Danica to get Honda F1 test

[URY914]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10062008/23/honda-confirms-danica-patrick-f1-test.html

Honda confirms Danica Patrick F1 test.

Tue 10 Jun, 07:06 AM

IndyCar Series' first female race-winner, Danica Patrick, to live out her F1 dream after Honda reveals a test will take place.

Honda has confirmed that Danica Patrick will get a test in one of its Formula One cars later this year, fuelling speculation that the American is also to be given a race chance in the top flight in the not-too-distant future.

Wisconsin-born Patrick currently sits sixth in the IndyCar Series point standings following her historic breakthrough victory at Motegi back in April, the first success by a female driver in the premier open-wheeled championship across the Pond.

The 26-year old Andretti Green Racing ace has hinted in interviews at her long-held desire to have an outing in an F1 car. Now it seems that dream has come true.

Honda CEO Nick Fry has admitted to Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung that a test will indeed take place, and that it is likely to do so at either Barcelona or Jerez in Spain in November, following the end of the 2008 F1 campaign.

"We will put her into our car after the season at the latest and see how quick she is," the Briton said.

Honda's current driver Jenson Button had previously joked in an interview with men's lifestyle magazine FHM that 'a girl with big boobs would never be comfortable in the car, and the mechanics wouldn't concentrate. Can you imagine strapping her in? You wouldn't want to be on the circuit with them, would you?'.

The last woman to enter the top flight was Giovanna Amati, who attempted to qualify three times for Brabham back in 1992 before being replaced at the ailing British outfit by Damon Hill.

[URY914]

Let the jokes/discussion begin...

Will it be a crash test?
It's all a PR stunt.
She's not earned it.
Etc, etc, etc...

[Jims5543]

I think there are many other Indy drivers that should be in this spot TK is one that comes to mind right away. (I am sure many others will chime in with more)

I am sure her people are pushing for her to get a test and it is a huge publicity stunt sure to get lots of headlines.

I guess we will have to wait and see if she tests well, Sebastian is having a hell of a time adjusting and he is a 4 time champion.

[bell]

i think her response to an F1 cars perfomance will be similar to jeff gordons when he drove montoyas, and it'll scare her

[URY914]

Update:

The test will be in a Honda minivan.

Sorry I couldn't help it.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by bell

i think her response to an F1 cars perfomance will be similar to jeff gordons when he drove montoyas, and it'll scare her

Jeff drives a Stock Car IIRC they weigh close to 3000 lbs. An Indy car is not too far off from an F1 car int he grand scheme of things. She might actually test well, as good a Seabass? I do not think so.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

First time she has to turn that wheel to the right I bet she crashes out.

Are they going to clear the pit lane for her?

[Neilk]

Nothing against Danica, but it's just a Honda sponsored test. Didn't Janquiera (sp?) and others get to test as well? Really nothing to get excited about, except for her to get the opportunity to test one. I'd love to try to drive an F1 car.

[sammyg2]

publicity stunt.

She couldn't handle the G forces for an entire race.

[Noah930]

I've been a defender of Danica in the past in all the bashing threads, but I don't think she's got the talent or finesse to drive an F1 car. I can't believe any of the higher ups in Honda truly think she'll make it, either.

[the]

Originally Posted by Noah930

I've been a defender of Danica in the past in all the bashing threads, but I don't think she's got the talent or finesse to drive an F1 car. I can't believe any of the higher ups in Honda truly think she'll make it, either.

+1 on all of that.

I think she is a talented driver. Just not F1 talented. Her results in CART or Champ Car or whatever it's called prove that. Even if she had 15 wins and a championship by now, she would be a question mark in F1. Her results, while IMO good, are nowhere near justifying an F1 test.

It's a good publicity stunt, though, and will generate a lot of buzz.

[JeremyD]

Proof that tits and ass will get you into places... What's the line that was in Men in Black? If I had a decent set of mammaries I could rule this planet...

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Nothing against Danica, but it's just a Honda sponsored test. Didn't Janquiera (sp?) and others get to test as well? Really nothing to get excited about, except for her to get the opportunity to test one. I'd love to try to drive an F1 car.

I would love to drive one as well, but I have to admit when I saw Hammond try to drive one on Top Gear (I know its dramatized and all) I was pretty humbled and think I would be in way over my head. I do not think I could handle a Formula Renault to be honest.

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Nothing against Danica, but it's just a Honda sponsored test. Really nothing to get excited about.

Agreed. Referring to a Honda PR event as an "F1 test" is a bit comical. If you listen closely, I'll bet you can actually hear Nick Fry and Ross Brawn gritting their teeth from across the Atlantic at the prospect of this taking up their time.


Danica will get a real test in F1 round about the same time Ed Carpenter does.







Tim

[JeremyD]

And I agree that she has talent - I saw her drive first hand - very well in st. pete to stay on the lead lap. F1 Talent? me thinks not - I think there are several indy car guys that should be testing ahead of her.

[Mule]

Word is she's a set of D cups away from a job!

[URY914]

Can you image the up roar if she got a great big set on implants!?!?!

Talk about a PR nightmare.

[TechnoViking]

i think her response to an F1 cars perfomance will be similar to jeff gordons when he drove montoyas, and it'll scare her

As someone on this board posted before...she drives a car at 200+ MPH six inches from a wall and gets on the radio to complain it won't go faster. Scared? Not likely.

And, as I've posted before, I think she's great. Go Danica.

[chapo]

Speed TV has an article this morning in which Honda and Nick Fry deny any sort of plans for her to test.

[tchanson]

'No Honda test for Danica Patrick'
Tuesday 10th June 2008

Nick Fry has denied reports that IndyCar race winner Danica Patrick is scheduled to test for Honda later this year.


According to reports in the Austrian media, Fry has agreed to test Patrick, who claimed her breakthrough Indy victory in Japan earlier this year, when the F1 season ends in November.


"We will put her into our car after the season at the latest and see how quick she is," Fry reportedly told Kronen Zeitung newspaper.


The Honda CEO, though, has denied ever saying this, stating that there are no plans in place to test Patrick.


"There has been no contact between us," he told Autosport.


"But if Danica did want to test one of our cars, we would be more than happy to speak to her about it."






Translation: Ross told Honda PR to bugger off.









Tim