Jim Child

A win is a win. Do you have any idea how many races have been won on fuel strategy? Are you going to discount all of them or just Danica's?

Furthermore, would you give the race to the guy who ran out of fuel while leading instead of Danica? If so, then you have to give the 2005 Indy 500 to Danica which she had "won" until her team told her to save fuel while leading with only a few laps to go. They later found out she had plenty of fuel when they drained the tank after the race.

Bonster

Show me yours. In anything. Autocross . . . drag racing . . . regional road racing. Anything. Just sayin'.

A.Wayne

Ohhh he has many Bonster..... 7 times Rub-x Champion...ar

hacker-pschorr

You really don't get it or you just like being difficult.

The whole point of this, and almost every other Danica thread is focusing on the attention she receives despite success on the track. Any other driver with her record (or worse) wouldn't even get a mention in any publication not dedicated to racing. Meanwhile Danica is on every talk show, receiving huge endorsement deals, and magazine covers - most of which are not even racing / sports related.

When was the last time anyone from F1 was on the cover of Sports Illustrated?
Do a GIS for "f1 sports illustrated cover" - the first image is Danica in a bikini sprawled on the hood of a Shelby Cobra.

She is good for the overall sport by getting people interested who otherwise would never watch a race. She's a catch 22 because people from this demographic have a very short attention span for racing. Too many weekends without a win they change the channel. Meanwhile the real racing fans get fed up with 24/7 coverage of her while the better drivers are ignored.


As for the comment: "She's better than anyone here...." I'm so sick of this argument. So I guess we should all stop talking about professional sports altogether?

For the record I like Danica and would like to see her stay in open wheel.
My only complaint about her driving is the same as Marco Andretti. I've always felt they were brought up too fast before they were ready. That's water under the bridge now since they are holing their own. Except I'm not sure who whines more between the two.


Wow - I really haven't been paying attention........ I hope he makes it to Elkhart this year. It was great seeing Villeneuve back in Wisconsin.

Bonster

Hack . . . no, I do not think we should stop talking about sports. But I do think certain people should stop taking the entire subject quite so seriously. I could even say that about myself, though I think I'm more mild that some others. It's just a debate folks. Don't get upset about the differing opinions for or against Danica or anyone else. It's just talk. And frankly, I find it fun. Until someone gets all . . . I don't know the word . . . I guess hurt? over it? I don't know. But Danica Patrick, like any other celebrity, is going to have cheers and jeers. It will never stop. Get used to it. Just be happy you aren't so dang popular.

winders

Difficult? At least I can read. The OP editorialized and asked:

Danica Patrick at a crossroads amigos. Should she just go away now?
It's not like her racing career is doing that well.

By "go away now", I assume the OP means "quit racing" because her racing career is not doing well.

Where is the question about the attention she gets versus the attention she deserves? I don't see it in the poll or in the first post in this thread.

The article the OP provided a link to talks about "Danica the racer" and "Danica the brand". No mention of her receiving undeserved attention.

If being difficult means not agreeing with the OP's suggestion or your flawed view of the actual topic, then yes, I am being difficult.

Scott

Frank Bullitt

No idea why some of the Hoopleheads get so upset about discussing her record. Believe the main point of the article I linked to is that her recent arrival at this crossroads... is the very valid concern that she's simply NOT winning races. Why this hurts so many is a mystery to me.

Frank Bullitt

You're so far afield on this that any attempt to reel you in would require someone like Jeremy Wade from the outstanding Animal Planet program... River Monsters.

Frank Bullitt

Have always wanted to drive that track. Have you?

hacker-pschorr

Welcome to the world of individual opinions.

Ever hear the expression: "writing checks your ego cannot cash" that sums up Danica, except in this case it's her marketing team writing the checks.

I took the comment “go away” as in turn off the camera and stick with the driving. If she put the kind of effort behind the wheel as she does in front of the camera she might win a few more races, or at least gain a few more real racing fans.

You come off as that guy who complains at the end of a movie they didn't close out and fully explain every angle.
I take it you are still trying to figure out who Kaiser Soze is?

Ok, maybe you are not being difficult, you don't get it.
The part in quotes you posted completely spells it out, at least to me.

"Danica the racer" and "Danica the brand" are two different people....that is the point.

Every time I see her in a GoDaddy ad I think of Burt Reynolds wearing the Chicken Suit in Stroker Ace.

I live about 45 minutes north of Road America, I've been around it a few times

First time was in John Andretti's Corvette Challenge race car. Took a few months for the bruise on my head to go away. The passenger side of the roll bar wasn't designed with passengers in mind. Oh well, I was only 10 or 11 at the time.

I agree 100%, although I think we slightly disagree on who should take the “chill pill”

Chipster

I'd like to see Danica on the pole....

Chaos

My pole. Indy Racing League needs press and she is 90% of it.

Chaos

Boobless

Frank Bullitt

That track looks to be a blast.

You are spot on in your analysis of my original posting. Good Lord just how hard can this be?

Frank Bullitt

That certainly is "interesting".