Does everyone still hate Danica?

[M.D. Holloway]

I think she is sexy

[Flieger]

But she's no Courtney Force- in looks or results...

[weseeeee]

I agree with LubeMaster77, btw, there are a lot of guys running near the back of the pack with her. The question is, where would they be running if they had her car?

As a business woman she's made some good moves.

[Hydrocket]

Danica Patrick, as a racer, is garbage. She's done ZERO as far as her career is concerned. Since she started racing at age 16, she has ONE victory to her name. ONE. In ~15 years or racing..amateur and pro. Since she's been in the "big leagues" she has well over 200 starts with a single victory to her name. She's not what you call good.

Not sure why anyone would dispute this, either.

Now let's look at the guy who replaced her at Andretti racing in Indycars (James Hinchcliffe). In about 25 starts, he has 3 victories. Same team.

So it may be harsh, but the reality is Danica Patrick as a racer is terrible.

A set of boobs apparently goes a long way.

[motion]

Didn't she do well in Formula Atlantic, even winning some races? If she did, she has my respect. I ran a FA car and was no where near as fast as the pros.

[Hydrocket]

Originally Posted by motion

Didn't she do well in Formula Atlantic, even winning some races? If she did, she has my respect. I ran a FA car and was no where near as fast as the pros.

She never won a race in Formula Atlantic.

So you at least have as many wins as her there!

Congrats, sir!

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I won a 3-legged race with my dad back in 5th grade. No asterisk, either.

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by CMDR Perry

The facts:
She can competently drive a race car
She has 1 Indy car oval victory (Motegi) She is very physically fit
She is coveted by sponsors, TV and press
She is rich and famous

Personally I don't care for Danica as a racer or female person. However you have to concede that she is a successful business-woman by anyone's standards.

DP

That win in '08 was a gift, 'ya know'. The transition of Champ Car teams merge to IRL left the rest of them at Long Beach the same weekend, 'ya know'. At Motegi roundi, she led just a few laps and yet won it, 'ya know'. 200 lapper with almost 30 under yellow.... whatever, ya know, ya know, ya know...

[Hydrocket]

^^Since it's her 1st victory at all...I think it's safe to say it was a fluke.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Hydrocket

...I think it's safe to say it was a fluke.

Well, the race was one of those where the timing of the fuel stops and the cautions meant that everybody was trying to save fuel in the last stint. She had enough to pass Castroneves in the last 3 laps to win. Nobody in the front was driving flat out, they were just trying to make it to the finish line without running out of fuel. And, lots of the good drivers were at Long Beach in another race, as has been said.

Thus, the asterisk...

JR

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Hydrocket

A set of boobs apparently goes a long way.

Yessiree!!

[yazhound]

It boggles my mind. Guys who have not raced at her level being so adament that she sucks as a driver. Where cometh thy expertise? Sour grapes and misogynism?

[Joe Bob]

How does she compare to "other non winning"drivers? Gotta be stats on finishes, wrecks, blown motors, etc.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by yazhound

It boggles my mind. Guys who have not raced at her level being so adament that she sucks as a driver. Where cometh thy expertise? Sour grapes and misogynism?

I don't think anybody is saying she sucks. Obviously, she can drive. She just hasn't done anything to warrant the attention she gets. If she were anybody else, she would have lost her ability to get a ride years ago. Usually, if you don't get results, you rapidly work your way down the food chain.

Racing these days is too much about money. Danica has a seat because advertisers think that they benefit somehow from her involvement. I question that, as I don't think exposure necessarily translates into sales. Other less-than-stellar drivers race because somebody writes a check to buy them a ride. There are a lot of really talented drivers sitting at home and watching TV because they have been replaced by someone with access to money.

It's not sour grapes, at all.

JR

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by javadog

Other less-than-stellar drivers race because somebody writes a check to buy them a ride. There are a lot of really talented drivers sitting at home and watching TV because they have been replaced by someone with access to money.

Racing has never been a 100% meritocracy. Except for the watching TV part, there is nothing new here. It was happening before there WAS TV. So a guy gets a ride because his daddy's rich and can buy him one (I'm thinking Salt Walther here) and Danica gets a ride because she's easy on the eyes and gets attention - in my book she's more deserving. At least she has to keep herself up to keep the money rolling in.

[javadog]

I know it's not new but the difference is, Danica gets media attention no matter what she does and guys like Walther only got it when they got results, or had a big crash.

I'm surprised there isn't a Danica channel on TV.

JR

[yel911]

I HAD to surf this thread just for the pics!!!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by javadog

I know it's not new but the difference is, Danica gets media attention no matter what she does and guys like Walther only got it when they got results, or had a big crash.

OK. I was talking money, not media attention. Salt got money from dad to buy a ride whenever he put his hand out. Media attention without money is just an invasion of privacy, so I think she works at it and earns it.

[EMJ]

Those who say she can't drive have never watched a race. She's only in her second year of any stock car racing and she's running Sprint Cup with the absolute best. And she's got more top tens this year then her 2-time Nationwide Series champ boyfriend (Ricky Stenhouse, 2011, 2012 NNS champ), 1. And there's plenty of drivers in Cup who get tons of press who've never won a race and they've been in Cup for many years (Almindinger, Almirola, Gilliland, etc.). Big stars who've only won one or two races (Martin Truex, 2 wins, Brian Vickers, 3 wins) in 6-plus years. And one of the most popular drivers in the sport, Michael Waltrip, took 462 races before he won.

So, yes, total double standard with the negativity towards Patrick. Jeff Gordon didn't win until his second full season and he wrecked like 20 cars his rookie season. Dale, Jr., in Hendrick equipment for 5 1/2 years - 2 wins.

The media gives the public what they want...

[rich911s]

How can you hate some"body" that hot!