Its official, she's a roundy rounder

In reply to Klayfish:

Danica is married to Paul Hospenthal

If i were single i'd take it for a test drive....but I'm not, and happly so to.

I guess this means the "Danica Can't Drive" rants and "NASCAR Sucks" rants will be conveniently located in the same threads next year.

Yep all under one roof.

Just one more driver I won't be watching

I will admit to being just a bit confused. Danica has spent the last few years driving Indycars, America's top open wheel series, and second only to F1. Last year she was the first car in the top 10 in points not owned by Ganassi or Penske. On a regular basis she finished ahead of her teammates. Up until this year she almost always finished in the top half of the field. So exactly what do people mean when they say Danica can't drive? Granted, she's stinking it up pretty well this year, but it's not her usual performance. I guess every guy she finishes ahead of can't drive, either. Gotta give credit where it's due. Anyone who can strap into an Indycar and finish the race is a helluva driver.

ncjay wrote: I will admit to being just a bit confused. Danica has spent the last few years driving Indycars, America's top open wheel series, and second only to F1. Last year she was the first car in the top 10 in points not owned by Ganassi or Penske. On a regular basis she finished ahead of her teammates. Up until this year she almost always finished in the top half of the field. So exactly what do people mean when they say Danica can't drive? Granted, she's stinking it up pretty well this year, but it's not her usual performance. I guess every guy she finishes ahead of can't drive, either. Gotta give credit where it's due. Anyone who can strap into an Indycar and finish the race is a helluva driver.

Well, let me help you get "unconfused". How many races has she actually won??????????? I think she won a race in Japan about 10 years ago. You know what Ricky Bobby says, "If you're not first, you're last."

She also has a knack of being involved in almost every wreck.

Besides her .... ahem, face, puts more bums in NASCAR stands, so her sponsors want her in front of more people, despite her abysmal record.

Since 2005 in 109 starts, 3 poles all in 2005, 1 accidental win on April 20th 2008 at Twin ring Motegi Japan due to fuel stops by competitors and 3 podiums in 2007, doesn't match the hype, IMHO.

This about says it all: Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone said that "To have someone like Danica Patrick in F1 would be a perfect advert."

I wish more women would consider motorsports.

plance1 wrote: Well, let me help you get "unconfused". How many races has she actually won??????????? I think she won a race in Japan about 10 years ago. You know what Ricky Bobby says, "If you're not first, you're last."

Really? We're using Ricky Bobby to define "good driving"? She's not winning, but I'd hardly say she's a 'bad driver'.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Even as her mangled race car belched steam from its radiator in the background, Danica Patrick remained confident she would have good days in NASCAR.

This wasn't one of them.

More from ESPN.com

Hinton Remember Danica Patrick's meteoric rise after her Indy 500 debut in 2005? Her disappointing exit from the Nationwide race at Daytona should curb the enthusiasm this go-round. And that's a good thing, writes Ed Hinton. Story

Newton Life in a fishbowl doesn't get more intense than this. Regardless, crew chief Tony Eury Jr. says Danica Patrick passed her first NASCAR test with flying colors, writes David Newton. Story

Making her NASCAR debut, Patrick ran outside the top 20 for most of Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway before getting caught up in a 12-car wreck just past the race's halfway point.

Patrick was hoping to learn as much as she could about a new style of racing. She ended up going to the school of hard knocks.

SB Nation's NASCAR guru Jeff Gluck agrees with us: Ryan Truex's car hitting Danica Patrick's during Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway was an accident.

It was obvious to everyone. Well, everyone except Danica.

And, in typical Danica fashion, she over-reacted after the race:

She put on a show of displeasure, walking up the track and giving Truex a "What the hell?" gesture with her arms extended, then complained to ESPN that Truex "runs hard."

So while the wreck wasn't Patrick's fault, the part-time NASCAR driver isn't doing herself any favors with fans who are still deciding whether they like her or not.

Longtime NASCAR fans have seen that type of incident hundreds of times, and typically both drivers treat it as "that's racin'." Meanwhile, those type of angry gestures are typically reserved for a driver who made a much bigger mistake than Truex did – or acted intentionally.

Truex, for his part, was immediately apologetic after the race and emphasized he didn't mean to run into Patrick.

It seems like Danica is winning just as many friends in NASCAR as she had in IndyCar.

AS VEGAS — A charmed beginning to Danica Patrick's third NASCAR race came to a crashing halt during Saturday's Sam's Town 300 Nationwide Series race, when she collided with Michael McDowell on lap 83 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Eight laps after pitting for four tires and fuel and 13 after she was running third behind John Wes Townley and Joe Nemechek, Patrick's No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet quickly came upon McDowell's slowing Dodge that had lost its rear end. McDowell was on the outside in turn 1 and trying to make it around but drifted down into Patrick's path, sending both cars up the banking and ending an encouraging run in her final NASCAR start before returning to the Izod IndyCars Series for 4½ months.

SAM'S TOWN 300: Harvick wins after overcoming pit errors

"I really, really felt good that last time out on stickers (on new tires)," said Patrick, who was scored 35th after starting 37th. "I felt like I was on a roll and it's always fun to come out of the pits when you're on a different cycle than everyone else because you have fresh tires when they don't, so it was fun.

"Unfortunately, the fresh tires caught me out a little bit because I caught that car (McDowell) in front of me so fast on the front straight. I went to go underneath him into 1 and I think the red tape on the left rear bumper (holding it in place) should've been a big signal for me."

Though McDowell apologized and took "100% responsibility" for causing the wreck, Saturday still marked Patrick's third sub-30th finish and second wreck in three starts. In her Feb. 13 debut at Daytona International Speedway she was caught up in a 12-car accident that left her 35th.

ncjay wrote: So exactly what do people mean when they say Danica can't drive?

Compare the number of times she's crashed IN THE PIT LANE with the rest of the field. Let's see who comes out on top in that competition.

Taiden wrote: I wish more women would consider motorsports.

this!

Danica Patrick was passed for the lead with two laps to go in Friday's Nationwide race and finished 10th despite being involved in a multi-car crash as she crossed the finish line.

Mike Wallace moved up in front of Patrick as she closed in on the checkered flag and as she moved to avoid him, she got sideways off Almirola's bumper, collecting Steven Wallace, Elliott Sadler, Tony Stewart and others.

Patrick adapted very well to Daytona's tandem draft and was hooked up with her JR Motorsports teammate Aric Almirola and the two were in first and second with three laps to go. However, they got shuffled back as they got passed by Sadler and Tony Stewart and the duo couldn't get back to the front.

"It looked like Mike Wallace, it looked like he was struggling. He was kind of high and started drifting low and all the sudden came up high in front of me and there was just nowhere to go," Patrick told ESPN after the race.

"Kept my foot in it too. I know that's probably not the right thing to do when there's a crash. You know, I was going for broke in the GoDaddy car."

ncjay wrote: Last year she was the first car in the top 10 in points not owned by Ganassi or Penske..

This. No she isn't the next Mario or Schumacher but she isn't bad. Even though Indy is a spec series the teams with the money (Ganassi and Penske) still win.

Being the first car in the top 10 means she is a reliable driver. She may get in all the wrecks, but when she finishes, she generally finishes well.

The problem with being a marketing icon.. not only her wins get fawned over.. but her losses get thrown out there too

People remember AJ Foyt's wins... how many remember his losses?

There are worse drivers as far as finishing and winning. Give her credit. She is out there trying.

njansenv wrote:

plance1 wrote: Well, let me help you get "unconfused". How many races has she actually won??????????? I think she won a race in Japan about 10 years ago. You know what Ricky Bobby says, "If you're not first, you're last."

Really? We're using Ricky Bobby to define "good driving"? She's not winning, but I'd hardly say she's a 'bad driver'.

Yes, Ricky Bobby, that great philosopher! Did you really think I was being serious by quoting him, its called humor, check into it lol!

Danica has had her share of bumps and bruises, but stats don't lie. Out of 111 Indycar races, she's been running at the end in 99 of them. So where are all these wrecks that she's been in? I guess when you're Danica, you take all the good hype along with the bad hype. The stereotype of Danica being a "bad" driver really doesn't fit with what she has actually accomplished on the race track. Even now, she sits 12th in Indycar points right behind Helio Castroneves. Jeez, we all know he can't drive worth a crap either. http://indycar.com/drivers/show/55-izod-indycar-series/3663-danica-patrick/

mad_machine wrote: Being the first car in the top 10 means she is a reliable driver. She may get in all the wrecks, but when she finishes, she generally finishes well. The problem with being a marketing icon.. not only her wins get fawned over.. but her losses get thrown out there too People remember AJ Foyt's wins... how many remember his losses?

"First car in the top 10?" What the heck are you talking about? "Remember AJ Foyt's wins?" Guy, she's won ONE RACE! Not too much to remember. I much prefer Sarah Fisher, much classier, much more talented, not as good when it came to prancing around in bikinis but really now, is that the only way women drivers can get noticed? I guess if they're not that good. If Danica was a better driver, she'd be able to keep her clothes on.

ncjay wrote: Danica has had her share of bumps and bruises, but stats don't lie. Out of 111 Indycar races, she's been running at the end in 99 of them.

Not sure how you are mangling this statistic, are you saying, she's pretty good because she's "running at the end" meaning she actually finished the race????

Oh, did you say she's 12th? What would Ricky Bobby say about finishing 12th? Something like, "If you're 12th, you're really, really last!"

I'm all for more attractive women prancing around in bikinis.