There was more interest in IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick and her Nationwide Series debut than in any other driver or practice for Thursday’s 150-mile qualifying races that will determine the Daytona 500 starting lineup after the front row.
Two of the first four questions for four-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson were about Patrick. Gordon and everybody else got their fair share of the GoDaddy.com marketing darling, as well.
It’s to the point one wonders whether the 500 will be overshadowed.
And whether NASCAR will change its name to DANICAR.
She’s even stealing the spotlight from NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“This might be the first time we don’t have to weave through cameras and media reporters when walking to our car, because they’ll be in Danica’s garage,” said the co-owner of JR Motorsports, which fields Patrick’s No. 7 Chevrolet.
He was half-joking, but it’s probably true.
“She handles it well, and we’ll try to make sure it’s not a distraction,” said Earnhardt, who will start on the front row of the 500 beside pole-sitter Mark Martin. “We are there to do a job. We’d like to both have strong runs this weekend. It’s a big race for our sponsors, and it’s a big race for our sport. A lot of people will be paying attention.”
Gordon predicts it might be the most-watched Nationwide Series race ever, just as Saturday’s ARCA race was the most-watched ever.
“I’m as excited as anybody else to watch,” he said. “It’s exciting.” ESPN
Patrick took the next step in her stock car racing education Wednesday, staying out of trouble and learning as much as she could in her first Nationwide series practice at Daytona.
“She just soaks it up, man,” crew chief Tony Eury Jr. said. “She just asks question after question, and we just try to give her the answers.”
Patrick finished 26th on the speed chart Wednesday. “We kept the car in one piece, I ran out there with some big guys, so that was good,” Patrick said in a television interview. “I played it pretty safe.”
Not all drivers appear to be Patrick fans or think she should be racing this week, however.
“I think it’s a little too soon, personally,” Sprint Cup driver Jeff Gordon said. “But I probably would have made the same decision if I was in her position. And you’ve got to get that experience.” Ottawa Citizen
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