Danica's Rant

[TURN3]

I've never laughed at anybody that hard in my life!

Here is driver pecking around like a Marty Roth/Milka Duno look alike all weekend long, crashes coming out of pit lane during practice, crashes during qualifying, runs into a car passing her in a turn during the race, then stalls (as usual) while track workers clear the track. This women has NO BUSINESS in an Indycar.

What a spoiled little brat!

[NickFalzone]

I usually defend Danica, but I agree she's an idiot.

[ShiftingGears]

The commentators summed it up best.

"How fast would you work to help a driver yelling at you?"

Truely classless, graceless and talentless.

[harvick#1]

The commentators summed it up best.

"How fast would you work to help a driver yelling at you?"

Truely classless, graceless and talentless.

:up:

+1

[beachbum]

The contrast between Danica's frenetic flailing after stalling, and Dario's quiet composure after he stalled after his spin was amazing. Dario was a professional calmly waiting for help and Danica behaved like a spoiled and out of control brat who thinks they are special. "Help me, me , me".

If that is typical of her hair-trigger temper, she is a menace on the track as stated by Dixon last season. One can only hope her 15 minutes of fame runs out before she hurts someone on the track (or pits) with that anger.

[beachbum]

The contrast between Danica's frenetic flailing after stalling, and Dario's quiet composure after he stalled after his spin was amazing. Dario was a professional calmly waiting for help and Danica behaved like a spoiled and out of control brat who thinks they are special. "Help me, me , me".

If that is typical of her hair-trigger temper, she is a menace on the track as stated by Dixon last season. One can only hope her 15 minutes of fame runs out before she hurts someone on the track (or pits) with that anger.

[FIAT1]

This women has NO BUSINESS in an Indycar.

What a spoiled little brat![/QUOTE]


AGREE!

[SarahFan]

Where's Danicafan when you need him

[Easy Drifter]

It is simple. "Stomping" Danica is a legend (in her own mind). :rolleyes:

[gloomyDAY]

What happened? LOL

[Jag_Warrior]

What happened? LOL

:confused: I guess we'll have to go to Youtube to figure this one out. I have no idea.

[beachgirl]

Where's Danicafan when you need him

I don't think even Danicafan can make something good about this disgraceful display of road rage and me-me-me-me from a last place, lapped driver. She's become a joke.

[TURN3]

What happened? LOL

Words won't do it any justice at all so I do hope there is a replay available somewhere. Surely IRL security vaults will have this alongside the PT Indy victory tapes.

Basically, bringing up there rear of the field, literally, Danica came up on a pile up blocking a turn. Under full course caution, course workers were clearing the track and the field was slowly working its was through incident. Danica comes along and is 1 of 2 idiots that couldn't find a way through. So her in car shows her start throwing a little one of her fits while the field starts to come around...all able to make it through of course. Well then little Princess has an open lane to try and squeeze through and as she normally does during any event on track, she stalls it. So she absolutely goes nuts in the car...you could hear her screaming from the onboard. Just crazy throwing her hands and POUDING on the steering wheel while the course workers clear car by car until they get to her.

You would've thought she was leading the race or something and they just stole her victory. Nevermind to her that she was already a lap down or about to go down when the yellow came out, I can't remember. Either way, she'd already turned into Helio when we was coming back up through the pack after a strategy stop flattening his tire and getting a new nose from Marco's car. Plus, she was the idiot that tried to take a short cut through the incident and pass other cars trying to smartly and slowly work their way through. It backfired on her and then she compounded it with about her 15th mistake by stalling. She was, as usual when the equipment doesn't make the difference, an absolute joke.

Bottom line, Danica was probably pis*&d to find out when she got to the beach SI Swimsuit edition wasn't there to "attempt" to glorify her career. Real race fans know the truth.

[Jag_Warrior]

Oh. Well, I'm sure she'll redeem herself as soon as she gets to Europe for her Honda F1 test. When is that, next month?

[Easy Drifter]

I hope to see it tonight when TSN is supposed to show it in Canada but I understand her 'Italian' was pretty fluent. (Sorry Pino.) :angel:

[Pat Wiatrowski]

Oh. Well, I'm sure she'll redeem herself as soon as she gets to Europe for her Honda F1 test. When is that, next month?

I believe that test has been cancelled!

[tstran17_88]

Crap! I'm kicking myself for forgetting about the Surfer's Paradise race this weekend. Time to check youtube!

[millencolin]

lets just say when my grandstand saw her reactions... all i could hear from other fans was... LAUGHTER!!! and i joined them in that laughter

[ShiftingGears]

What happened? LOL

There was a pile-up ahead of her and she stopped the car on the inside of the track after she failed to get to the opening on the outside of the track. Marshalls cleared the car in the middle of the road enough to let her through, then she stalled the engine and was yelling at the marshalls to get a starter while they were towing the other wrecked car off the track (which, at the time, was in the middle of the road, while Danica was on the side of the road, lapped, and so awfully slow for the whole weekend).

No respect. Or talent for that matter.

[DanicaFan]

I will agree, all the hand motions were not going to get them to help her any quicker but they were slow to get to her to get her started and going again.

All of the name calling you guys were doing was uncalled for. She is still one of the top drivers.

[jackmart]

can you pm a link if you find it. I don't get cable and was on a retreat this weekend but I tried to have someone record it for me. I want to see what happen in qualifying.


Crap! I'm kicking myself for forgetting about the Surfer's Paradise race this weekend. Time to check youtube!

[ShiftingGears]

All of the name calling you guys were doing was uncalled for. She is still one of the top drivers.

It wasn't uncalled for - she was classless, graceless, and horribly underwhelming at Surfers.

[Easy Drifter]

If AGR ever lets her into the A1GP car I think she will be in the last 3/4 of the field and never get near the top ten.
At one time I thought she had some talent but it appears now she is only semi competative on the ovals where she has a top car. There are more good drivers now and she is sinking down the field.
Yet she is the most popular American female athalete! Not on the forums though!

[beachbum]

I will agree, all the hand motions were not going to get them to help her any quicker but they were slow to get to her to get her started and going again.

All of the name calling you guys were doing was uncalled for. She is still one of the top drivers.It isn't name calling. It is general disgust over more of her antics. What was uncalled for was her very over the top response. She was having a miserable weekend, was running almost last and therefore came up on the mess long after it was over, picked an open lane that others had gone through in front of her, but she stopped, and then she stalled it. Error after error - her errors. The only person she should have been angry with was herself.

I will agree Danica! is probably the number 1 driver for getting attention, but a top driver in terms of talent and the ability to race and win? Sorry, but this past weekend was a good test of talent as many of the drivers had never seen the track before. Only she and Townsend (and Marco to a certain extent) were completely out to lunch. Even Foyt and Carpenter (2 road race aces - tongue in cheek) were consistent and got faster as the weekend went on. She didn't and was very inconsistent based on lap times.

What probably had her torqued was they she saw an opportunity to get ahead of the other drivers, because "she" didn't crash. Well neither did a couple others caught out by Graham and Carpenter. The safety crews have no obligation to treat her special. Their goal is to clear the track - period. Her screw-up blocked an open lane around the mess, so I doubt they were real happy.

Danica can be fast at times, that is a fact. But over and over again she shows lousy judgment and serious anger management issues. Her emotional maturity seems about the same as a 10 year old as she foot stomps, waves frantically for attention, confronts other drivers, blames everyone else for every issue, and generally behaves like a spoiled child. What is even more scary is that she never apologizes for her behavior, suggesting she thinks she is special and can follow different rules of conduct than other drivers.

Early in her career, at lot was tolerated, but she has been around long enough to know the score and by now "should" have matured a little. This latest display was so out of proportion to the situation that it rants as one of the most bizarre exhibitions I have seen on a race track. My wife and I almost wet our pants laughing and looked at each other and said "what was that all about?". The longer this goes on, the more embarrassing it becomes to the IRL. The drivers are supposed to be professionals and show some composure.

[Chris R]

The contrast between her reactions and Dario's reactions could not have been more glaring. She appeared to have a very unprofessional response and really owes those safety workers an apology.

It is fine to get emotional and I can overlook her lack of pace at a track she has never seen (although the fact that Foyt and Carpenter were consistently better seems pretty damning since they are supposedly lesser drivers driving for a certainly lesser team). Even the best drivers have weekend where they are out-to-lunch - but not controlling her outburst is just inexcusable and appears to be a problem that is increasing, not getting better.....

[anthonyvop]

I will agree, all the hand motions were not going to get them to help her any quicker but they were slow to get to her to get her started and going again..
No they didn't. They did it exactly by the book. They had to take care of the cars ahead of her 1st then they had to move the truck to her to start her up.
They aren't the Danica Safety team.

All of the name calling you guys were doing was uncalled for. She is still one of the top drivers.
Dixon is a Top driver, Kanaan, Helio, Briscoe, Wheldon.

One win in an entire professional career does not make a top driver. A win that was handed to her.
She isn't even the top driver on her team.

[Damon]

A win that was handed to her.

Graham Rahal* and Dario Franchitti* agree

[bblocker68]

I just liked it when Jenkins called here Danican.

As for the tragic comedy routine, I am not surprised.

She has no class, sorry.

[SarahFan]

She is still one of the top drivers.

she ran in the bottom five all weekend.....how can you type that?

[dataman1]

Go to YouTube it is there under title Danica Patrick Stalls...

[newf66]

I volunteered as a corner worker for 5 years. We always got respect and appreciation from the drivers. And in return we didn't hesitate to help out the drivers when needed. This spoiled brat should realize that the workers, paid or not, are risking their lives by being on the track. They aren't there to serve the princess. I watched the clip. The workers did exactly what they're supposed to do - clear the existing cars first to widen the "passage", then clear the cars on the sides.

[nigelred5]

Will they have the race on INDYCAR.COM.? I saw a message that the multimedia site was being shut down 11/03/2008

[Rex Monaco]

Go to YouTube it is there under title Danica Patrick Stalls...


Hire those announcers NOW!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njvm1K64ZsE

[ShiftingGears]

Scott Pruett and Aaron Noonan did a great commentary job :up:

[thelurker]

I'm not going to defend her actions, but before you guys throw your own tantrums on this incident, might you go back and watch the Mid Ohio race. In particularly where several drivers collided on the one restart. I noticed a few hands waiving and steering wheels being pounded there too.

[TURN3]

I'm not going to defend her actions, but before you guys throw your own tantrums on this incident, might you go back and watch the Mid Ohio race. In particularly where several drivers collided on the one restart. I noticed a few hands waiving and steering wheels being pounded there too.

Wouldn't that be defending her actions?

She's an idiot and a spoiled little brat. What exactly earned her a shot at the IRL again?

[beachbum]

I'm not going to defend her actions, but before you guys throw your own tantrums on this incident, might you go back and watch the Mid Ohio race. In particularly where several drivers collided on the one restart. I noticed a few hands waiving and steering wheels being pounded there too.I can't help but chuckle when a defender of Danirant pulls ups some example of another driver doing something similar to her latest outrageous act. The problem is not a single act (although this one was rather extreme) but the consistent pattern of poor judgment and brat behavior. When another driver makes a silly mistake or gets angry, most people are somewhat surprised because it isn't expected of a professional. When Danirant goes off or does something silly, it just Danica being Danica.

She brought a lot of positive attention to the sport for awhile, but now her prima donna behavior is getting embarrassing.

[DanicaFan]

Call her behavior whatever you want, but she is still better than 80% of the drivers out there.

[MDS]

Does anyone remember when Danica had credibility?

[DanicaFan]

Does anyone remember when Danica had credibility?
She still does, she never lost it.

[elis]

Call her behavior whatever you want, but she is still better than 80% of the drivers out there.

That'd be interesting, to see the career statistics of every driver you think is behind her talent wise... I'm not being judgemental here, I'd genuinely be interested. I mean you have guys out there who have won numerous races, & championship titles in their careers, their stats would question your comment alone.

If you are going purely on this seasons ics results it is in some form a false vision, given many of those said drivers were somewhat thrown into the pot late & were clearly behind the 8 ball from the get go.. Ms Patrick on the other hand, was an experienced veteran in quality machinery, yet she was on occasion comprehensively hung out by some of the new boys, plus in all honesty, reading the actual story behind the Motegi result, her single career victory was by & large somewhat of a lucky flook. *yes I know there is often an element of luck in some wins.*

I don't doubt there is some talent there, it is though, imo average, nothing particulary special. When the wins come, then we'll talk. ;)

So, again, I'm not slating, I'm simply disagreeing with your view, until of course, the stats show me other wise... *Maybe I wont hold my breath on that one :crazy: ;)

[beachgirl]

She still does, she never lost it.

I'd like some of whatever you're having. She has no credibility left. Check any forum or sports news site out here. When the "fans", broadcasters and reporters turn on you for your habitual idiotic, erratic, roadrage behavior, there's no credibility left.

It really is a shame. When she came to the IRL in 2005, she had real potential talent to run at the top, but she's blown it.

[beachbum]

Call her behavior whatever you want, but she is still better than 80% of the drivers out there.80%? That reminds me of a quote about statistics - "98% of all statistics are made up.".

Just keep picking her to win in your fantasy league.

[anthonyvop]

Call her behavior whatever you want, but she is still better than 80% of the drivers out there.

Of the drivers I list below which are the ones that Danica is better than?

Scott Dixon
Tony Kanaan
Helio
Briscoe
Wheldon
Hunter-Reay
Franchitti
Power
Wilson
Servia

[V12]

Of the drivers I list below which are the ones that Danica is better than?

Scott Dixon
Tony Kanaan
Helio
Briscoe
Wheldon
Hunter-Reay
Franchitti
Power
Wilson
Servia

None. Add Meira, Scheckter, Matos, Manning, Junqueira, Moraes, Foyt, Carpenter, Tracy, Bernoldi, Tagliani, Viso, Perera, Bell, Rice, Andretti, Mutoh to that list though.

Probably missed a few though...


What exactly earned her a shot at the IRL again?

Her gender.

[thelurker]

Of the drivers I list below which are the ones that Danica is better than?

Scott Dixon
Tony Kanaan
Helio
Briscoe
Wheldon
Hunter-Reay
Franchitti
Power
Wilson
Servia

None. Add Meira, Scheckter, Matos, Manning, Junqueira, Moraes, Foyt, Carpenter, Tracy, Bernoldi, Tagliani, Viso, Perera, Bell, Rice, Andretti, Mutoh to that list though.

Probably missed a few though...

And yet only 5 of those drivers finished higher than her in the points. And regardless of how good of a driver she is or how much you think she should be here, remember this.

She has brought more attention to this sport than all of those drivers you've listed combined.

The only reason it seems like she has a "pattern" of incidents, is because she is heavily scrutinized whenever she does something. If you guys would just ignore it like you do when ever any OTHER driver exhibits those same actions, it wouldn't be a problem. If you heavily scrutinized other drivers the way you do Danica, you'll notice a "pattern" with some of them as well.

[NickFalzone]

I'd put her somewhere in the top-12 to 15 in terms of talent, regardless of ride she's in. IMO she's an overall better ICS driver than:

Duno, Fisher, Roth, Camara, Moraes, and about even with Foyt, Manning, and Carpenter.

And as far as track type, I'd put her top 10 on any oval, top 15 on any road, and 15-last on any street course. She certainly has her weaknesses as a driver, but I think it's unfair to say her annoying personality and bad attitude are reflective of her driving ability.

[Old3Fan]

I don't think even Danicafan can make something good about this disgraceful display of road rage and me-me-me-me from a last place, lapped driver. She's become a joke.

Don't bet on that. Danicafan is Danica's Mom........... :)

[Old3Fan]

I'm not going to defend her actions, but before you guys throw your own tantrums on this incident, might you go back and watch the Mid Ohio race. In particularly where several drivers collided on the one restart. I noticed a few hands waiving and steering wheels being pounded there too.

Probably true what you say, however Danica seems to have one of these incidents just about every race she is entered in. Like Sarah Fisher before her she was/is a publicity gimmic (good one I admit), but still is a spoiled brat mid to back packer IMHO. And when Old3Fan has a HO, that is the end of the story............... :)

[bblocker68]

delete.

[harvick#1]

She has brought more attention to this sport than all of those drivers you've listed combined.

The only reason it seems like she has a "pattern" of incidents, is because she is heavily scrutinized whenever she does something. If you guys would just ignore it like you do when ever any OTHER driver exhibits those same actions, it wouldn't be a problem. If you heavily scrutinized other drivers the way you do Danica, you'll notice a "pattern" with some of them as well.

you can't ignore it when she keeps doing it, she blasts Duno for being in the way at Mid-ohio, then she can't even crack 19th at Surfers :rolleyes:

she has brought all the wrong attention to this sport. at least Sarah is alot more professional in the way she handles the racing, Danica just likes to complain when things don't go her way. I can see if shes won a championship and tons of races, but shes only one once, and still not even on American soil :p : , shes become a "one hit wonder" and shes throws these tantrums because her 15 minutes are finally up

[thelurker]

Probably true what you say, however Danica seems to have one of these incidents just about every race she is entered in. Like Sarah Fisher before her she was/is a publicity gimmic (good one I admit), but still is a spoiled brat mid to back packer IMHO. And when Old3Fan has a HO, that is the end of the story............... :) Regardless if she has an incident or not every race is meaningless. What matters is peoples reaction to them. If they just ignored it like they do when other drivers do the same thing, then it won't be a problem. At mid ohio, several drivers who stalled would waive their hands to the safety crew to have them hurry up and restart the car. The only difference between them and Danica is that she is gonig to be sctrutinized for it by the haters. The only reason it seems like she has all thsee incidents is because when ever they do happen, everyone gets all bent out of shape over nothing.

The truth is, the complaining about her is more immature than her on track "antics". If everyone would grow up and stop acting like hollywood paparazzi, and stopped trying to make few drops of rain look like a flood, her "antics" wouldn't be an issue.

[SarahFan]

Danica is a direct result of the split.......had it never happened she would never had more than a sniff at the Atlantic/Lights level much less a seat in the bigs...

her attitude is a direct result of the diluted fields and lack of popularity the sport 'achieved' .......

Danica won't win a race in 09'..... she won't finish in the top ten......and will be lucky to have a job in 10'..... and that's the way it should be...

[thelurker]

you can't ignore it when she keeps doing itSure you can. Its called Maturity. Something that many of you apparently lack, yet you'll blast her for not having any.

[garyshell]

Call her behavior whatever you want, but she is still better than 80% of the drivers out there.

Take off the rose colored glasses for a moment. The facts certainly don't support this notion. Looking just at the points standings of the drivers who ran the entire season, she is not in the top 20%.

Gary

[SarahFan]

Sure you can. Its called Maturity. Something that many of you apparently lack, yet you'll blast her for not having any.

come on man/women!

this is a rcing forum where we talk about the teams, drivers and events surrounding the IRL...

Danicas attitude is not only an acceptable topic... but considering her off track popularity or notoriety is entirely relevant to the future success of the sport

[beachbum]

Regardless if she has an incident or not every race is meaningless. ......., everyone gets all bent out of shape over nothing.

...... and stopped trying to make few drops of rain look like a flood, her "antics" wouldn't be an issue.IMHO, having "incidents" at almost every race is not "nothing" and I think most racers would agree. With so many "incidents" how can another driver trust her on (or off) the track? Racers get respect by behaving like professionals, not making silly mistakes, and controlling their emotions. Reputations are destroyed by patterns of behavior and her patterns are not positive. Many racers have lost their rides because of their reputations, earned or not.

I respectfully suggest this latest outburst is hardly a "few drops of rain". It was so out of proportion to the actual incident and so abusive to the track workers that is was a "flood". Bluntly speaking, she stopped in a gap where others had already gone through (Wheldon), stalled the car (the safety workers didn't do that), blocked that portion of the track and then behaved in an extreme and abusive manner to the safety crew. What does that say about her ability to control herself on the track? Scary. When I was involved in racing, racers with her attitude, erratic behavior, and anger management issues were shunned by other racers and sometimes asked to just go home before someone got hurt.

I watch racing to be entertained and see professionals at work. If I wanted to watch an out of control "celebrity" I would watch reality TV. She is "entertaining" but hardly professional.

But if you think she is a great racer, fine, everyone has their own opinions.

[harvick#1]

The truth is, the complaining about her is more immature than her on track "antics". If everyone would grow up and stop acting like hollywood paparazzi, and stopped trying to make few drops of rain look like a flood, her "antics" wouldn't be an issue.

what??? oh yeah the only reason we are doing this is because she is a woman :rolleyes: . I remember many members were blasting Briscoe at the start of the year when his results weren't there, then had the entanglement with the princess at Indy, everyone wanted his head. now look at were Ryan is, looking more and more like hes the favorite to take the championship in 09.


to gain respect, you have to earn it, not just be handed to you.

look at my screen name I usually defend my driver, but when he does something stupid, I have to take it and I respect what others say about him, cause at the end of the day, who cares. will Danica give you thousands of dollars because your standing up for her, hell no. this is an our entertainment, just like people who like Baseball,Football,Soccer, etc... at teh end of our day, are we at all effected by it, no, it doesn't give me a raise at work, or give me a day off to celebrate.

She doesn't belong in the IRL and I have been saying this for over a year, the IRL is in the "good for the short run/bad for the long run". Has Danica put more butts in the seats, NO!!!! I was at the Joliet race and it was 70% full at most (could've looked worse on TV). until she starts acting like a professional, people will still bad mouth her. thats like going up to you and saying you suck at your job, how will you handle it?

[F1boat]

Danica made a mistake, but you can't win an IRL race if you are not a decent driver.

[garyshell]

Danica made a mistake, but you can't win an IRL race if you are not a decent driver.


A decent driver with a good fuel strategy, can win a race. That does not put said driver in the top 20% as stated elsewhere. Nor does that win negate the continued anger outbursts. Not just one or two, but a real pattern.

Gary

[downtowndeco]

Boo f'n hoo. I've never heard such a bunch of belly aching about nothing in my life. : ). So a race car driver has a temper. BIG DEAL. A driver has passion. SO WHAT? A driver has an ego. WHAT'S NEW?. I mean, if you want to exclude or bag on every driver that ever acted out or showed passion while at the track the list of drivers left over to race would be pretty slim and bland indeed.

So she's a upper mid pack driver that gets a little attention for AOWR. Why any true OW fan would have a problem with that I have no idea. Get a grip people! : ).

[Blancvino]

Call her behavior whatever you want, but she is still better than 80% of the drivers out there.


I won't cede she is better than 80% of the drivers in her series, let alone the rest of the racing world. In my view, she doesn't have what it takes and NEVER will.

[anthonyvop]

And yet only 5 of those drivers finished higher than her in the points. And regardless of how good of a driver she is or how much you think she should be here, remember this.

She has brought more attention to this sport than all of those drivers you've listed combined.


Attention...yes. To her.

Anybody who says that there is no such thing as Bad Publicity has never worked Public Relations.

There is no evidence that Danica Patrick has drawn any appreciable numbers to the IRL. Just because she sells T-Shirts and gets Sponsorship don't assume for a moment that it helps the IRL as a whole.

[downtowndeco]

I'm hearing a lot of raw, pure jealousy here in it's uglest form.

[Rex Monaco]

Boo f'n hoo. I've never heard such a bunch of belly aching about nothing in my life. : ). So a race car driver has a temper. BIG DEAL. A driver has passion. SO WHAT? A driver has an ego. WHAT'S NEW?. I mean, if you want to exclude or bag on every driver that ever acted out or showed passion while at the track the list of drivers left over to race would be pretty slim and bland indeed.

So she's a upper mid pack driver that gets a little attention for AOWR. Why any true OW fan would have a problem with that I have no idea. Get a grip people! : ).

I might not have said it the same way, but for once it seems we agree.

[NickFalzone]

I know that many drivers exhibit the same behavior, Kyle Busch and Helio several times last year come to mind. I guess what some have an issue with is that these drivers back it up with results. Danica at Homestead last year stomped off after she hit the pit wall and left the track without talking to reporters. I think this was 20-30 laps before the race was over. I can appreciate aggression and emotion at the track, it's part of racing and adds to the sport. But she needs to run up front some more to justify that kind of constant negative behavior. And even in that, she's not alone. I'd say Meira in his own way was just as bad, he just didn't have as many cameras on him all the time. I think she still has promise to improve the next couple seasons, but there's no question that so far she hasn't lived up to the hype.

[downtowndeco]

I know that many drivers exhibit the same behavior, Kyle Busch and Helio several times last year come to mind. I guess what some have an issue with is that these drivers back it up with results. Danica at Homestead last year stomped off after she hit the pit wall and left the track without talking to reporters. I think this was 20-30 laps before the race was over. I can appreciate aggression and emotion at the track, it's part of racing and adds to the sport. But she needs to run up front some more to justify that kind of constant negative behavior. And even in that, she's not alone. I'd say Meira in his own way was just as bad, he just didn't have as many cameras on him all the time. I think she still has promise to improve the next couple seasons, but there's no question that so far she hasn't lived up to the hype.

The only thing I'd add to this is in the end, "Who cares"? She's still popular. I don't think any of the guys who are complaining about her in this thread ever liked her in the first place anyway. Once she left with Rahal to the IRL she was instantly added to the "enemies" list. Her turning into an overnight celebrity and in turn, helping the IRL was just the nail in the "Danica Fanclub" coffin for them.

All I can say is "thanks for watching" & be sure to tune in next year to see what she does or does not do. : )

[Rex Monaco]

Once she left with Rahal to the IRL she was instantly added to the "enemies" list.

You just had to go and add some Kool-Aid to the thread.

[SarahFan]

I think she still has promise to improve the next couple seasons, but there's no question that so far she hasn't lived up to the hype.


did she ever truly show the potential to put her in a ride to not live up too the hype?

IMO NO

[beachbum]

I'm hearing a lot of raw, pure jealousy here in it's uglest form.Now that is funny! Jealous of what?

[beachgirl]

The only thing I'd add to this is in the end, "Who cares"? She's still popular.

I beg to differ. When she started, she was popular. Now, she's notorious. Not the same thing at all. It's one thing to be, and act, like a spoiled brat who believes all is hers and everyone else should do her bidding when it's on American Idol, or in Hollywood. It is an entirely different matter on the track, when a lot of lives could be at stake when that uncontrolled anger (not agression, rage) explodes. Not the least of which, hers.

[SarahFan]

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=photos+of+danica+patrick&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[Miatanut]

She is still one of the top drivers.

:rotflmao:
Based on what I saw in a Barber Dodge race in Vancouver, and an Atlantic race in Portland, I was a big Danica fan. As it has turned out, I saw a couple of her best races. Then her head got too big and she turned into Princess Permapout, and it's all been downhill from there.

Bottom 1/3 of the IRL. Possibly fairly high in the bottom 1/3, but still bottom 1/3.

[V12]

Call me old fashioned, but I've always judged a driver on their on-track performance, not on how many fair-weather fans they can bring in.

To be fair I've only seen Danica race once in person. It was at a Formula Ford race at Brands Hatch in 1999 when I was 16 and I just remember her being "the girl bringing up the back of the field". Incidentally there was one other current IndyCar driver in the field that day running mid-pack, a smiley face and a gold star for whoever can guess/remember who.

[Damon]

Incidentally there was one other current IndyCar driver in the field that day running mid-pack, a smiley face and a gold star for whoever can guess/remember who.

Hideki Mutoh

[V12]

Hideki Mutoh

Correct - never for the life of me thought they'd end up as teammates on a multiple championship winning IndyCar team nine years later!

[newf66]

[quote="thelurker"] several drivers who stalled would waive their hands to the safety crew to have them hurry up and restart the car. The only difference between them and Danica is that she is gonig to be sctrutinized for it by the haters. QUOTE]

Many marshals would wear ear protection. The drivers would have to let us know that they need a push. The cars aren't always billowing big puffs of smoke, so we don't necessarily know they are stalled. What I've never seen before is "Me. Me. I'm special. I take my clothes off. I'm a star. Push me first. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me. Me."

[MAX_THRUST]

Perhaps we should start a thread about drivers who have struggled this year with the influx of more talented experianced drivers arriving.

I'm not bad mouthing her here, but she is clearly feeling the pressure of being a mid pack runner. I think after years of people pandering to her and keen to see her rise to the top it is becoming hard for her t grasp she is not as good as all those close to her have been saying. Either that or she was hacked off because her man was in strip bars all weekend long.

She won Motegi well done, but it does not mean yo are the best driver in the world, or the most diverse driver. She still probably drives better than any of us, but I think her behaviour has gotten worse.

[Damon]

Either that or she was hacked off because her man was in strip bars all weekend long.


:rolleyes:

[garyshell]

You just had to go and add some Kool-Aid to the thread.


Gee, where is the surprise in that?

Gary

[Chris R]

The only thing I'd add to this is in the end, "Once she left with Rahal to the IRL she was instantly added to the "enemies" list. Her turning into an overnight celebrity and in turn, helping the IRL was just the nail in the "Danica Fanclub" coffin for them.



seems a bit paranoid - most old CCWS fans are not out to get the IRL. I am sure there are people who feel that way just as there are those who feel she is great just because she is a woman race car driver.... However, the majority of us have given her a good chance to show her driving stuff and my opinion is that she is a very average driver with flashes of brilliance - just like most professional drivers. Like Sarah Fisher, there is little question she has the skills to justify her participation in the sport (as opposed to Duno who appears to be out of her element) - but not to justify that crappy attitude.....

Overall, her attitude has given her the most problems - little hissy fits like this do not help her any and they have never helped any professional athlete - male or female - that hasn't had the talent or results to overshadow the behavior......

This is not about CCWS vs. IRL -

[downtowndeco]

Gee, where is the surprise in that?

Gary

Are you denying that she went from hubba hubba darling to a spoiled, no talent ****** in the eyes of CCWS fans the moment she went to the IRL?

Go ahead. Pull the old posts. They thought she was the greatest thing since sliced bread until she switched sides. So much so they tried to duplicate "Danicamania" w/Legge.

[JTK]

Apart from her win in Motegi, and a few Top 5 finishes, she essentially had a disappointing season, needs to refocus during the off-season and get her act together. It is a much tougher series now with many more good drivers in it and she is in danger of just becoming another midfield racer with little chance of adding to her single win.

To my mind the female driver that looks the most promising is Ana Beatriz who finished third in her first Indy Lights season.

[SarahFan]

would anyone here lay down $5 that Danica will win another IRL race?

anybody?

[Alexamateo]

would anyone here lay down $5 that Danica will win another IRL race?

anybody?

I could see her winning another race on fuel mileage or pit strategy, or perhaps a race in which a big accident takes out half the field. Hey, Mario Dominguez has two career wins! :D

[Easy Drifter]

It would be interesting to know if she had the common courtesy to apoligize to the Safety Crew later.
The one at AGR I feel the sorriest for is Bryan Herta if he is still supposed to be the driving coach. Imagine trying to teach two spoiled brats about driving and with Michael lurking in the background.

[beachbum]

It would be interesting to know if she had the common courtesy to apoligize to the Safety Crew later.
The one at AGR I feel the sorriest for is Bryan Herta if he is still supposed to be the driving coach. Imagine trying to teach two spoiled brats about driving and with Michael lurking in the background.Herta is working with Foyt and Carpenter at Vision.

[Easy Drifter]

Thanks. Me bad.
Is any one working with them or is it all up to Tony K?

[garyshell]

Are you denying that she went from hubba hubba darling to a spoiled, no talent ****** in the eyes of CCWS fans the moment she went to the IRL?

"in the eyes of CCWS fans", no. In the eyes of the CCF crowd yes. As always, you assume the two are the same thing.

Gary

[pits4me]

Call her behavior whatever you want, but she is still better than 80% of the drivers out there.

Too bad sponsors who have her participate in a trade exhibit think the opposite.

Of all the female "athletes" making public appearances on behalf of their sponsors, would you like to guess whose name comes up as often needing to be reminded where her bread gets buttered.

She should take some lessons from her team owner, Michael is the ultimate professional when it comes to public appearances on behalf of sponsors.

[El Sween]

Hideki Mutoh

Gosh I remember those days. Neither impressed me then or now. But hey that's the way racing is these days.

[beachbum]

Thanks. Me bad.
Is any one working with them or is it all up to Tony K?Based on the number of heated "team" meetings AGR held this year, it would appear they aren't even working with each other.

[Areez2006]

Maybe she'll get in some good practice in the A1GP series with Marco for the winter. Seeing as how almost half the races this year will be road courses, it'll be interesting to see if she can make something of it.

[DanicaFan]

It seems no one will agree with me but mark my words, next year, she will win at least 2-3 races and be in the running for the championship.

It will be her year!

[harvick#1]

the way the IRL is turning, I see only Kanaan maybe getting a win. Ganassi has the past 2 champions in his stable and Penske has maybe the best driver now in the IRL. Scott, Dario, and Ryan are all gonna be fighting for the win each week on the ovals and road courses. RLR is getting alot better each race with Hunter-Ray in the cockpit. Wheldon will do Panther proud by getting back in VL. NHLR will return to there golden age, but AGR is headed to the toilet in a hurry with only TK to get them afloat. Danica and Marco are both pri-madonna's, and Mutoh is just not there yet for the speeds. plus, the former CCWS teams are getting stronger, don't expect any miracles from AGR next season.

[ShiftingGears]

And yet only 5 of those drivers finished higher than her in the points. And regardless of how good of a driver she is or how much you think she should be here, remember this.

She is in a top team, while most of those drivers are not.

[garyshell]

It seems no one will agree with me but mark my words, next year, she will win at least 2-3 races and be in the running for the championship.

It will be her year!


Wanna put a little skin in that game? I have my usual six pack bet that says you are wrong on both counts. We would, of course, need to define "in the running for the championship".

Gary

[SarahFan]

It seems no one will agree with me but mark my words, next year, she will win at least 2-3 races and be in the running for the championship.

It will be her year!

$5 says no

[Miatanut]

It seems no one will agree with me but mark my words, next year, she will win at least 2-3 races and be in the running for the championship.

It will be her year!

I'll have whatever he's having! :D

[Easy Drifter]

Chad: If you take up everyone who is willing to bet you I expect you will end up very broke!

[SarahFan]

Q: With Danica’s struggles at Surfers Paradise, do you think this is a sign of things to come for her when she drives in A1GP or do you just chalk it up as a bad week and no big deal?

Damon in Hilliard, Ohio

RM: I think she and Marco need all the road racing practice they can get and I’m sure A1GP will be an eye-opener for both of them. Her performance last weekend at Surfers was easily the worst of her IndyCar career – in every way. I’ve been her biggest supporter for the past five years but she’s really regressed this season and that’s not a good trend for a 26-year-old.

[Jag_Warrior]

Are you denying that she went from hubba hubba darling to a spoiled, no talent ****** in the eyes of CCWS fans the moment she went to the IRL?

Go ahead. Pull the old posts. They thought she was the greatest thing since sliced bread until she switched sides. So much so they tried to duplicate "Danicamania" w/Legge.

Just as there were IRL fans who loathed Paul Tracy, I admit that you do have a valid point... in some cases. Some of us didn't like her even when she was in Atlantics. Although then, she did seem to be a more promising driver than what she has shown so far. However, there now seems to be a number of long time IRL fans who have fallen (or jumped) off the Danica Mania Bandwagon. Her skill level and results just don't seem to warrant all the hand waving and feelings of self importance, IMO.

[Damon]

Her skill level and results just don't seem to warrant all the hand waving and feelings of self importance, IMO.


I've got some advice for you then: IGNORE HER

[downtowndeco]

I've got some advice for you then: IGNORE HER

Best post of the thread.

If the 15 people on this thread who think she's a spoiled, overated driver never buy one of her t shirts I think she'll still be ok.

[TURN3]

Best post of the thread.

If the 15 people on this thread who think she's a spoiled, overated driver never buy one of her t shirts I think she'll still be ok.

There aren't 15 or so people on this thread that "think" she is a spoiled brat and overrated, there are 15 or so people on this thread and thousands of race fans (real race fans) that "KNOW" she is a spoiled brat and overrated. That is a statistical fact.

[downtowndeco]

There aren't 15 or so people on this thread that "think" she is a spoiled brat and overrated, there are 15 or so people on this thread and thousands of race fans (real race fans) that "KNOW" she is a spoiled brat and overrated. That is a statistical fact.

Statistical fact? : ) Prove it.

Even if what you say is true that still leaves millions that still seem to be sweet on her for whatever reason. She is still popular with the general public. And never forget controversy and personality = ticket sales.

[beachgirl]

Statistical fact? : ) Prove it.

Even if what you say is true that still leaves millions that still seem to be sweet on her for whatever reason. She is still popular with the general public. And never forget controversy and personality = ticket sales.

Where do you get "millions"? The entire League doesn't even have "millions" of fans. The tv ratings prove that. If it did have "millions" of fans, the TV ratings would have been a lot higher. She might have been popular at one point, but now she's just notorious. There's a big difference.

[beachgirl]

It seems no one will agree with me but mark my words, next year, she will win at least 2-3 races and be in the running for the championship.

It will be her year!

And 2006 was supposed to be her year. When it wasn't, the Danica fans all said 2007 would be her year. When that didn't happen, then 2008 was supposed to be her year. Now it's going to be in 2009? She's not getting any younger. And these predictions are gettinig a lot older.

[Jag_Warrior]

I've got some advice for you then: IGNORE HER

Your thoughtful advise is appreciated. But you should understand that even with people I generally ignore (i.e. Paris Hilton, Danica Patrick, Ryan Seacrest), I may still make comments.

If that bothers you, the board's administrators passed a rule last year that reading and responding to posts that bother you is no longer mandatory. Hope that helps. :wave:

[weeflyonthewall]

....Some of us didn't like her even when she was in Atlantics. Although then, she did seem to be a more promising driver than what she has shown so far. However, there now seems to be a number of long time IRL fans who have fallen (or jumped) off the Danica Mania Bandwagon. Her skill level and results just don't seem to warrant all the hand waving and feelings of self importance, IMO.


Obviously you're not blinded by her looks versus talent and attitude?

[weeflyonthewall]

Statistical fact? : ) Prove it.

Even if what you say is true that still leaves millions that still seem to be sweet on her for whatever reason. She is still popular with the general public. And never forget controversy and personality = ticket sales.

Are you serious? Better double up on the caffeine and get your facts in order. getting more and more like Anna Kournikova everyday. Except Anna is more pleasing to the eye and ears.

[Jag_Warrior]

Obviously you're not blinded by her looks versus talent and attitude?

She really doesn't do anything for me. Remember, I'm primarily a road racing fan. In other words, I prefer women just like my racing: with plenty of curves. :s mokin:

I didn't like Michael Schumacher at all (by the end, I couldn't stand him). But I always had to admit that he was a great racer, so I respected him for his talents. I just don't see anything special about Danica that relates to auto racing. If some are caught up in her cult of personality, that's cool. But she'll win a champonship (in whatever series) about the time that Duhbya Bush learns to say "nuclear" instead of "nukyuler" = some things just ain't never gonna happen. :dozey:

[TURN3]

Statistical fact? : ) Prove it.

Even if what you say is true that still leaves millions that still seem to be sweet on her for whatever reason. She is still popular with the general public. And never forget controversy and personality = ticket sales.


I've posted the reality of her career in statistics enough times that you can look into it on your own. Or, for matter of comparison, what if we reverse that question and ask somebody to post some type of statistics showing positive credentials for her. I've requested numerous times for somebody, anybody, to back their claims of her immense talents with 1 positive professional statistic from her career. That is a career including the lowest forms of professional racing all the way through Indycar and guess what? Nobody has ever been able to figure out a way to obscure her lack of stats to back up any reason why she ever had a shot at the IRL to begin with.

FACT: She got her shot because of her looks and Argent was putting up the bucks at RLR. She stayed competitive at RLR while they were 1 of what 2 or 3 teams with a MASSIVELY dominate Honda engine at the time and she STILL couldn't win. What that proved to be is dangerous because just her being moderately competitive on tracks she had a weight advantage at led people that have no idea what they're talking about the think...WOW she's good.

Well look now, she's tooled around mid-pack for 3 years at AGR. A team that before she came was dominant even with the spec engine. That team has deteriorated to level 2 and largely because she is 1 of 3 drivers on a 4 car team that has absolutely no talent or skill and therefore unable to help develope or set-up a car. TK is a 1 man show over there and there is little doubt the other 3 are holding him back...by a large margin.

So, if you want to ask me to prove my statisical facts, all you have to do is look at...well, anything. She won 1 race on a lucky fuel gamble. That's great and it counts..good job! But what happened all season long? She led a grand total of 2 or 3 laps. Her pattern this year, last, the year before that, etc. all the way back to her Atlantic days is that she isn't fast enough to be competitive. She make 0 (that's zero, notta, no) passes on track oval or road course and works her way up with attrition and strategy (which is a credit to her team not her). For this, she is an amazing driver at staying out of trouble and finishing races...which is easy to do when you aren't competitive.

I think I've made my point. If you disagree then just show me all her trophies, win %, championships, records, oh yeah and I'd like to see 1 driver (teammate or competitor) that would give her any credit.

This is all known to be FACT!

[DanicaFan]

I like Danica, not just because Im friends with her either but she is an awesome driver. Here are some facts Turn 3.

2008

● Finished sixth in IndyCar Series standings for Andretti Green Racing.
● Became first female to win a major closed-course auto race in April at Twin Ring Motegi.
● Recorded 10 top-10 finishes and led two races

2007
● Finished seventh in IndyCar Series standings in first season with Andretti Green Racing.
● Recorded four top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes with a best finish of second at Belle Isle.
● Runner-up finish at Belle Isle matched best finish by a female driver in the IndyCar Series (Sarah Fisher, Homestead-Miami 2001).
● Qualified on the front row at Mid-Ohio and Infineon.

2006
● Recorded two top-five and eight top-10 finishes with best finish of fourth (Nashville and Milwaukee).
● Started 10th and finished eighth in Indianapolis 500.

2005
Won Bombardier Rookie of the Year Award after finishing 12th in IndyCar Series standings for Rahal Letterman Racing.
● Recorded two top-five and seven top-10 finishes with best finish of fourth (Motegi and Indianapolis).
● Earned three pole positions (Kansas, Kentucky, Chicagoland) to tie Tomas Scheckter's rookie record for pole positions in a season.
● Started fourth and finished fourth at 89th Indianapolis 500 and earned Chase Rookie of the Year honors. The highest starting and finishing position for a woman driver in the event's history. Led 19 laps, the first woman to lead at Indianapolis.

[ShiftingGears]

● Finished sixth in IndyCar Series standings for Andretti Green Racing.
● Became first female to win a major closed-course auto race in April at Twin Ring Motegi.
● Recorded 10 top-10 finishes and led two races


She won a race, finished 6th in a top car, was beaten by Kanaan, and finished in the first half of the grid 10 times in a top car.

I don't see how they support the opinion that she is an 'awesome' driver.


The first time I saw her race she was just embarrassing to the series. Losing several tenths to the leaders in every single corner, and then exploding at the marshalls while she was a lap down.

An 'awesome' driver is never that inept.

[Ranger]

2007
● Finished seventh in IndyCar Series standings in first season with Andretti Green Racing.
● Recorded four top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes with a best finish of second at Belle Isle.
● Runner-up finish at Belle Isle matched best finish by a female driver in the IndyCar Series (Sarah Fisher, Homestead-Miami 2001).
● Qualified on the front row at Mid-Ohio and Infineon.

Wasn't that the year Tony George let her have power steering exclusively? :p :

[DanicaFan]

To you guys, she cant do anything right. Im done arguing about it. I know she is the best and thats all I have to say about it. :D

[elis]

To you guys, she cant do anything right. Im done arguing about it. I know she is the best and thats all I have to say about it. :D

If 'she' was a 'he' called Daniel would you still think she, um, he was the best? Just askin' ;)

[beachbum]

I like Danica, not just because Im friends with her either but she is an awesome driver. Here are some facts Turn 3.

Here are a few more facts. (all stats from indycar.com)

Average # Drivers
2005 - 22
2006 - 19
2007 - 18
2008 - 26

Road Course qualifying - average starting position

2005 - 15.3 (bottom 1/3)
2006 - 13.6 (bottom 1/3)
2007 - 8.2 (the year AGR was one of the "big 3") (Middle of field)
2008 - 15.8 (after merger - larger fields) (bottom 40%)

Her experience prior to 2005 was almost exclusively road courses. In 2007, she had two 2nd place road course starts, Mid Ohio and Infineon (remember the special steering and weight controversies?). Her other 3 starts averaged 12.3.

Oval Qualifying

2005 - 6.07 (3 poles, lowest 21)
2006 - 12.9 (Highest - 2 10th - Panoz wasn't as competitive as Dallara)
2007 - 9.5 (Highest 4, lowest 17)
2008 - 6.4 (Highest - 2, lowest 26)

Short ovals Qualifying

Milwaukee
2005 - 6
2007 - 17
2008 - 13

Richmond
2005 - 21
2006 - 14
2007- 8
2008 -14

What does this mean? Most experts concede that driver skill has more impact on road course speed that on ovals. She qualifies in the bottom 1/3 - 1/2 of all road courses. Where the car is a major factor and speed is mainly a matter of holding the throttle down and hanging on, she qualifies in the top 1/2. On short ovals where driver talent comes into play more, she is back mostly in the bottom 1/3. Her qualifying results are also very erratic. After 4 years in the IRL, she should be improving. She isn't. She shows NO potential of having a breakout year. Most top teams (and AGR IS/WAS a top team) would find a replacement for a driver with those results and not improving.

Awesome driver? Hardly. Take the quality of the car out of the equations, and she is consistently in the bottom 1/2 of the field.

So, how did she end up 6th in points in 2008? Of all of the drivers starting all 17 races, Helio finished all 16, Dixon 16, and Wheldon, TK, and DP 15. Marco finished the season 7th in points with only 10 finishes.

Now, just to show how silly statistics can be, here is a good one.

Total points divided by the number of races where they were running at the finish - 2008.

DP -25.2 (between 7th and 8th)
Marty Roth - 27.7 (about 6th place) (yup, that is really how it comes out)

So why do fans have issues with Danica?

1. The hype suggests she is a contender to win at every race - the results suggest she is at best a mid pack driver as far as speed.
2. She is very erratic as far as speed
3. Many of her best finishes were obtained by great team strategy, not great driving.
4. Her arrogant attitude would barely be tolerable in a champion, but as a mid pack driver, she hasn't earned the right to lecture other drivers on racing etiquette and behavior, especially in light of her own foot stomping, hand waving tirades.
5. Her supporters see a celebrity, a model, and an icon of teenage adulation. Many race fans see her as a pouting, childish, notorious twit.
6. Almost every other IRL driver races outside of the IRL, such as in sports cars, and do well. Danica's meager efforts outside of the IRL have been less than impressive.

If is wasn't for her perceived marketing value, she likely wouldn't have a ride with a top team. When (not if) her marketing value drops, she may find it hard to stay in the IRL, or any other series.


To you guys, she cant do anything right. Im done arguing about it. I know she is the best and thats all I have to say about it. :D
You may know she is the best, but the results don't support it.

[beachgirl]

The 2005 Rookie of the Year award has always made me smile, too. It's not hard to be Rookie of the Year when no other rookie was running the full series that year. There's been competition for it in all the years since.

It's kind of like the Motegi win - she got it fair and square, no asterisks. But if it were me (and I did race professionally), I'd always know inside I really didn't earn it competitively, and I'd want to go out and win again. I'm absolutely sure she wants to win again, she just won't do what it takes to win again.

[TURN3]

We have a new and qualified Presidential Candidiate!! Way to go beachbum...you have my vote!

Here is another calculation I previously posted, total IRL win % is 1/64 for a whopping 1.5%. Total Atlantics win % is 0%. Barber...another goose egg 0%, Formula Ford....0%, Formula V....0%. How is it again she got that Indycar ride to begin with? For some reason I can't get an answer to that one because we all know she didn't deserve it. She brought Argent $, that's how.

Danicafan, you at least tried but the reality is there is no way you can spin it that makes her look (fictitiously) awesome. The "stats" or more like biography that you posted are more like a resume. Write it as pretty as you want and hope like heck somebody doesn't check the facts so you get hired. Danica has 1 year left on her contract and I suspect Mikey is going to be sick of losing by the end of the year coming up. He may have to keep her if Motorola $$ are still there but his relationship with them goes back before her. I think she's good for another money deal for somebody but it wouldn't be unrealistic to expect it to be an incentive deal and short term, like a 2 year deal. Whatever it turns out to be, it'll be one more and done for poor Danica unless she for the first time since her pro career began in 1998 can figure out a way to be competitive. Somehow I think the leopards spots are going to have a hard time changing, not sure what you see happening to predict otherwise after 10 years attempting to compete on a professional level.

Since she is apparently compassionate toward special needs people, maybe the next time you're around her, see if she'll be beachbum's vp candidate. And, tell her to shut her dogs up, they are annoying.

[Rex Monaco]

Jessica Alba is HOT! But she'll never be in contention to win an Oscar, Emmy or Tony. Neither will Jessica Simpson or Jessica Biel.

That won't stop teenaged boys from putting their posters on the wall or grown boys from using their images as their computer wallpapers. Their talent (or lack of) doesn't matter to their fans. It's all about their physical beauty.

The same goes for Danica. If Danica looked like Samantha Ronson, then she'd only have LiLo as a fan. But some people do find Danica attractive and when lust takes control of someone, their ability to reason goes on vacation.

In 10 years, she'll probably be on some VH1 celebrity reality show ranting about how she used to be really famous. Then one of the Olsen twins will smack her down and remind her that they were much more famous and made much more money and nobody cares about them anymore either.

Oh wait, that could actually be next seasons show... ;)

[downtowndeco]

A seven page thread is all that is needed to show she has earned her spot in the drivers seat, either by being a decent driver (and finishing 6th in the points IS decent) or by tweaking enough people either one way or another so much they take the time to either bitch about her or defend her.

If she had finished 17th in the standings and this thread was 5 posts long, yeah, you'd have a point. But the 6th place finish and 7 pages shows she's earned her spot in the seat (and the sponsorship she has).

[beachgirl]

A seven page thread is all that is needed to show she has earned her spot in the drivers seat, either by being a decent driver (and finishing 6th in the points IS decent) or by tweaking enough people either one way or another so much they take the time to either bitch about her or defend her.

If she had finished 17th in the standings and this thread was 5 posts long, yeah, you'd have a point. But the 6th place finish and 7 pages shows she's earned her spot in the seat (and the sponsorship she has).

I'll have some of what you're having too.

[beachbum]

How is it again she got that Indycar ride to begin with? For some reason I can't get an answer to that one because we all know she didn't deserve it. She brought Argent $, that's how. You have asked the question that has been asked by many. She apparently didn't have Argent initially, but the question is why did Rahal become her mentor? Without him opening doors for tests with Ford and BMW, buying her ride at Barber Dodge, Atlantics, and the IRL, her career was going nowhere. The reasons her opportunities dried up in Britain are murky at best.

The fact that many drivers got a break because of a mentor is nothing new or exciting. Some were "self-mentored" and bought their way in, and some were just in the right place at the right time. But everyone has to produce to stay. The question is still what driving talent did Rahal see that suggested she was worth the effort? Her racing resume was pretty thin in the beginning. He has been mostly mum about it, and one can only guess how he felt when she packed up her bags and left for greener pastures after all he did to get her in the doors.

The history of racing is full of teams looking for the next great undiscovered talent, and sometimes they find it. Often they do not.

[downtowndeco]

Thoughtful response.


I'll have some of what you're having too.

[Damon]

The 2005 Rookie of the Year award has always made me smile, too. It's not hard to be Rookie of the Year when no other rookie was running the full series that year.

Actually, that's not true.


Ryan Briscoe was in it, but he kept crashing, tearing up the equipment (missed Milwaukee because he damaged his car in practice) and eventually knocked himself out of the series with his wreck at Chicago.



It's kind of like the Motegi win - she got it fair and square, no asterisks. But if it were me (and I did race professionally), I'd always know inside I really didn't earn it competitively, and I'd want to go out and win again. I'm absolutely sure she wants to win again, she just won't do what it takes to win again.


Uh huh......kinda like Dario's Indy 500 and Chicago "wins" in 2007 or Graham Rahal's "win" at St.Pete or even Ryan Hunter-Reay's this year at Watkins Glen.

:rolleyes:

[harvick#1]

And 2006 was supposed to be her year. When it wasn't, the Danica fans all said 2007 would be her year. When that didn't happen, then 2008 was supposed to be her year. Now it's going to be in 2009? She's not getting any younger. And these predictions are gettinig a lot older.

hmm, that sounds like a bunch a fans from a different game, you know that one team in Chicago that hasn't won't anything in 100 years :p :

but the first ever IRL race I went too this was Chicago, I went Sat and Sun and watched her Qualify, he she was third and looked pretty good, then Sunday came and even though she started 3rd, she never ran higher than 6th :mark: (yeah, she lost 3 spots the opening lap) even Duno led the race and challanged Helio.

but during that whole race, I saw Dixon, Briscoe, Kanaan, Wheldon, Castroneves, and even Foyt IV show what it takes to win, they were running 2-3 wide the entire race not giving an inch, Danica of course stuck back in 10-14 with the merged CCWS teams.

I'm sorry, but she doesn't have it, when you have it, the best can make results with an ill handling car, I have yet to see Danica to that on an oval and thats chase down the leaders and passs them, the only time she takes the lead is if she stays out or beats everyone off the pits, but I don't recall a time where she actually passed the leader (even Helio thought she was a lap down at Montegi)

[beachgirl]

Actually, that's not true.


Ryan Briscoe was in it, but he kept crashing, tearing up the equipment (missed Milwaukee because he damaged his car in practice) and eventually knocked himself out of the series with his wreck at Chicago.





Uh huh......kinda like Dario's Indy 500 and Chicago "wins" in 2007 or Graham Rahal's "win" at St.Pete or even Ryan Hunter-Reay's this year at Watkins Glen.

:rolleyes:

Yes, it is true. For whatever reason, none of the competition ran the full series. And that's what I said in my post.

Re the second part, above. Dario, Graham, and Ryan have all won previously, in various series. and in Dario's case, in IRL for years. And they will all win again. They have a winner's mentality, a winner's drive, and a winner's record. You're intentionally missing the point so that you can support a person who wants to win, but won't (or can't?) do what it takes to get there other than by team directed fuel strategy. She should be kissing the ground that Kim Green and Kyle Moyer walk on.

Look, you're a fan of hers, as is Danicafan, which is fine. Every racer needs fans, and I'm sure I like quite a few that you would just laugh at. Terrific. However, the pandering regarding her "greatness" is just over the top. She's a decent driver, and she does have a place in the series, but she's not the Second Coming.

Sometimes you guys make me wonder if you've shaved the number 7 in your chest or back hair yet.

[D28]

I like Danica, not just because Im friends with her either but she is an awesome driver. Here are some facts Turn 3.

2008

● Finished sixth in IndyCar Series standings for Andretti Green Racing.
● Became first female to win a major closed-course auto race in April at Twin Ring Motegi.
</p>
I have read this statement in the press, but have always discounted it ( everything one reads is not always true). I assume the "major" qualifier eliminates Katherine Legge's 3 wins in 2005 F Atlantic. That leaves Desire Wilson as the best candidate with her 1980 Brands Hatch victory in the British F1 Series. If that is not major enough, she won Prototype races at Monza and Silverstone in 1980 with Alain DeCadenet. Surely this must count even with the shared drive.

[Damon]

Yes, it is true. For whatever reason, none of the competition ran the full series. And that's what I said in my post.

And you make it seem like she started every race and that's the ONLY reason she finished ahead of Briscoe and Enge for Rookie of the Year, when the truth is in the same number of starts as those guys she finished ahead of them both.

2005 ROY points: Danica 325 points, Enge 261, Briscoe 232

Enge got a DNS at Motegi, but still got 12 points for it and missed Milwaukee and Michigan completely, so he lost 12 points total, giving him 249 points in 14 starts

Briscoe got a DNS at Milwaukee, but still got 12 points anyway and missed Watkins Glen and Fontana, so he too lost just 12 points, giving him 220 points in 14 starts

Danica vs Enge: Take away Motegi, Milwaukee and Michigan, she loses 56 points, but still has 269 points in 14 starts, 20 more than Enge in the same number of races

Danica vs Briscoe: Take away Milwaukee, Watkins Glen and Fotana, she loses 38 points, but still has 287 points, 67 more than Briscoe in the same number of races



Look, you're a fan of hers, as is Danicafan, which is fine. Every racer needs fans, and I'm sure I like quite a few that you would just laugh at. Terrific. However, the pandering regarding her "greatness" is just over the top. She's a decent driver, and she does have a place in the series, but she's not the Second Coming.

Other than DanicaFan, who said she's the "Second Coming"? In fact, I'd say this statement is pretty much right on the money:


Originally Posted by downtowndeco
http://www.motorsportforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=552121#post552121
A seven page thread is all that is needed to show she has earned her spot in the drivers seat, either by being a decent driver (and finishing 6th in the points IS decent) or by tweaking enough people either one way or another so much they take the time to either bitch about her or defend her.

If she had finished 17th in the standings and this thread was 5 posts long, yeah, you'd have a point. But the 6th place finish and 7 pages shows she's earned her spot in the seat (and the sponsorship she has) .


If you notice, downtowndeco isn't saying she's a top 5 driver in the series or "the second coming" as you put it and if you actually READ my post, I don't even say anything close to that, but you apparently took that and ran with it in a completely different direction.



Re the second part, above. Dario, Graham, and Ryan have all won previously, in various series. and in Dario's case, in IRL for years. And they will all win again. They have a winner's mentality, a winner's drive, and a winner's record. You're intentionally missing the point so that you can support a person who wants to win, but won't (or can't?) do what it takes to get there other than by team directed fuel strategy. She should be kissing the ground that Kim Green and Kyle Moyer walk on.


I'm NOT missing the point because the point I was making wasn't even about winners mentality or whatever junk you've come up with to deflect from what my point actually was, it was about specific races that drivers won where they get all the credit and never have people saying their win doesn't count or it was only by fuel strategy or it was only this/it was only that.

It's funny how Danica's win gets tossed under the bus when you see races that are won in similiar fashions ALL THE TIME, yet she does it and the anti-Danica crowd is quick to poo-poo her win and make excuses, when they wouldn't do that to anybody else, that's the problem I have.

[TURN3]

It's funny how Danica's win gets tossed under the bus when you see races that are won in similiar fashions ALL THE TIME, yet she does it and the anti-Danica crowd is quick to poo-poo her win and make excuses, when they wouldn't do that to anybody else, that's the problem I have.

Danica's win gets thrown under the bus not only because it was an absolute lucky crapshoot but because even the leader of the race didn't even know she was on the lead lap. Tell me how almighty Team Penske makes an error like that? It could happen of course but the consensus from the drivers and teams leads one to believe there might have been...uhhh....scoring issue there. She probably was on the lead lap and maybe shown lower while scoring cycled through but she pitted at virtually the same time as Helio...had Helio known he was racing her she again, as usual, would have had no chance. Her team won that race and maybe with a little gentle IRL help, maybe not. It was hardly a racers greatest hour though.

By comparison, a win like Rahal for exampe is different in that he ran some of the fastest laps of the race once he got up front and he ran away from all the big boys. Yeah, he got there through strategy but he stayed there by talent and speed. On a course he'd never even seen on so much as a simulator in a car he'd never competed in.

Get the point?

[beachbum]

"But the 6th place finish and 7 pages shows she's earned her spot in the seat (and the sponsorship she has).'

Actually, he does have a point, at least about the 7 pages of posts (attention she draws), sponsors love it.Yeah, all 2 dozen of the posters on this thread will really make a dent in sponsor hits, especially since only a handful of posts have been positive. The thread on the "Phoenix Rising" (the rebirth of Champ Car?) has almost as many posts and views. I am sure sponsors are watching that thread like a hawk to find the next big sponsor opportunity. Right.

We are all just preaching to the choir. It is fun, but essentially meaningless entertainment.

[downtowndeco]

You can't have it both ways.

Either this thread is indicative of the general public's feelings on Danica (your view) or it is not.

You can't say "People are tired of her and are sick of her antics" and then when it is pointed out that she still stirs strong feelings with the fans therefor she's a good return for her sponsors say "Oh, this is just a stupid internet thread and it doesn't mean anything".

Again. Can't have it both ways.






Yeah, all 2 dozen of the posters on this thread will really make a dent in sponsor hits, especially since only a handful of posts have been positive. The thread on the "Phoenix Rising" (the rebirth of Champ Car?) has almost as many posts and views. I am sure sponsors are watching that thread like a hawk to find the next big sponsor opportunity. Right.

We are all just preaching to the choir. It is fun, but essentially meaningless entertainment.

[downtowndeco]

You can't have it both ways.

Either this thread is indicative of the general public's feelings on Danica (your view) or it is not.

You can't say "People are tired of her and are sick of her antics" and then when it is pointed out that she still stirs strong feelings with the fans therefor she's a good return for her sponsors say "Oh, this is just a stupid internet thread and it doesn't mean anything".

Again. Can't have it both ways.






Yeah, all 2 dozen of the posters on this thread will really make a dent in sponsor hits, especially since only a handful of posts have been positive. The thread on the "Phoenix Rising" (the rebirth of Champ Car?) has almost as many posts and views. I am sure sponsors are watching that thread like a hawk to find the next big sponsor opportunity. Right.

We are all just preaching to the choir. It is fun, but essentially meaningless entertainment.

[harvick#1]

</p>
I have read this statement in the press, but have always discounted it ( everything one reads is not always true). I assume the "major" qualifier eliminates Katherine Legge's 3 wins in 2005 F Atlantic. That leaves Desire Wilson as the best candidate with her 1980 Brands Hatch victory in the British F1 Series. If that is not major enough, she won Prototype races at Monza and Silverstone in 1980 with Alain DeCadenet. Surely this must count even with the shared drive.

D28, you didn't read it right, she was the first female driver to win at Twin Motegi :p :

also Liz Halliday took 2nd overall and won P2 at the 12 Hours of Sebring in a privateer entry, only to lose the the famed Audi R8, not to shabby

[Damon]

By comparison, a win like Rahal for exampe is different in that he ran some of the fastest laps of the race once he got up front and he ran away from all the big boys. Yeah, he got there through strategy but he stayed there by talent and speed.



No BUTS, he got there through strategy, period.

Without his team leaving him out during the round of pit stops on lap 60, he's stuck back in pack (was 17th on lap 59, the lap before 15 of the 16 cars in front of him pit, BTW) and has no chance of winning.




Danica's win gets thrown under the bus not only because it was an absolute lucky crapshoot but because even the leader of the race didn't even know she was on the lead lap.


Her win gets thrown under the bus because there's a lot of people like you who simply hate her guts and disregard anything good that she does on the track by making excuses for it.

[F1boat]

No BUTS, he got there through strategy, period.

Without his team leaving him out during the round of pit stops on lap 60, he's stuck back in pack (was 17th on lap 59, the lap before 15 of the 16 cars in front of him pit, BTW) and has no chance of winning.






Her win gets thrown under the bus because there's a lot of people like you who simply hate her guts and disregard anything good that she does on the track by making excuses for it.

I agree. It is clear that she is not a great driver like Sam Hornish jr. or Gil de Ferran, but she is a decent driver and I think that people see what they want to see. They hate her because she is a pretty girl competing is a boys sport and because she is in a top team, unlike many CCWS drivers.
But she got a win, luck and strategy are part of the game. So she is a solid driver and deserves her place in the series.

[downtowndeco]

That's all I'm trying to say as well. She's a solid, decent river. No world beater, but very good, consistant (and the 6th place finish in the points proves it).


I agree. It is clear that she is not a great driver like Sam Hornish jr. or Gil de Ferran, but she is a decent driver and I think that people see what they want to see. They hate her because she is a pretty girl competing is a boys sport and because she is in a top team, unlike many CCWS drivers.
But she got a win, luck and strategy are part of the game. So she is a solid driver and deserves her place in the series.

[D28]

D28, you didn't read it right, she was the first female driver to win at Twin Motegi :p :

also Liz Halliday took 2nd overall and won P2 at the 12 Hours of Sebring in a privateer entry, only to lose the the famed Audi R8, not to shabby

Actally I am reading it correctly, the claim was widely publicized last Apr, that Danica was the first winner worldwide. This is untrue. She is the first female IndyCar winner, or the first in major American Open Wheel series (CART, USAC, IndyCar). This by itself is an important achievement and a milestone in womens motorsport. There is no need to hype the record beyond this. Your point on Liz Halliday is well taken. Sebring is obviously a major international race and a class win is significant. Probably this makes LH the first female American winner of a major race. Any other candidates?

[anthonyvop]

Actally I am reading it correctly, the claim was widely publicized last Apr, that Danica was the first winner worldwide. This is untrue. She is the first female IndyCar winner, or the first in major American Open Wheel series (CART, USAC, IndyCar). This by itself is an important achievement and a milestone in womens motorsport. There is no need to hype the record beyond this. Your point on Liz Halliday is well taken. Sebring is obviously a major international race and a class win is significant. Probably this makes LH the first female American winner of a major race. Any other candidates?


Michele Mouton.

Danica isn't good enough to carry Michele Mouton's Panty Liners.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mich%C3%A8le_Mouton

[TURN3]

That's all I'm trying to say as well. She's a solid, decent river. No world beater, but very good, consistant (and the 6th place finish in the points proves it).

Her 6th place points finish does prove that she is consistent, I'll give you that. But with what amounts to an 8 car championship considering most of the tracks are aero and come down to the driver with the most balls on the team with the most aero wind tunnel work. At 6th, she finished 3rd to last ahead of her rookie teammate and her other teammate who crashed out of races while battling with leads packs (although he's an idiot too). So, she is consistent, at being in the middle of a pack with cars behind her that were not as developed as her own.

Take away all the aero tracks and recalculate the points based on those where driver skill comes into play. I don't care to take the time because I already know she stinks. The fact she isn't even fast enought to battle with competitors lends her to work up to some top 10 road/street course finishes through attrition. Her team has her on an "alternate" fuel strategy at every single race because she's off the pace and cannot pass to gain any track position on her own.

All of this and take into consideration she cannot even set-up her own car at what 5 years into the series now? Forget about her lack of pre-IRL success which further supports the story, she can't even help her team be competitive. Her team owner has to buy into and operate the American A1GP program just to get her (and Marco) more seat time. Who that is a decent driver needs more seat time to improve at 5 years into a career?

Here is my point, she's an overrated, spoiled, selfish brat that never earned her way to the bigs to begin with. Whether you want to think she is an average driver or whatever is your right. But the FACTS seem to support she is just another example of a high profile person that was over glorified by the media because she was made up to look attractive to teenage boys in FHM. Before that, DP had no racing credibility, no racing credentials, and no way of ever sniffing the likes of an Indycar. Spin it however you want, until she sticks her nose in with the big boys once in awhile, or ever at all, she is a ride buying (through sponsors) no talent little brat. Sponsors liked her because the hype suggested she garners attention...the hype is rapidly receding due to lack of results and frequency of non-results, finger pointing, and tantrums. It'll be intersting to see how sponsors, in the midst of recession, continue to throw sponsorship dollars at a gimmick, a side show at professional races.

[harvick#1]

IThey hate her because she is a pretty girl competing is a boys sport and because she is in a top team, unlike many CCWS drivers.
But she got a win, luck and strategy are part of the game. So she is a solid driver and deserves her place in the series.


Don't even say that, we all have reasons why we dislike/like her but this is just flat wrong, thats like people saying your a racist if you don't like Lewis Hamilton, I guess since if you don't like Danica, your a sexist, give me a break. I dislike Hamilton, but I am just astounded by the way he can drive a car and earns alot of respect for this. Danica, on the other hand, meh... shes not even that decent looking (IMO), and she stuggles with the car even though shes in the "Big 3". but the media goes gah-gah over her thinking shes great, just look at this years Indy race, need I say more :dozey:

[D28]

Michele Mouton.

Danica isn't good enough to carry Michele Mouton's Panty Liners.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mich%C3%A8le_Mouton

I assume the Closed Course portion of the original quote was inserted to exclude Rally drivers such as Michele Mouton, who anyway is French. I have only considered the exploits of women racing drivers.

[beachgirl]

I assume the Closed Course portion of the original quote was inserted to exclude Rally drivers such as Michele Mouton, who anyway is French. I have only considered the exploits of women racing drivers.

I would strongly suggest that you never, ever try to tell Michele Mouton she is not a racing driver.

[Miatanut]

I assume the Closed Course portion of the original quote was inserted to exclude Rally drivers such as Michele Mouton, who anyway is French. I have only considered the exploits of women racing drivers.

I don't get this growing trend toward considering rallying as distinct from racing. Rallying IS racing. It's racing where if you screw-up, you can end up going into a tree or over a cliff, with a substantial risk of killing or maiming yourself or your co-driver instead of just walking away from a smoking hulk. It's racing in cars that aren't mollycoddled primadonas that can't get over a trolly track without special help and where all the drivers complain if they DO have to drive over a trolly track. It's racing where seat-of-the-pants feel for what the car is doing is required at all times, because the car isn't glued to the course with excessive amounts of downforce.

In other words, Michele Mouton was successful in the kind of racing which requires the most balls and the most driving skill.

[Miatanut]

I would strongly suggest that you never, ever try to tell Michele Mouton she is not a racing driver.

Beat me to it! :up:

[beachbum]

I assume the Closed Course portion of the original quote was inserted to exclude Rally drivers such as Michele Mouton, who anyway is French. I have only considered the exploits of women racing drivers.What does being French have to do with anything? There are many motor sports fans who consider Mouton one of the most successful females in motor racing - ever. She also ran LeMans and won at Pikes Peak more than once. DP is hardly the first woman RACE driver to win something.

[D28]

I would strongly suggest that you never, ever try to tell Michele Mouton she is not a racing driver.

OK I would not presume to tell M. Mouton anything. I am aware of her exploits, the World Rally and Pikes Peak victories. She is arguably the greatest woman driver ever. Its more a question of terminology, track vs rally is sometimes used to segregate the classes. I was somewhat puzzled as to why the Press mentioned closed cicuit wins in the first place. I think it likely is to separate Rallying from track racing but I don't really know.

[weeflyonthewall]

I know she is the best and thats all I have to say about it. :D

Best what? ICS Driver? You must be kidding. Too bad we couldn't see her go head to head against Legge at Indy.

[Wilf]

Best what? ICS Driver? You must be kidding. Too bad we couldn't see her go head to head against Legge at Indy.

Yeah! She was so good they were afraid to give her a ride at INDY for fear Danica and all the boys would go home. In fact they wouldn't even let her drive in the regular series she is so good.

[D28]

What does being French have to do with anything? There are many motor sports fans who consider Mouton one of the most successful females in motor racing - ever. She also ran LeMans and won at Pikes Peak more than once. DP is hardly the first woman RACE driver to win something.

I agree. What I was trying to establish with Harvik#1 was the first American female winner of a major track race. M Mouton is excluded by virtue of being French and a Rally specialist. She is certainly not excluded on merit.I think we can establish women winners of major track races as this: First winner Desire Wilson (S Africa) 1980 First American winner Liz Halliday LMP2 Sebring 2006 First open wheel American series winner Danica Patrick 2008 This assumes F Atlantic is not major, the original Press Agency story made this assumption, otherwise the answer to 3 is Katherine Legge.

[beachbum]

What I find interesting is how "records" and "firsts" have so many qualifiers. If you want to get picky, Danica was the first American female winner of a non-american race. Next we will have an award for the first IRL winner who was born in Wisconsin and is under 5'1" tall.

PR hacks are notorious for creating accolades that sound great but don't tell much of a story. What is unfortunate for the princess is that nearly all of her "firsts" and "records" come with a back story. Most of her results in every series have been average at best with a handful of good results. She has never shown a pattern of being a regular contender, but more of a "one hit wonder", and often a very lucky one at that.

IMHO, one of the reasons she is controversial is that in some ways she is an enigma. She has proven she can be fast for a few laps at certain types of tracks, yet almost always fades in traffic and her average lap times are typically mid pack. All of her early experience was on road courses, yet they are her main weakness in the IRL. She can run consistently with few mistakes for whole races, and then pulls off bone-headed moves like at Surfer's, Kentucky 2007, and the Glen this year. She can seem charming to some, and then explodes in temper tantrums. She lectures other drivers on racing etiquette yet blocks mercilessly, can't hold a line, and has a history of "doing her own thing" (ask Kanaan at Edmonton). She has claimed she wants to be treated like another driver, yet much of her notoriety has come from taking off most of her clothes and playing the celebrity model card. She can easily spout off techo-talk about her car setup and how it works and yet admits she knows almost nothing about the mechanical aspects of a car. She wants the back of her car "planted" and then screams on the radio about understeer (the basic condition created from the back being planted).

When the princess showed up on the scene, I was personally skeptical about how she would do. It was fairly obvious that much of her history was heavily enhanced by PR, which is hardly anything new for a young driver, and her efforts to get attention seemed a bit over the top. But she showed sparks of talent and the potential to contend in Atlantics and the early days in the IRL. I was willing to let time judge her abilities. But now after 4 years, she hasn't improved, her attitude and behavior seems less and less professional, and now her "performances" are getting more than a little stale. IMHO, her best years are already behind her and if she doesn't clean up her behavior and attitude, her days may be numbered in major league racing.

[downtowndeco]

"Hasn't improved"?

She's been in the IRL four years. The first year she finished 12th in the points. Second year 9th. Third year 7th. Fourth year 6th. And last year she probably had the stiffest competition because of the larger fields/new talent coming over from CCWS.

Don't like her attitude? OK. Don't buy one of her t shirts.

Don't think she's the next Mario Andretti? I agree with you.

But to spend the amount of time you do bagging on her when she's done nothing but move up in the championship makes me wonder what your agenda is. Did she turn you down for a date? Wreck your favorite driver? Or do you just not like what she does for AOWR?




What I find interesting is how "records" and "firsts" have so many qualifiers. If you want to get picky, Danica was the first American female winner of a non-american race. Next we will have an award for the first IRL winner who was born in Wisconsin and is under 5'1" tall.

PR hacks are notorious for creating accolades that sound great but don't tell much of a story. What is unfortunate for the princess is that nearly all of her "firsts" and "records" come with a back story. Most of her results in every series have been average at best with a handful of good results. She has never shown a pattern of being a regular contender, but more of a "one hit wonder", and often a very lucky one at that.

IMHO, one of the reasons she is controversial is that in some ways she is an enigma. She has proven she can be fast for a few laps at certain types of tracks, yet almost always fades in traffic and her average lap times are typically mid pack. All of her early experience was on road courses, yet they are her main weakness in the IRL. She can run consistently with few mistakes for whole races, and then pulls off bone-headed moves like at Surfer's, Kentucky 2007, and the Glen this year. She can seem charming to some, and then explodes in temper tantrums. She lectures other drivers on racing etiquette yet blocks mercilessly, can't hold a line, and has a history of "doing her own thing" (ask Kanaan at Edmonton). She has claimed she wants to be treated like another driver, yet much of her notoriety has come from taking off most of her clothes and playing the celebrity model card. She can easily spout off techo-talk about her car setup and how it works and yet admits she knows almost nothing about the mechanical aspects of a car. She wants the back of her car "planted" and then screams on the radio about understeer (the basic condition created from the back being planted).

When the princess showed up on the scene, I was personally skeptical about how she would do. It was fairly obvious that much of her history was heavily enhanced by PR, which is hardly anything new for a young driver, and her efforts to get attention seemed a bit over the top. But she showed sparks of talent and the potential to contend in Atlantics and the early days in the IRL. I was willing to let time judge her abilities. But now after 4 years, she hasn't improved, her attitude and behavior seems less and less professional, and now her "performances" are getting more than a little stale. IMHO, her best years are already behind her and if she doesn't clean up her behavior and attitude, her days may be numbered in major league racing.

[beachbum]

"Hasn't improved"?

She's been in the IRL four years. The first year she finished 12th in the points. Second year 9th. Third year 7th. Fourth year 6th. And last year she probably had the stiffest competition because of the larger fields/new talent coming over from CCWS.

Don't like her attitude? OK. Don't buy one of her t shirts.

Don't think she's the next Mario Andretti? I agree with you.

But to spend the amount of time you do bagging on her when she's done nothing but move up in the championship makes me wonder what your agenda is. Did she turn you down for a date? Wreck your favorite driver? Or do you just not like what she does for AOWR?
No need to get personal in your attacks. She never wrecked a favorite driver, I don't think she does much at all one way or the other for AOWR, and I never met her and don't care if I do. I don't have an agenda, just voicing an opinion. But I can't help but wonder about the fervor in which her fans attack anyone who doesn't share their opinion about her. If you want to buy her T-shirts and follow her exploits, that is fine with me.

But leave the personal attacks at home.

The only statistical area in which she has improved is in the points standings. IHMO, in all other areas, she has not improved and nothing suggests that will change.

I worked in racing with a number of racers, including female racers. There were always racers with huge overinflated egos, attitude issues, and other annoying traits. What disturbs me as a fan are her anger issues and her often erratic behavior on track. It isn't hard to see that other drivers don't often race her hard. They will race wheel to wheel for a bit, but frequently just move away. Her behavior and attitude on the track is dangerous, and she has had some very close calls with disaster. I find that worrying as a fan as I don't want to see anyone get hurt, including her.

When I was in the racing business, racers with those issues were often avoided, even when they were winners. Some changed as they developed, and just as many were quick flashes and disappeared. The racers I respected - male and female - worked hard at their craft and professionalism, even if they weren't contenders for a win. They were respected by their peers and often were raced very hard because they could be trusted.

I only ever worked around one other racer with the attitude issues displayed by Danica. They were talented enough to get some leeway and even won championships. They also switched teams with great regularity and had a relatively short career as they were deemed just too temperamental.

If there is anything that really bothers me about the fantasy world around Danica is that, in my opinion, she gets attention for all of the wrong reasons. As a professional racer, she would garner my respect if she worked hard at getting better, showed a respectful attitude toward other racers, the media, fans, and others in the sport, and was honest about her mistakes and weaknesses. Her arrogant pouting attitude just lowers my opinion of her as a professional racer.

Now blast away because I am done for now.

[Damon]

Her behavior and attitude on the track is dangerous, and she has had some very close calls with disaster.


You want dangerous on-track behavior, look at this guy who causes this wreck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRCWjV5tnVQ

[beachbum]

You want dangerous on-track behavior, look at this guy who causes this wreck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRCWjV5tnVQIf you dig deep enough, you can find an example to prove almost anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yahW3YrFYKM

[TURN3]

You want dangerous on-track behavior, look at this guy who causes this wreck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRCWjV5tnVQ

Danny boy is dangerous, I'll give you that. He won a championship and dominated an entire season doing. it. He since won a few more races and contended for championships right up until the series started expanding to tracks requiring driver skill. Now he's out of a top ride at TCGR. Why? 1.) No real driving skill outside of hanging it out on aero tracks (at the front as opposed to DP at mid-pack). 2.) He has an ego and an attitude similiar but not quite as bad as DP.

Since you make the comparison, he has shown little Princess Brat the back end of a few things and is therefore a lot more qualified as a professional race car driver. I might add that he also finished ahead of her in the points this year. With that, I'm not trying to make a point of his abilities compared to Princess Brat. But take note, he is out of a ride at TCGR because he can't hang with the big boys even after actually accomplishing something (again as opposed to DP). So if his credentials gets you demoted to a ride with Panther, where does that leave Princess Brat now? At the end of this coming contract year? Dreyer & Reinbold have a seat opening up?

[Easy Drifter]

I do not like Danica.
She is pretty competent on ovals although always complaining.
She has too many bone headed crashes.
So do Marco and so did all the Andrertti's.
Aust. was a real low point.
I am in dangerous territory here.
This is a lady racer with a time of the month situation.
All of us mere males know all about that.
So please cut her some slack here. She is better than Aust. but no super star.

[speeddurango]

No, improvenments in points don't indicate much if anything, you get a better car you can certainly get a better result, an avg 10.5 finish in RHR, an avg 6.5 in AGR pretty much sums it up, and by saying improvement, people were saying how she's going to feel different after winning Motegi then when she came to Kansas she still drove like when first came to IRL, rather cautiously, so not really, I can't see her big improvements over the years.