Q: When you were a little girl, which was your toy of choice, Barbie or Hot Wheels?
PATRICK: Well, it depends on what age we’re talking about. I had a hundred Barbies, and I turned cardboard boxes on their sides and made them into Barbie houses. But I always liked Mr. T, too. That must have been the start of something masculine. And I did have the Barbie car.
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Q: When you were 12 years old you crashed into Sam Hornish Jr. during a go-kart race. Now you both race Indy cars. Have you two ever talked about it?
PATRICK: As funny as it would be, we haven’t. I see him all the time. He’s cool. He’s a friend. We hang out since we race with each other now. It’s funny how that came full circle. I remember he bumped my go-kart into the first turn with a lap or two to go. When we came to the last corner, I decided I wasn’t going to let him get away with it and I drove over him. Come to think of it, he may have tried to brake-check me. I should ask him because I didn’t make mistakes like that. I’ll bet he brake-checked me.
Q: Were you a street racer?
PATRICK: Heck no. My dad always told me not to race on the street. He had odd theories, like if your car was fast enough, it kept you out of trouble. He said, “I know you’re going to try to pass semis on a two-lane road, and if you have a slow car, that other car will be coming at you too quickly.” I loved his theory. It’s a great outlook, don’t you think?
Q: Rumors spread in the off-season that you were moving to NASCAR, and you even test-drove a Busch Series car. What would it take to get you to move to NASCAR?
PATRICK: It would take a seat on a team that wins races—that’s most important. I don’t want to start at the bottom when I’m at the top where I am now.
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Q: When asked about female drivers in NASCAR, Richard Petty said, “I just don’t think it’s a sport for women. It’s good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity; it gives them publicity. But as far as being a real, true racer, making a living out of it, it’s kind of tough.” Do you think NASCAR is less prepared for a female driver than Indy?
PATRICK: No. Since Juan Pablo Montoya started and since NASCAR is interested in recruiting minority groups, it would be more open than ever. It’s trying to expand its fan base. It saw the kinds of things that happened with my being involved with Indy, so I’m sure NASCAR would like to see that happen to its series.
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Q: Is it hard to be both sexy and a racer?
PATRICK: When I was younger I felt uncomfortable because I didn’t want people to look at me and think, She’s just some girl, and write me off before they gave me a chance. There’s nothing I can’t do in a race car because I’m a girl. These days I love being a girl.
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