Racerrob

I hate that that horse-face Milka has a full ride and Graham Rahal only has a 2 race deal for a ****ty team. I understand why but it just sucks!

ltc

Sage Karem
Connor Daly
Spencer Pigot

I'll stop there, I could go on. BTW, they're just kids.

Short of sponsorship and marketability, there is nothing exceptional regarding Danica and driving....IMHO.

jsh

F@@@ CITGO!

brendo

life isn't fair.

Kein_Ersatz

As a special education teacher I know, is fond of saying to her students, life isn't fair, fair is a weather condition . . .

JimB

You're kidding right? Great young drivers but they've got a lot to prove before they're on any top ten list. I'm not saying they won't be but they aren't there yet.

ltc

At this age, they are all well ahead of where Danica was, again IMHO, and having watched them all.

Sage was recently signed by Andretti as a development driver recently.
Again, I could add other drivers, like Josef Newgarden (surprised quite a few people in British Formula Ford IIRC0 and others...

In the end, it will come down to marketability and personal finances.
Danica is nothing special when it comes to 'helmet on driver talent'...it is being a female that has put her 'over the top'.

jscott82

Ok… I can’t bite my tongue anymore…

Its ALL about marketability… driving talent is just one of many traits needed.
1) Drive
2) Speak well/promote sponsors
3) Look good
4) Other marketability factors (family tree, name, etc)

None of those stand on its own, its a balance. You could be the world’s best driver but with no teeth, member of the Arian (sp?) nation, dumb as a door ****, etc, and you would have trouble getting a ride (I hope)…..

Have a nice body/rack, give a good interview, and be a woman in a traditional man’s sport and the driver qualification gets less weight.

just my 2cents... back to work....

JimB

I think I understand now. Karam signs a development deal in a feeder series and Daly comes in 3rd in Star Mazda and they are among the best American drivers. Danica is the highest placing American driver last year in Indycar and she's nothing special.

Larry Herman

Is this really Jim, or has Karen hijacked your account?




Actually, I do agree with you. Marketing-wise she may be "over-hyped" but she is a good driver and deserves to be where she is at. If anyone watched her first Nationwide race where she got bumped around pretty good and held her own, you'd agree. The fact that one time she got tagged hard enough to get sideways and saved it says a lot.

JimB

Pretty funny Larry. If Karen was typing I think she'd have you and I in the top ten don't you?

Actually I'm not a big DP fan and I agree that she is over marketed but anyone that doesn't think she's a very good driver is nuts.

Land Jet

She's a mediocre driver looking at the results. One win in 5 years or however long she's been in.

race911

Danica? Name and date the last three wins in IRL NOT by a Penske or Ganassi car........

chris walrod

a buddy named Justin Wilson at the Glen 2009 -- otherwise, thats it

Danica's sole win was purely from her strategist based upon fuel -- nonetheless, she did finish first. Never won in Atlantic BTW.

chris walrod

+1000!!!

Conor De phillipi http://www.racer.com/connor-de-phill...rticle/156841/

Conor's father works here at Swift, so I have to speak up for his talented young offspring.