02-14-2010, 09:03 AM
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Senior Club Cobra Member
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Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Ellington,
CT
Cobra Make, Engine: Classic Roadster 351W, T5, Red & White
Posts: 3,478
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Not Ranked
Realistically, the first race in a totally new environment without the benefit of extended practice and test sessions , what is the expectation at the Nationwide level ? If Danica caused an accident, there sure would be comments, a no win situation.
How many other drivers over the years have entered the Nationwide and Cup races with a very aggressive driving style and their own unique personalities ?
In the 2009 IRL season, Danica was the highest finisher , 5th, of any driver on a Team other than Penske and Ganassi , and finished higher than the other 3 drivers that raced for Andretti. The 4 Penske and Ganassi drivers won every race except 1, the first and only win for the Dale-Coyone ( sp ? ) Team. While having only 1 win, probably many other open wheel drivers that wished they had the same accomplishments at the IRL level.
Running only 13 races this year and mixing the two different styles of racing and cars will add to the challenge. Just entering the pits is different, where in the IRL a button is pushed to control the pit lane speed.
All that said, along with the NASACR rule changes and hopefully more to come, anything that helps to improve the attendance, TV ratings, competition, reduce boring races, etc will help to retain and attract sponsors and dollars, especially for the underfunded Teams. Got to be difficult when at the Nationwide level some Teams qualify to just start and immediately pull out of the race and receive starting purses for other Team cars and/or funds to run a full race at a later date.
From MotorSport.com
" When Patrick was asked if she thought her presence was overshadowing the Daytona 500, she responded, "By no means am I trying to take anything away from anybody else, including the Daytona 500. But if I can do anything to help the series and perhaps drag in some sponsors, I'm happy to do it."
Regardless of what Patrick does on Saturday, the Sunday newspapers, the Internet sites and television news programs will give her plenty of coverage, which is another win-win situation for racing. "
http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=357365
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