Indy 500 - Danica Patrick

[BankShot]

I think it's sad that the"Queen of Motorsports" should be treated like this...what a bunch of male chauvinists! :bigsmile:

She outa sign on with Big Daddy Don Garlits and just compete against time! Better yet, drive an unlimited hydroplane, where HER spray could blend with the rest of the river water.:geeza2:

 

[Sackalot]

She isn't a good driver...she is a mediocre driver that is good looking and therefore is marketable and has been given the tools to help her along the way by sponsors, team owners, etc. She has been successful because of the engineers and their equipment in the past not because she is an exceptional driver, as soon as she has a bad day she wants to point the finger at them immediately. I have always looked at Indy Car drivers like fighter pilots, they might be good, but the plane isn't their plane, it is the aircraft mechanics plane and the pilot can only be as good as the plane. Same thing here! She is a mediocre driver that has had good equipment up until now. This would be the opportunity for her to show her driving ability and work with her team of mechanics, engineers, owner, etc. to dial in the car, but she hasn't done that (I realize they had limited practice), instead she wants to immediately blame the team and single herself out saying, "I am the same driver I was 5 years ago."
What a great quote, because 5 years ago she wasn't a good driver either.

 

[Bally #50]

Since it is a slow week on here and since it is also the week of the Indy 500, why not have a discussion on Indy Car.

That said, I don't agree with you about Danika's skill level. Her "head" level certainly isn't up to par, no doubt about it. I have followed Danika since her days racing in Formula's in Europe and I can tell you that she is a very talented driver. Last year, when Andretti Motorsport cars were up to snuff, she was a VERY competitive racer and ended up a legit 5th in series points. What has happened to Danika's "skill" level this season is a steady decline of the quality of Andretti Motorsports cars. Following Tony Kanaan's month of May so far only confirms this. All FIVE A-M cars have suffered thru a miserable month and have been bad since they left the truck a couple of weekends ago. I am not an expert on car set up but obviously, they have some issues with their cars and it reflected on very AVERAGE results for all five cars. T.K. is obviously the best driver in the stable and he didn't even fare as well as Danika did, period. The difference between Danika and T.K. is that he is a seasoned veteran and cooler heads prevailed with his approach to the situation. Danika is in fact, a hothead, a big whiner but most of all, one VERY frustrated driver. She spoke the truth but crossed the line about what should be said in public and what should be spoken behind the garage door. A.J. once said his car was a tub of SH** you might recall. That was accepted because A.J. was a champion, and a multi-time Indy Champion at that! He had the resume to speak his mind. Danika doesn't come near to having the same hootsbah!

Frankly, a little controversy won't hurt Indy Car because it could use some. She was wrong and she knows it. She learned from it but she'll spout off again because shes....well......Danika!

Not trying to start a back and forth battle here, Sack. Just pointing out the difference from being an average driver and driving an average car. She can drive. This year will be my 40th race or close to it, I am actually not sure. I will NEVER forget the reaction in 05 when Danika led the race for a few laps. There may never be a louder moment in all my memories at the Brickyard. She can drive. Put her in a Penske car and see how she would shine. That's what is frustrating her. She's great for the sport but she has a lot of growing up to do. Let the race begin~

 

[Bob Evans]

I think AJ's comments were a lot more acceptable because at the time he was one of the guys turning a wrench in the garage. He was pointing the finger at himself as much as his team. If I want people to be motivated to do good work for me, I take all the blame when things aren't right and I give them all the credit when things are great. It's not a difficult formula.

 

[Bally #50]

I think AJ's comments were a lot more acceptable because at the time he was one of the guys turning a wrench in the garage. He was pointing the finger at himself as much as his team. If I want people to be motivated to do good work for me, I take all the blame when things aren't right and I give them all the credit when things are great. It's not a difficult formula.

I am certainly not disputing that what she said was out of line. Those guys worked their butts off to make those cars better, especially after T.K. piled into the wall TWICE. Even if their work was NOT up to par, she needs them. All Andretti Motorsports mechanics had a "week from hell" and the very knowledgable Indy Car fans were well aware of that. I have generally been a Danika fan and my opinion of her is now tainted because of that comment. People say things they regret all the time. We'll just have to see if she learns from it.

 

[Sackalot]

I just can't agree that Danika would win with any team. I just don't think she is as talented...You could say that Sarah Fisher would win with Penske..hel John Andretti might win if he raced for Penske. The point is, that I have never been impressed with her driving skills, she isn't bad at all, but she isn't the best. And lets be honest, the best drivers in the world are not in the IRL, there are very good and talented drivers, but the IRL is still trying to find its audience and trying to become a major player in motorsports, all you have to do is look at the cars driving by...how many are sponsored by major corporations? The sponsorship money isn't back (all the way yet). When that sponsorship money builds over the next few years and Indy is back to 100% like it was prior to the split, there will be far more competition in drivers and I project that Danika will no longer be considered a top driver at that point, if she is even around IRL at that point. She will have stiff, stiff competition down the road.

She is a celebrity, that you can't deny. But from my perspective she isn't as skilled as several other drivers out there and though when she lead the race a few years ago it was electric and amazing, she didn't hold that lead and if you look back several "out of her control' issues caused her to be in the lead anyway.

 

[Bally #50]

She wouldn't win CONSISTENTLY on any team, I would agree. She might have one more victory on a better team but.....who knows. She remains a pretty respctable oval driver but has a long way to go on road courses. Sarah would not win at all with better equipment (an opinion here). She (Sarah) is the 4th best of the women drivers and has little potential to improve. The two rookie ladies seem to be pretty respectable and we'll see how they do but rookies rarely excel except the phoenoms.

The race psyche is what concerns me about Danika. Mentally, I don't think she is as capable or as sharp as she was a year ago. Physically, I do feel ALL the women have a disadvantage, especially at IMS--and that may be their toughest obstacle to overcome. When she led, it was electric but many of us wondered if she had the stamina to continue. This year, driving the Andretti cars may prove to be too much for her. It's been a fun discussion. I just think she is good for the sport and has more skills than many think she does.

The crowds have been UP big time at the 500 the past couple of years and I can tell you from my position in the transportation industry, this event is on a large upswing! Sunday should be fun and maybe one of the largest 500 crowds in a decade or more. Should be a great race to watch but my guess is that Danika will be a DNF~

 

[4Q_iu]

Every driver needs the best equipment and team (owner, spotters, mechanics, etc) to win; Danica is (IMO) the first female driver who's had the equipment and team to TRULY compete; Guthrie, St. James, Fischer - sorry, they didn't.

Danica continues to struggle on road and street courses but that's the nature of those races vs. ovals.

The IRL (or IndyCar or whatever the current CEO is using) NEEDS her; to market, to sell tickets, to generate controversy which all leads to attention and $$$.

She'll definitely struggle in NECKar because those cars are just a helluva physical drive; I won't say it's a female thing because there are plenty of men who can't drive them.

Looking forward to Sunday -- too bad I'll have to watch in on TV again

 

[SycamoreFan317]

Since it is a slow week on here and since it is also the week of the Indy 500, why not have a discussion on Indy Car.

That said, I don't agree with you about Danika's skill level. Her "head" level certainly isn't up to par, no doubt about it. I have followed Danika since her days racing in Formula's in Europe and I can tell you that she is a very talented driver. Last year, when Andretti Motorsport cars were up to snuff, she was a VERY competitive racer and ended up a legit 5th in series points. What has happened to Danika's "skill" level this season is a steady decline of the quality of Andretti Motorsports cars. Following Tony Kanaan's month of May so far only confirms this. All FIVE A-M cars have suffered thru a miserable month and have been bad since they left the truck a couple of weekends ago. I am not an expert on car set up but obviously, they have some issues with their cars and it reflected on very AVERAGE results for all five cars. T.K. is obviously the best driver in the stable and he didn't even fare as well as Danika did, period. The difference between Danika and T.K. is that he is a seasoned veteran and cooler heads prevailed with his approach to the situation. Danika is in fact, a hothead, a big whiner but most of all, one VERY frustrated driver. She spoke the truth but crossed the line about what should be said in public and what should be spoken behind the garage door. A.J. once said his car was a tub of SH** you might recall. That was accepted because A.J. was a champion, and a multi-time Indy Champion at that! He had the resume to speak his mind. Danika doesn't come near to having the same hootsbah!

Frankly, a little controversy won't hurt Indy Car because it could use some. She was wrong and she knows it. She learned from it but she'll spout off again because shes....well......Danika!

Not trying to start a back and forth battle here, Sack. Just pointing out the difference from being an average driver and driving an average car. She can drive. This year will be my 40th race or close to it, I am actually not sure. I will NEVER forget the reaction in 05 when Danika led the race for a few laps. There may never be a louder moment in all my memories at the Brickyard. She can drive. Put her in a Penske car and see how she would shine. That's what is frustrating her. She's great for the sport but she has a lot of growing up to do. Let the race begin~

Well said, I agree 100%. Sack in '05 Danica's team would not let her continue to race in order to conserve fuel. She would not have made it to the end.

 

[Sackalot]

In 05 there is no possible way she would have made it to the end....no way. If she had continued racing she would have ended up in the wall or she would have burned her tires up and lost significant track position. IMO, she is a talented driver, but a Rick Mears, AJ Foyt, Mario, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Emo, Rayhall, etc. she will never be...she doesn't have the skills, she is good for the sport, I agree with that. She is good all the way around, but she will never be dominating and most likely will not win much of anything other than fringe races of shorter distances in her career, that is the opinion of a passive fan that honestly enjoys the extra cirricular activities of the 500 far more than the race itself! (and considering the past decade at the track it is hard to say that the races have been all that exciting anyway).

 

[bkinsey]

I really doubted her when she talked about coming to NASCAR but the fact is, she actually ran pretty well in the few races she ran in NASCAR. Sure her finishes didnt show it as she had one bad race and two wrecks, but one of the wrecks she was involved in was while she was in third place and it was not fault of her own. Sure you can say she had the best equipment driving for Dale Earnhardt Jr and Rick Hendrick but fact of the matter is even IRL champ Sam Hornish struggled just as bad as Danica and no one doubts his driving ability. Danica is not a good fit for the IRL and I feel will soon be full time in NASCAR where she will be more competitive than she currently is.

 

[Bally #50]

I would certainly dispute that some of the names on that list actually said Danika doesn't have the "skills". I seriously doubt that Mears, Bobby Rahal or Emo ever said those words, period. Rahal was her car owner at one time and made it clear that he hated that Rahal-Letterman had to give her up. Those quotes would have been well-documented if they had ever truly been said, believe me. Since the two of us haven't heard any of those comments first hand anyway, we can leave it at that. No point in disputing hearsay. I do believe that those comments might well have been made about her prowess in NASCAR, just not in open wheel. I would tend to agree that her likelihood of success in NASCAR is not that high. The much heavier and "clumsier" Sprint Cup cars require a very different technique and a more physical driver. Obviously, Danika's tiny frame doesn't lend itself to driving that type of car and many of her critics will point that out. Indy Car is much more of a finesse machine and it takes a much more technical driver to succeed. Trust me, Dale Jr. wouldn't last too long out at IMS (in an Indy Car).

I've enjoyed the car chat. Obviously, I love this time of the year in Indy. We may have to drop all this Racing stuff or Boda might demote us to "rookies"!

 

[Sycamore624]

I love her looks and want her to do well but honestly her skills just isn't there to be a serouis threat. I think she has a better chance for a decent career in NASCAR which might be why she's starting to dab in that level a little.

 

[bent20]

She's snotty and arrogant. She's proven that time and again. How anyone can cheer for her is beyond me.

 

[Bally #50]

Let's think about this. She dominates merchandising (by a long shot), the press, to some extent, the fans...and when she has equipment, she can drive. I rooted for her last year but will not this year. I would say the series is doing many things right and last I looked, she is a big part of it. I have said it often in this discussion-- that she has a lot of growing up to do and that I feel her head is in the wrong place, but just because you don't like her doesn't mean the series should forget she is there. Long term, she may or may not be in Indy Car. Personally, I feel her NASCAR experiment will end up like Dario's and that she will come back to where she can contribute and be respected. I guess we will find out in a year or two! Maybe by then, she will have grown up a bit.

 

[Sackalot]

I would certainly dispute that some of the names on that list actually said Danika doesn't have the "skills". I seriously doubt that Mears, Bobby Rahal or Emo ever said those words, period. Rahal was her car owner at one time and made it clear that he hated that Rahal-Letterman had to give her up. Those quotes would have been well-documented if they had ever truly been said, believe me. Since the two of us haven't heard any of those comments first hand anyway, we can leave it at that. No point in disputing hearsay. I do believe that those comments might well have been made about her prowess in NASCAR, just not in open wheel. I would tend to agree that her likelihood of success in NASCAR is not that high. The much heavier and "clumsier" Sprint Cup cars require a very different technique and a more physical driver. Obviously, Danika's tiny frame doesn't lend itself to driving that type of car and many of her critics will point that out. Indy Car is much more of a finesse machine and it takes a much more technical driver to succeed. Trust me, Dale Jr. wouldn't last too long out at IMS (in an Indy Car).

I've enjoyed the car chat. Obviously, I love this time of the year in Indy. We may have to drop all this Racing stuff or Boda might demote us to "rookies"!

I never said that Mears or Rahal ever said she wasn't skilled. I was comparing them to her...they were far, far better drivers. I could care less what they might say now, they are businessmen involved in the racing industry and Danika makes them money (maybe). My point is that those guys were tremendously talented race car drivers...Danika, IMO, is not. She is good, but she will never be great, like they were. Wasn't even suggesting that any of those drivers I listed had said anything about her abilities, only that IMO she doesn't have the skill set that they did.

 

[Bally #50]

My bad, Sack. I really DID misread your quote. Must be my advanicing age there. Agree with you 100%, she is not in their category and never will be. Like I said yesterday, I love motorsports and love a good conversation about it. Obviously, IMO, she will not do well in NASCAR because of her size but despite her flaws, I simply wish she would stay put in Indy Car but she is hell bent on doing both for now and it rarely works when you do. Small bodies in NASCAR like Kyle Petty and John Andretti, (and maybe Danika) rarely have success unless they work out regularly in the gym, like Jeff and the Busch brothers.

Next time we have a beer together, we'll have to chat auto racing, then convert back to the usual Sycamore stuff~

 

[4Q_iu]

Look beyond the gender

Would love to hear what people thought about Danica if her name was Dan and she had the same record??

 

[Bally #50]

Would love to hear what people thought about Danica if her name was Dan and she had the same record??

I am pretty confident that "he" wouldn't look nearly as good in a bikini!?