MWR’s Ty Norris says Danica Patrick talks still in initial stages

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Michael Waltrip Racing is interested in signing Danica Patrick.

Darrell Ingham
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FONTANA, Calif. – Michael Waltrip Racing is interested in Danica Patrick and while she has a connection through her sponsor GoDaddy.com to JR Motorsports, talks with MWR have progressed to a point where the team believes it has a shot.

MWR vice president and general manager Ty Norris said Sunday he met with Patrick a couple of months ago and has talked to her people in the last week about a possible partial Nationwide program for next year. He said MWR might be able to offer her more manufacturer support, focus more on her development and also has room under the four-team Sprint Cup cap other than some of the other teams with which she has talked.

Patrick wants a car that has points so she wouldn’t have to qualify on speed, said Norris, who has talked with Patrick’s representatives in the last week. MWR’s Nationwide program has been a mix of drivers in recent years.

“In recent weeks, I would say the discussions have become a little bit more detailed and intense to where you’re talking about ifs, ands and buts,” Norris said. “When you get to that level, you try to figure out what are the next steps, if there are next steps. Any owner of a Nationwide team or a Cup team with a racing operation would love to have Danica there after you talk to her because of her passion to race.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday his JR Motorsports team has talked with her. Roush Fenway Racing officials have said they have talked with her but the talks fizzled over what it would take financially to build a program around her. Joe Gibbs Racing President J.D. Gibbs said Sunday that it would be hard for his team to put her in a car for next year because it would likely need to be a third car.

JGR uses sports company IMG to help in its sponsorship search, and IMG also represents Patrick, who finished fifth in the 2009 IndyCar Series standings.

“She would be great for the sport,” Gibbs said. “She works with the IMG guys, who we think a lot of, too. So I think they will have a good plan there when it’s all said and done. … At this point, it would be kind of hard [for us] to do next year and do it right. That’s my biggest thing, make sure you do it right. We’ve got two great teams but probably not enough room. You would have to add another team.”

Norris said he thinks Patrick’s people are still in an information-gathering stage and not a negotiation stage. He said part of the talks have revolved around what her progression plan would be and what to do if she doesn’t enjoy it, which could result in a team making an investment in a development program that doesn’t go too far.

“[Salary] hasn’t even been part of the conversation,” Norris said. “It’s been [about] how you can get her track time, who is going to be the driver coaches, who is going to be involved, can you work around the open-wheel schedule, will you have a car with points.”

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Comments

6 responses to " MWR’s Ty Norris says Danica Patrick talks still in initial stages ". Post a Comment.

1

CCCANNON said:
Oct 11, 2009 at 4:32 PM
The girl has never turned a wheel in a stock
car and there is all this hype. How pitiful.
2

Ultraworld said:
Oct 11, 2009 at 5:06 PM
She's a middle of the road IRL driver with 1 win in 5 seasons. She just signed for 3 more years w/AGR.What would she do in NASCAR? Boost the attendance at Nationwide races I assume. She actually has a good record at the Indy 500. She needs to win bing in IRL first. A Former IRL champ is finding it difficult, she doesn't stand a chance. Funny that she's talking to MWR. They know a lot about loosing.
3

Robbygordonfan1 said:
Oct 12, 2009 at 2:46 AM
MWR wouldn't be a bad place for her to land. The team is progressing and getting better each year. I'm not too worried about where she'll eventually drive because it's going to be a big team no matter what. I just wish her the best.
4

mrclause said:
Oct 12, 2009 at 7:26 AM
Dario had a tough time here and isn't he now the Indy car champ? It's taken Juan 3 years to become a real contender. I've been all for her trying NASCAR until I read this article. She wants her ride to come with enough points so she doesn't have to qualify on speed!? What?! Sorry Missy, you just lost my welcome. Come on over, take your lumps, earn your way! We've got enough prima donna's already! Several other women have earned the opportunity you want for nothing. Be nice to have you, but, we don't need you!
5

mom said:
Oct 12, 2009 at 9:57 AM
So the little girl wants a great car...with points, wants to race 'when' she wants to, plenty of track time, and great driver coaches. I'm thinking she is asking for more than she deserves when there are hundreds of drivers in other series who would give anything for a chance to drive.
6

troyhackney said:
Oct 12, 2009 at 12:10 PM
The facts are that for the amount of money she wants, the caliber cars she wants, and just her wants in general, she would need to be winning fast. Let's face it; that's not going to happen. Her one IRL win was due to gas mileage, not talent. She is not even in Nascar yet and I, as well as many of my friends, are tired of hearing about her already! With the demands that she is wanting, it is obvious that it is about money and not racing, so any team looking at her is out of their minds. How serious can MWR, or any team, take her, if she has to have a car with points because she will not qualify on speed (and she will need a ton of provisional’s to make the fields)? And if she has signed a three year deal with AWG, has dedicated will she be to fulfilling a Nascar contract? She is merely a pretty face that will pick up a sponsor for a year, maybe two, and then get dumped because she can’t drive a big heavy stock car. And her looks go down the drain when her mouth opens. If the teams have the will to start a third team, put a truck or Nationwide driver in it.