and has taken a while to show promise.
So as she ponders her future, their struggles give her something to think about.
“It’s something to take notice of,” Patrick said Tuesday during an Indy Racing League teleconference. “I think what it shows is it is difficult. You do need as much help as possible. But as credit to them, they haven’t been driving for the best teams in NASCAR either. So how can you really hold them accountable for not doing extremely well in the very beginning when they just don’t have the resources?
“Now they’re getting the hang of it. And Sam’s doing much better, and Juan [Pablo Montoya's] doing better. I think that things are moving ‑ they’re doing better overall. But, they don’t drive for Hendrick [Motorsports] or Roush [Fenway Racing] or any of the top teams. So I think it’s a tough one.”
There have been rumors that Patrick, easily the most well-known female racer and the winner of last year’s IRL race in Japan, is being courted by Chip Ganassi for his IndyCar team, and that could mean a transition to NASCAR in the future.
“We’ll definitely be looking at … our options,” Patrick said. “They are one of the top-three teams in the IndyCar Series. But then again, I’m also driving for one of those top-three teams in the IndyCar Series. So it’s going to have to be a really good option for me as a driver and as a brand to expand beyond, because I already drive for a great team. So we’ll just have to see.”
Patrick is being represented by IMG, which is headed by former NASCAR executive George Pyne.
“NASCAR has so many viewers and so many partners,” she said. “There are just lots of options both inside and outside the car. So there’s reasons, and it looks like fun. There are 40‑odd guys that do it every year.
“I’m not sure how many the number is this year. But, obviously, it’s a good time. Oval racing is always fun. It’s you racing against everyone else, it’s very competitive. It’s kind of like the Indy 500 every weekend. That’s a lot of fun as a driver to be part of something important, and something people want to watch.”
June 1 was the first day Patrick could begin talking to other teams, but she did not disclose how many NASCAR teams have contacted her.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “That’s not for me to handle. That’s what I leave up to my agents, and as they tell me, which is the best thing [is that] all I have to do is go out there and perform and they’ll take care of the rest. So that’s what I’m going to do.”
