Danica Patrick is still playing coy about her plans for 2010, but Tony Stewart, for one, fully expects to see IndyCar's most talked about free agent competing in a stock car at least part time."She looked me straight in the eye and said, 'this is what I want to do, it looks like fun, looks like a lot of work, but it looks like fun,' " Stewart told reporters in his weekly track side press briefing Saturday from Atlanta Motor Speedway.
"I know that she's serious about it. She's come over and just talking about things right now. ... I don't think she has some misguided idea that it's going to be easy doing it.
"She wants to do it the right way, she has intentions of doing everything right and she's kind of come to us to see in our opinion how she should go about it."
Patrick indicated last month that she and her current IndyCar Series team Andretti Green Racing (AGR) are close to negotiating a new contract to keep her there at least for next season. The question is whether she will also get her feet wet in the ARCA or NASCAR ranks with the plan of eventually moving to NASCAR full time.
Stewart, who won the 1997 IRL championship before coming to NASCAR and claiming a pair of Cup titles, is the most obvious driver to seek advice from. Patrick visited Stewart's race shop outside Charlotte this summer and there are still persistent rumors he will either field a ride for Patrick himself or assist her efforts with someone else.
He didn't commit to any of that this weekend but offered up the strongest indicator yet, "I can pretty much guarantee you that at some point she's going to be over here.''
"I think she wants to know how to make the transition more than anything and she's trying to put together her IRL deal and try to figure out how to transition into NASCAR,'' Stewart said. "She wants to stay successful where she's at, but in the meantime try to figure out a way to be able to drive and get some seat time in a car to where she can start learning so when she does come out she's got her act together.''
Patrick has backed off comments she made at the Indianapolis 500 that she would want to start a NASCAR career at the Cup level.
Stewart ran a partial Nationwide Series schedule while racing in the IRL before signing a full-time deal with Joe Gibbs Racing. Fellow open wheel champs Juan Pablo Montoya and Sam Hornish Jr. made several ARCA series starts before transitioning full time to the Cup level. Former Formula One driver Scott Speed ran ARCA and the Camping World Truck Series before embarking on his rookie Cup season.
"You have to learn before you get here,'' said Stewart, who currently leads the Cup championship."You have to get used to a heavier race car and you have to get used to less down force, smaller tires -- it's a lot of learning and there's a lot of race tracks that you have to get used to.
"It's sensory overload and that's why you have to pay your dues before you get to this level.''
Stewart said he wouldn't be a bit surprised if Patrick runs a partial Nationwide schedule in 2010 or that she make a stock car start after the IndyCar Series wraps up Oct. 10 in Homestead, Fla.
Patrick initially said she wouldn't reveal next year's plans until after the IRL season, but if she re-signs with AGR, that could change her time line. Judging by Stewart's remarks this weekend, there may be a few more details to work out.
"The great thing is that she asked a lot of very smart questions in the discussions about it,'' Stewart said. "You can tell she wants to do it the right way, she understands how hard everybody has worked to get to this level here and she doesn't want to be one of those people that just comes in and gets stuff handed to her.
"She wants to earn her way and work her way up through like everybody else has.''
"I don't know much about how much heavy car experience she has so I think that's why it's important that she gets in anything whether it be an ARCA car or get in some truck races, a lot of Nationwide races. Just right now, the more that she can get in a car, the better off she's going to be right now."
Latest Danica Patrick Photos
JOLIET, IL- AUGUST 29: Danica Patrick, driver of the # 7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing, during the IRL IndyCar Series PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 on August 29, 2009 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo By Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - AUGUST 29: Danica Patrick drives the #7 Boost Mobile Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during the IRL IndyCar Series PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 on August 29, 2009 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick
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Danica Patrick checks her sit with her crew members before the start of the IRL Peak Indy 300 auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Danica Patrick puts on her helmet before the start of the IRL Peak Indy 300 auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Danica Patrick checks her mask before the start of the IRL Peak Indy 300 auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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JOLIET, IL- AUGUST 28: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, looks on during qualifying for the IRL IndyCar Series PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 on August 28, 2009 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo By Donald Miralle/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick
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JOLIET, IL- AUGUST 28: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, drivesin front of Scott Dixon, driver of the #9 Target Chip Ganassi Dallara Honda, on track during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 on August 28, 2009 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
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JOLIET, IL - AUGUST 28: Danica Patrick,driver of the #7 Boost Mobile Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IRL IndyCar Series PEAK Antifreeze & Motor Oil Indy 300 on August 28, 2009 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick
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Danica Patrick is reflected in a mirror as she sits on her car during practice for the IRL Peak Indy 300 auto race at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Friday, Aug. 28, 2009.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Danica Patrick looks at her crew members during practice for the IRL Peak Indy 300 auto race at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Friday, Aug. 28, 2009.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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Comments (Page 1 of 2)
hay 14, you want someone like that?no wonder i was never your fan,and i will never ever be your fan,it will take time when she pushes you 14,just push that thing back and let her know this is the big leagues,that bitch will never win a nascar race,
i agree. if she can't win racing go-carts, how is she supposed to win a real race in a real car !!!!
I'm not a fan of Danica - simply because of her behaviour after several track mishaps. If a man behaved the way she has in the past, there would have been a fight. I don't respect her and don't believe she will succeed in NASCAR. WANTED to like her - just can't.
I agree with you number one bout her never winning a race but grow up and stop the name calling...
She has every right to finish 5th like every one else...
HEY JESSY MOLSON 4 TIMES ANTIFEMMINIST, 8 TIMES RACIST
your comments belong with the alabama KKK GRAN DRAGON
and THE SAUSAGITOBS24/7 actor, not on civilization sites.
Have another MOLSON lager and turn off your nazi propaganda.
Although DANICA has no experience in stock cars i think
her transition to nascar will be a positive one; maybe not right away but give or take a dozen of races and she will get the hang of it.She is going the right way about
by practicing in the nationwide and arca series first and those 2 serieses should be a good learning path before racing the big boys.
I preferred she'd stayed in INDY where by now she has a lot more experience and her performance beats any other lady driver recently and past,but obviously her popularity, her success visions and her financial enterprenourism aim hi than what we all thought and to that i shall say; GOOD LUCK LADY,GO GET IT!.
In the past year, there has been plenty of talk about danica moving to nascar and along went plenty of if's and but's,plenty of yes and no's about her coming to nascar, but by now i believe tony stewart has made it obvious and real and all doubts about her transition should be layed to rest,because it will happen.JMO.
I love me some Danica, but the girl ain't the sharpest knife in the drawer..
I don't believe I would be judging anyone elses intelligence level if I were you.
WTF.............DP go home.
Couple of points. She began racing go carts and she was very, very, very good.
Second point: gorgeous babes are always married to ugly men. The more gorgeous the babe, the uglier the husband. She's drop dead gorgeous so expect her husband to the ugliest guy you never ever want to meet.
And, if you think he's bad, check out the body guards.
Actually ironrobert,
i saw her husband on tv and a magazine couple times and he is pretty good looking.
The female version of JR. people cheer rave to see a loser. Cant win in IRL. Will get herself hurt or killed in a stock car. your pulling 3.5 to 4 g's at bristol. over a 4 hr period. A womens body wasnt designed to withstand that punishment long term. But god bless her if she wants to try, Maybe then J.R. wont be the only bia**H crying on T.V., after a race. Bet she in the wall, first Bump Draft lmao!!!
Lets face it Ms. Patrick has only won one race in the IRL despite the fact she has had top equipment since day one. Ms. Patrick will be no much better that Dale Jr but she will bring home the sponsor money and a large following.
Like she could be worse than Elliot, Ragan, Stremme, Robbie Gordon AND Junior???? Give me a break. Besides,she would be awesome to see on pre race shows!! NASCAR sure could use some beauty. You go, girl!!
I honestly cannot believe that you even used Jr.'s name in the same sentence as Stremme, Robbie Gordon and Ragan. I think alot of Jr.'s issues are car related, and I do not mean the driver. But the others are wrecking every time you turn your head, and several times in the same race, and taking out more than just themselves. And, as far as Danica is concerned, who is it for anyone to say she can or cannot, let her try it, if she falls, she falls, if she does great, then that is wonderful. BUT, get off JR.. like there is no other driver out there that is not winning, I guess he is the only driver that is doing poorly??
It's called band wagon Jr bashing minimeadow. For some it could even be a phobia of sort. Yeah jrphobia.. lol I like that. I think they may even have a leader :-)
Look at it this way, the more attention nay sayers give Jr the more popular and famous he becomes. So it's not all bad.
I agree. What's up with all the Jr. Bashing as of late? In last night's race, Jr. ran in first place for a while, consistently ran in the top ten to top fifteen most of the night, but like MANY other drivers, suffered due to cautions and IMO, crappy tires. Oh well, I like your name for it, too Ron...."jrphobia," now that's funny!
Kim
As for Danica, not her biggest fan either but if she thinks she can handle it and work a deal with a team, more power to her. I just don't want to see the press go all goo goo gah gah over her all the time, especially if she isn't competetive.
Her biggest problem will be brakes and the tires not sticking in the corners. That's if she has problems. Being she IS coming, I would bet she has already started doing some practice laps. As with most racing, either she will make it right away or she won't at all. There are very few that get better over time. You have to "feel" the car and that can't be learned. Look at the history, winning drivers start winning very soon. Losing drivers? Well, they always lose.
Well ROM, for every mania there is a phobia,called in many cases also jeaulosya. However juniormanja is way too big to be teared down by juniorphobia,so let the losers eat their heart out, forever.
nzcr14 said so...
ESPN SPORTS IS NOW REPORTING THAT DANICA IN NAZCAR is a done deal for 2010.The new story is on yahoo sports from
JAY BUSBOY.