OUR FANHOUSE TOOLBAR INTEGRATES THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS INTO YOUR WEB BROWSER AND INSTALLS IN SECONDS.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE TOOLBAR HERE.

Nascar and Racing

Reports: Danica Patrick Signs 3-Year IndyCar Extension

Danica Patrick has signed a multi-year deal to stay in the IndyCar Series, according to a pair of published reports on Friday.

According to the Indianapolis Star and SI.com, Patrick signed a three-year contract extension with Andretti Green Racing (AGR). Patrick, nor the team, have confirmed the deal. There is nothing on her personal website addressing the situation.

"I think we'd all welcome her (to NASCAR), but I'm really happy for Michael (cousin Michael Andretti) and for his team,'' said NASCAR driver John Andretti. "That is great for them and maybe Danica can still try some of this stuff too and see what she thinks."

Patrick told reporters last month that she was close to re-upping with AGR and that any formal announcements about her future were weeks away. Most expect a press conference around the Oct. 10 IndyCar season finale in Homestead, Fla.

But there has been a lot of speculation about Patrick's future because she has so openly entertained moving from open-wheel ranks to stock cars. Talk of a full-time move has been replaced with a more realistic approach -- a part-time schedule in addition to vying for an IndyCar championship.

She visited with several NASCAR teams this summer, most notably Stewart-Haas Racing, whose owner, former IndyCar Series and two-time Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart, essentially "guaranteed" Patrick would be trying out a stock car at some point. He said last weekend at New Hampshire that he has never made an offer to field a car for her, however.

The most likely options are for Patrick to make a few starts in the ARCA, Camping World Trucks and/or Nationwide series, perhaps after this year's IndyCar Series finishes up and again next year as her open-wheel schedule permits.

John Andretti, a former IndyCar Series regular who raced in this year's Indianapolis 500, recommended that Patrick start off in the Nationwide cars and that laps on the 1.5-mile tracks might be best for her early development.

"I think if she were to try some stock car stuff, you need to take out your ego and emotion -- and that's for anyone making the transition,'' Andretti said Friday.

"You need to say to yourself, 'Just because I'm an elite open-wheel driver doesn't mean I'm going to be good in stock cars.' You need to get experience.

"It doesn't matter what she eventually decides to do -- there will still be a lot of attention on her. You want to build in some success.''

Patrick, who became the first woman to win an IndyCar race last year, is currently ranked fifth in the championship -- the highest ranked American driver in the series -- with one race remaining.

A three-year commitment for Patrick to remain in IndyCar would be a major coup for that sanctioning body in a time when major open-wheel stars have been lured to NASCAR, which offers fatter paychecks and immense popularity. It would also afford Patrick the opportunity to truly undergo some sort of development program in stock cars that would better position her for success should she move there full-time.

Related Articles

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?