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When Danica Patrick makes the full-time leap to NASCAR—and she will be a stock-car regular no later than 2012—where will that leave the IndyCar Series?
Patrick’s eventual defection to NASCAR won’t kill the sport, but it will deal the open-wheel types a painful and possibly even fatal blow. The folks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway don’t want to hear this, but without Patrick—their one and only marquee talent and celebrity—IndyCar is as insignificant as celebrity billiards.
It doesn’t matter if the IndyCar Series does ovals, road courses, street courses or competes on the moon, without personalities, without compelling stories that engage fans, it is doomed to eternal status as a micro-niche sport. They could put push-to-pass buttons or rocket boosters on the backs of those cars, but without personalities like Patrick, casual fans won’t pay attention.
Without Danica, the IndyCar Series has nothing, and nobody, to sell. Marco Andretti has a great name and pedigree, but he hasn’t won much of anything. Graham Rahal also has the name and pedigree and is an unquestioned talent, but to this point, he hasn’t been a podium regular. If the series is fortunate, one of those two young men will emerge by the time Patrick departs. But even then, they can’t begin to demand the attention Patrick brings to the sport.
The word of Danica’s eventual exit comes at a time when the series’ leadership is in flux and the economy is in tatters. How do you sell a Patrick-less IndyCar Series?
As Patrick’s very public courtship of NASCAR plays out before the cameras, where’s IndyCar’s leadership? Where is Jeff Belskus, wining and dining Patrick while subtly (and rhetorically) twisting her arm? Would this happen if Tony George were still in charge?
The question of whether Patrick can make it in NASCAR is immaterial to the point of the column, but we’ll address it anyway.
The answer is, yes.
At the very least, she will be given every opportunity to succeed and there’s no question she’s tough and single-minded enough to push her way through any early adversity.
