Could Danica Spurn NASCAR For Formula One?
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Danica Patrick Painted on a Boeing 717
It’s no coincidence that Danica Patrick’s contract with Andretti Green Racing is due to expire at the end of this year and rumors are increasing about her moving from the IndyCar Series to NASCAR.
Let me throw a curve ball into the mix.
Given slipping TV ratings and at-track attendance, sponsorship issues and other maladies that the sport is trying to fight through, I’m betting Patrick is using the possibility of moving to NASCAR as a bargaining chip.
But not to return to Indy Cars. Thanks to a very well-placed motorsports source in Germany, what would you say if I told you Patrick may be trying to work both the IRL and NASCAR to leverage a high-profile ride in Formula One?
No, I’m not crazy. Hear me out:
* Why become a big fish in a small pond of NASCAR and in the U.S., when she can literally have the world at her beck-and-call as the most visible competitor in F1 after reigning champ Lewis Hamilton? Because European workplace attitudes towards females are more primitive than in this country, Patrick could literally be a vehicle for change, much like President Obama has been in this country. And despite the current global economic crisis, Patrick would be a magnet for sponsorship dollars that she could only dream about if she were to go to NASCAR.
* To assure proper sponsorship and building infrastructure around her, regardless of which racing series she winds up in, Patrick is going to have to make a decision probably in the next month or so, at the very least. When she signed with AGR three years ago, she inked her contract on July 25, 2006. If an F1 team(s) is serious about Patrick, they’ll have to start moving soon on a potential contract.
* While male egos at McLaren and BMW would likely keep her from being hired on at either of those locales, Patrick might even have a shot at Ferrari, as well as a number of other teams that would be very interested in her, including the budding U.S. F1 team that hopes to start racing next season. Some might consider that a risky move, but it would meld the best of both worlds for her – even though I still think she’d wind up with a more established team.
* Virgin Airlines chairman Richard Branson is rumored to be drooling at the chance of getting Patrick under contract. Again, think of the sponsorship possibilities, particularly with Branson using her as the star of worldwide ad campaigns for his airline and other businesses. Why would she settle for being touted from Loudon to Fontana when she could have her face plastered on billboards from London to Beijing?
* Many in F1 would love to see Patrick fail in a high-profile role – which is all the more incentive for her to go over the big pond and prove the naysayers wrong. She has that kind of chutzpah. Why waste it in her homeland when she can prove the world wrong.
* Having recently signed with management and marketing powerhouse IMG, Patrick will have everything managed for her in such a way to maximize her looks and fan appeal – even if she winds up not being able to drive an F1 car worth a damn. Then again, what happens if she somehow DOES win in F1? Her popularity would soar to heights that would make her one of the highest profile females in the world, not just one of the highest profile female racers.
* Like NASCAR needs Dale Earnhardt Jr. to rebound to help the fortunes of the sanctioning body, F1 is a shell of what it used to be. And even though Bernie Ecclestone once called Patrick a “kitchen appliance,” she could singlehandedly become F1’s savior. Wouldn’t that be ironic?
* One of Patrick’s current major sponsors, GoDaddy.com, could rule the online world internationally, especially when you consider that only 21 percent of China’s one-billion plus population is online, and only 7 percent of India’s population is online. That leaves a potential customer base of, oh, 2 BILLION people that it could eventually serve as primary Web provider (regardless of China’s limitations on Web access).
* She previously raced in England in her younger, developing days, so she already knows a great deal about the F1 structure and culture.
* If stock cars are too heavy or difficult for Patrick – who is what, maybe 100 pounds soaking wet? – to handle, what better way to take the next big step in her racing career than to segue to F1, which are essentially Indy cars on steroids.
* Even though she is still one of the most lusted-after female athletes in the U.S., Patrick has to remember that beauty can be fleeting, especially with each passing year. If she really wants to be taken seriously as a race car driver and not always be labeled as a good-looking woman who just happens to race cars, moving to F1 would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If she passes on it now, she may never have another chance like this again.
* Patrick may become the target of scorn and contempt in NASCAR, particularly among her potentially soon-to-be future driving competitors. If she’s going to put up with scorn and contempt, it’d be much better – and more lucratively worth it – to do it on a world stage. Plus, think of all the women internationally that she would not only become a role model for, they’d also be the source of support for both her, which she needs, and F1, which desperately needs it.
* Sure, Patrick could still go to NASCAR and ignore any potential overtures from F1. She could get a deal much like Roger Penske gave Sam Hornish Jr.: try it and let’s see what happens. On top of that, she could have it written into her contract with whichever NASCAR team she’d wind up with that she’d be able to race in the Indianapolis 500 every year.
* Chip Ganassi and Jack Roush have been among those mentioned as potential owners that could lure Patrick into their NASCAR stables. Wouldn’t there be a bit of irony, particularly with Ganassi, if Patrick came to NASCAR and raced for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, the same team that spurned Dale Jr. into moving to Hendrick Motorsports?
Yes, I know a lot of what I’ve suggested here is just hyperbole and “what-if” scenarios, but one thing I’ve learned in covering motorsports for nearly a quarter-century is that nothing is too outlandish or out of the question.
So, if Danica goes to F1 instead of NASCAR, don’t say I didn’t tell you here first.
Posted by Jerry Bonkowski on 06/10 at 09:54 PMI think Robin Miller has the scoop and Danica is going to Ganassi and staying in Indy Cars. He has never been wrong before.
Jerry, I have rarely been so stunned at such a complete lack of understanding of F1.
- Danica would not be the most visible competitor after Hamilton since Lewis has barely scored a point this year! Jensen Button has already matched Schumacher, Clark & Fangio’s records for most wins per race & we’re not halfway through the season yet. Behind JB is Vettell & Weber, both strong drivers in a highly competaitve car (Red Bull). F1 fans know their business, at best Danica would be a diversion from the “real” racing, nothing more.
- Compared to Ferrari, MaClaren & BMW are probably bastions of women’s rights. The likelihood of Maranello hiring an unproven driver to look “good” is about the same as them painting their cars blue.
- Branson/Virgin is sponsoring the Brawn GP team, their drivers are currently 1st & 3rd in the points and they lead the constructor’s series. Most believe Button will clinch the world title. Trade Button or Barrichello for Danica? Why? Do they need the publicity?
- As the 2nd most watched sport in the world (soccer is #1) I’m not quite sure that F1 could be considered a “shell.” Sure they’ve got politics but that’s always been a part of GP racing.
- GoDaddy.com has no interest in the Chinese market since most of their content is fire-walled there.
- DH racing the UK in her younger days? And this makes her ready to compete against 22 year olds who’ve been racing carts, F3 & GP2 since they were 9 years old?
- If stock cars are too heavy, what chance does Patrick have in the 5xG force world of F1?
- If you think Patrick would become the subject of scorn & contempt at NASCAR wait until she drives her 1st practice session in F1.
I’m not a DH hater, she has done moderately well in a competitive but not particularly demanding race series. I agree, more women in open wheel racing would be great, however, F1 is not the place for her.
Jerry, if this column had not been written by an otherwise respected writer as yourself I would have assumed the whole piece to be that of an internet troll.
Philip:
Let me take your points one by one.
Jensen Button is enjoying a marvelous season, I will give you that. But do you actually think he is even in the same stratosphere as Lewis Hamilton? C’mon. He is competing each weekend with Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel. Do you actually think Webber and Vettel are better than Alonso and Raikonnen? Do you think that F1 fans and the people that write contracts for drivers feel like Button is the next Schumacher? Lets keep it real.
Button’s team mate is older than Fangio.
I would be very interested to see your data (or personal notes) that explain why Italians are worse than Germans regarding women in the workplace.
Barrichello was considered to be replaced “during” this season. If he can’t win in that car, he can’t win. He is obviously out-classed and will never be the 2nd Brawn driver next year.
Why does Richard Branson need publicity? He took a professional photographer to a private island vacation with him and his 20-something girlfriend and had her photographed on his back while he windsurfed. This is Richard Branson we are talking about.
F1 is nearly imploding. This is not your every day politics-in-F1 type of disagreement. Trust me. This goes to the heart of F1’s identity.
There are more Chinese online than there are Americans. GoDaddy doesn’t care about that?
Danica raced in Europe when she was 16 and took second in the Formula Ford Festival. The highest place ever for an American. The F1 drivers remember her.
Stock cars are difficult to “drive” potentially for a smaller driver. G-Force is another thing. There are some other readers of this column that can explain this to you better.
Scorn and contempt would be MUCH greater in F1. And her and her sponsors would soak it all up.
IndyRacing is not demanding? I won’t touch that.
I look forward to your response.
Best regards,
--Internet Troll
Thanks for the reply. You have some good points and of course, today it all may be moot anyway! Danica could be driving for some team named Lotus in Abu Dhabi while Ferrari tears it up at Spa by this time next year.
I think you are looking at Hamilton’s stature through the eyes of a (thankfully) balanced US journalist. The European rags, no strangers to hysterical headlines, have been waiting for the chance to pull Lewis down, this year they got it.
As for the comparisons around Button, that’s always so hard to do since the cars play such a huge part, no more so than this year. Would Alonso be beating Jensen in the Brawn GP? Quite possibly, Kimi, I’m not so sure about. And right now Vettel is certainly driving with more heart than the former World Champ in red. Interestingly, my respect for Massa has grown as his car has not. A season in a tough drive has brought out some class (and humor) in a man previously known mostly for his whining.
My comments about women in the workplace were somewhat tongue in cheek but based on my knowledge of the strict anti-discrimination laws in both the UK and Germany and the infamous Italian machismo which I can only believe is at it’s full height at Ferrari. Italian males with fast cars… If Ross doesn’t get him 1st, I look for Alonso to head that way.
Agreed on Reubens, if you can’t win in Ross’ super car what can you win in? His recent off-roading shows some desperation on his part too. Maybe he’ll close out at Renault after Piquet?
Would I love to see some American’s back in F1, you betcha! Would I love to see “real” coverage of F1 in the US which that might bring, yes please! With her 1 win and 3 poles in IRL I just don’t think Danica has the experience or talent to compete at the level of F1.
man - I meant to sign my post “Troll Baiter” but hit send too soon.
Lots of great points Philip. I never thought about the ‘Italian Men and their mothers’ syndrome as an extrapolation to explain glass ceilings in Europe. But I will sure agree on at least the solid ground you’re standing on. There have been some studies and, from an academic or sociological standpoint the Germans take the cake when it comes to having no room at the top for women. German or Italian doesn’t matter, Danica in F1 would run into more flak than Lewis Hamilton at the Spanish GP (bad joke).
We both agree on Ruebens, this guy can not be around another year, just can’t. I think Vettel is probably the real deal and Kimi has lost the hunger.
Mark Webber is the classic F1 driver that keeps Americans from giving a sh-- about F1. Here’s a guy that can drive the pants off in practice and warm-ups and when they are playing follow the leader. But the first signs of traffic and he folds every time. And this guy has been on the podium this year - go figure.
Button has stayed hungry and perservered through years of mid-pack racing with quality equipment. He stayed sharp, got a great ride, now he gets his season in the sun. Nothing wrong with that.
I think Alonso has still got it and it would have been even better last year if he could have made it a 3-way battle with Massa and Hamilton.
I know the odds are stacked against me, but wouldn’t it be sweet if Danica made the move, replaced Barrichelo and then consistently ran at the front for a full season. That, and letting Bernie have his no-points, win-only scoring system. Lets see the F1 cars fight for the front and that will be American-style F1 racing that we can all enjoy.
Thanks for the comments. And thanks Jerry for a great column.
--Chief Troll
Webber recently proposed in an interview that they make the TV coverage of F1 more attractive. “Not as full on as American TV of course” was his closing line.
