It was an odd site before the Indy Racing League race in St. Petersburg Sunday. There was Danica Patrick talking about her
new approach to racing. She was telling Versus’ Jack Arute that she wasn’t going to get upset over every little thing this
season, and was going to try to enjoy her racing more.
“If you don’t win, you can find something to complain about every week,” Patrick told Arute with a smile.
Patrick promised to be as competitive as ever when the green flag dropped, but it sounded like she was swearing off tantrums. Could this be the dawning of a new era; a kinder, gentler Danica?
Her new philosophy was put to the test on lap 31 of Sunday’s 100-lap road race, when rookie Rafael Matos and Patrick tangled and crashed. It looked like Patrick responded professionally. After the crash, when the two drivers exited their cars, Patrick tapped Matos on the helmet, as if to say, “think.” Then the two had a mildly animated conversation while waiting for a ride back to the pits.
“It’s not exactly the ideal spot to pass.” Patrick told reporters later. “We were going into the fast chicane there and there’s no room, there's no room for two people. ... I was looking in my mirrors and I saw him. He just wasn’t all the way up next to me.”
Matos, for his part, blamed the accident on Patrick, saying she passed a lapped driver when she shouldn’t have, then didn’t give him enough room to pass.
The media was quick to cover the Patrick-Matos interaction, with some jumping on the same old story line. The Indianapolis Star this morning ran the headline, “Danica wrecks, whines.”
It appeared from video replays, Patrick had a legitimate beef. So even if Danica is ready to turn the page, it appears those who follow and report on the sport are not.
Back to Top
IBJ Conversations
19 Comments
Add Comment
As for her approach to bad situations, from what I saw on the reply, she approached this situation yesterday as a professional. Cut her some slack, big boy.
I'm no different than many other racing fans who are tired of Danica getting all the attention when she's done nothing to deserve it save for the fact she's a female driver who'll strip down to next to nothing for a photo spread.
2. Danica having a problem with how other people drive? That's funny. Try winning a race or two because of great driving (fuel mileage win as your only win doesn't count for much) and stop complaining about others. Winners can complain...losers complaining rings hollow.
3. Danica has become the Anna Kournikova of racing. I used to not only watch IndyCar but I would pull for her wholeheartedly. But she is just an average racer, can't ride the car to the edge and keep it there like the great ones do, and really is a whiner. She whines like Kyle Busch, except he wins, so he can get away with it. I don't watch anymore after last year. I'm not even sure if I get the Versus channel.
4. What are there, 20-some cars in a field for each race, of which there are 10 legitimate contenders each week? So unless you come inside the top five each week or for the season - especially given how she is truly driving the best equipment out there - then you are flopping bigtime. And it would seem that she is definately flopping...bigtime.
So yes, I think she has become a whiner. Like I said, I used to pull for her. But now I don't, can't find the channel they broadcast on, and watch NASCAR because it would seem that they have the truly talented drivers. J
If you did watch, and I say if, then you really didn't get it at all. You sound just like the typical c>rt/owrs/ccws compainers that spew hate constantly. That St Pete race was one of the most competetive races I've seen in a long time, from top to near the bottom. So here we had Justin Wilson with Dale Coyne's team nearly winning. Ryan Hunter-Reay finishing second and both of those drivers just got in those cars recently. Great stories for both of them.
Since you didn't watch, you wouldn't know, Danica was very professional in her comments. She was taken out by a rookie and did nothing close to whining. She's beginning to grow up. And, as I previously said, while it remains to be seen how her career will prosper or not, she is as you stated average on road courses, but competetive and challenging on ovals. So next time, watch or don't but if you don't save your opinions since they wouldn't be worth much.
Plus, it's so darn boring watching NASCAR. They run around for 180 laps, have a big wreck then bunch up for a 10 lap shoot-out....every Sunday. Find Versus on your cable and watch more IRL races this year. It's honest to gosh, wheel to wheel racing.
sidebar: people are finally seeing Shamica for what she is. And that is good for racing.
She is one of the greatest female drivers of all time. If she was a male, she would probably not even have a ride, but as one of the best females, she has a ride for life. It would be no different then the celebrity that would surround a female bball player or golfer who could compete with men on an even footing. They may only be average per the mens league, but being able to compete head to head with them would make her a star.
Done well, she has. But she's certainly not come close to the achievements of Shirley Muldowney or potentially even Ashley Force. And, of course, we'll never know if her predecessors would have had as much success had they had top-of-the-class equipment as Danica has had. Lastly, would Katherine Legge have been as good with top notch equipment?