NASCAR Teams Taking Cautious Approach to Danica Sweepstakes

INDIANAPOLIS -- Perhaps it was inevitable that Danica Patrick's name would come up here during preparation for NASCAR's AllState 400 at the Brickyard on Sunday.

She's the most successful woman driver in the history of the Indy 500, and she's openly flirting with NASCAR as she decides where she'll race when her contract with Andretti Green Racing ends this season.

But at least one of Patrick's potential suitors, team owner Chip Ganassi, said Friday he'd advise her to stay in the Indy Racing League.

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"My counsel to her was that she's close to making that last step in Indy Car racing, and she could easily do that in the next three to five years and still be able to do this [NASCAR],'' said Ganassi, who confirmed he has had discussions with Patrick.

"She's one of those athletes with an opportunity to make career moves into the foreseeable future. It's up to her.''

Ganassi's name has been mentioned because he owns teams in the Indy Racing League and NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series and would potentially be able to ease Patrick into the stock-car ranks while she still runs in the IRL.

"If she wanted to do NASCAR on full-time basis, I'd suggest there are better places,'' Ganassi said. "I don't think our team is in position to do that.''

Patrick made headlines last week when she visited Cup Series championship leader Tony Stewart's race shop in Charlotte, N.C. -- but Stewart wasn't even in town and Patrick also visited five other team shops.

Stewart, a former IRL champion himself, said he hasn't spoken with Patrick. He suggested earlier in the month that, before she sign a contract with a NASCAR team, she should at least turn a lap in a stock car -- something she hasn't done yet.


However, Stewart also insisted on Friday that no one else should judge whether Patrick, who currently ranks fifth in the Indy Racing League championship standings, should make the challenging transition to NASCAR.

"She is the only one that knows what she wants to do,'' Stewart said. "I feel that way with everybody that considers making a change. I made a significant change exactly one year ago today here, and people said I was crazy and now all of a sudden, people are saying, "Oh, it wasn't such a bad idea after all.'

"It's nice to have input from other people, but only one person knows what is right for them and that is that person.''

Ganassi, whose IRL team is leading the championship, said it's too early to characterize his discussions with Patrick.

"If I told you we didn't have conversations or weren't interested, I'd be lying to you,'' Ganassi said. "Like a lot of teams, we've had discussions, and she's on the market now and is ready to make the next step in her career where ever that takes her.

"Like most teams, we're in the top of the first inning. It's way early.''