Danica Patrick gets pole position for Daytona 500
- Thread starter UKDslayer
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But she can drive. Maybe not so well with other cars on the track, and the fact that all the good ole boys will wreck her first chance they get will hold her back, but sooner or later her favored tactic of just stayin' alive and waiting for a wreck and a fuel miscalculation will get her a win. It doesn't hurt that they put her in a great car with a great crew chief- she had that with Letterman-Rahall, and she could have won more if she would have stayed there(her style is MUCH more efficient in open wheel), but if she has not learned from her past, she will mire herself in the same world as Anna Kournikova. Of course she could get aggressive and drive like a true NASCAR professional, and she has showed that a few times by taking out people that have traded paint unfairly, but this owner is on record counting how much he spends putting cars back together. Unless it's him wrecking the field 300 meters short of a finish, of course. But I think she has a few more laps to get before she will drive and stay in that mode.
She will race but will not win. Not bashing; a rookie has won this race before. I see her getting caught up in another driver's mistake. And there will be plenty of them this year.
Me too. When she raced in Long Beach I went down and bought a jersey, just to wear it in front of my NASCAR nut friends, who generally seem to hate her, so I talk her up and jam my thumb in their side a lot. Plus she's kind of hot, which pisses them off even more, cuz you're not supposed to be hot AND capable. I think it will be a fun season especially w/the nextgen cars.
I'm also looking forward to watching her sit on the pole a lot this season.
She loves taking the pole.
I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt as a top-tier driver. But her career so far has been more focused on making soft-core porn Go-Daddy commercials and playing up on her female driver status than actually winning races.
When she starts winning consistently, I'll be glad to give her the respect as a 'racer' or 'driver' that she deserves. Until then, she's an outstanding self-promoter and entrepreneur and capitalist who is doing great at making a living off of her woman-driver status. But this fact does not make for legendary racing driver status. When she starts winning consistently (and sooner or later some female-driver will -- maybe it will be Danica) she will get my total respect.
It's all about what you accomplish... not who or what you are.
Cheers,
Sirhr
When she starts winning consistently, I'll be glad to give her the respect as a 'racer' or 'driver' that she deserves. Until then, she's an outstanding self-promoter and entrepreneur and capitalist who is doing great at making a living off of her woman-driver status. But this fact does not make for legendary racing driver status. When she starts winning consistently (and sooner or later some female-driver will -- maybe it will be Danica) she will get my total respect.
It's all about what you accomplish... not who or what you are.
Cheers,
Sirhr
I was starting to lose confidence in the Hide Community until this comment.
I still can't believe it took 5 days and 5 posts for something setup so perfectly to go there. Nice to see things back to normal. LOL
Who cares, NASCAR sucks...
Its only slightly more interesting than the LPGA... (just joshin' y'all, sorta)
Its only slightly more interesting than the LPGA... (just joshin' y'all, sorta)
OK. It appears that she has been paying attention. The fact that she has Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Zippy and a host of champions on her team plus the pillow talk with two time Nationwide Champ Ricky Stenhouse giving her sage advise can't hurt. She is learning and it showed yesterday. I think she drove a very smart race. Running up front and staying out of trouble was no easy feat for even the most experienced drivers. This season is going to be interesting.
Personally the race was slow, the last lap had the only real passing for the entire race.
Danica did well maintaining her pace, I think the new car suits her, it was less dependent on partnering up with others to help.
Danica did well maintaining her pace, I think the new car suits her, it was less dependent on partnering up with others to help.
I agree, and I think the Gen 6 car has finally addressed the tandem drafting insanity. The difference between Saturday's race and Sunday's is clearly defined by tandem drafting. Now, Nationwide needs the same aerodynamic alterations.
Years ago, folks expressed boredom with pack racing, so they messed with the Cup Car's aero, turning NASCAR into s demo derby. Ultimately, as was shown Saturday, the meddling finally proved dangerous not only to the drivers, but also to the fans. I think we're finally in for a good year of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.
My next question is whether or not the current engine displacement is appropriate to the enjoyment and safety of the sport, and whether restrictor plates are an appropriate method of regulating engine power. It seems to me that the restrictor plates cause at least as much problems (pack racing) as it solves.
I also like the way the Gen 6 has a more carlike appearance. I think they're right to suggest that fans can identify better with a manufacturer.
Greg
Years ago, folks expressed boredom with pack racing, so they messed with the Cup Car's aero, turning NASCAR into s demo derby. Ultimately, as was shown Saturday, the meddling finally proved dangerous not only to the drivers, but also to the fans. I think we're finally in for a good year of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.
My next question is whether or not the current engine displacement is appropriate to the enjoyment and safety of the sport, and whether restrictor plates are an appropriate method of regulating engine power. It seems to me that the restrictor plates cause at least as much problems (pack racing) as it solves.
I also like the way the Gen 6 has a more carlike appearance. I think they're right to suggest that fans can identify better with a manufacturer.
Greg
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Im real suprized that Danica and Gordon did not slip low on lap 8 in front of Jimmy, that was a real chance for them to go 1-2-3- and Jimmy and Gordon are team mates. Danica driving for Tony Stewart will be huge for her, Tony got fucked in that first crash or he would have been right up there as well.
I think Nascar needs a two lane loop in the track like Hot Wheels, let's say every 50 laps you have to do a loop, averaged thru the race. A 200 lap event means you do 4 loops at anytime during the race.
Ratings would skyrocket, attendance as well. Shake it up Nascar!!
Ratings would skyrocket, attendance as well. Shake it up Nascar!!
Changing the subject a bit but did anyone else notice that the first thing JJ did was head to the grass and trash the nose of his winning car. No muse, no fuss, no fanfare; just rearranged the whole splitter and front valence. How convenient when it had to go thru tech after the race.
I think Nascar needs a two lane loop in the track like Hot Wheels, let's say every 50 laps you have to do a loop, averaged thru the race. A 200 lap event means you do 4 loops at anytime during the race.
Ratings would skyrocket, attendance as well. Shake it up Nascar!!
I have always thought the fans would benefit most from a figure 8, no bridges.
I thought she drove a good race. Eighth isn't bad and she showed a lot of restraint. I think she has matured as a driver and is learning to stay out of harms way. I think she is good for the sport. Nascar has gone through a down turn in popularity the past few years and Danica provides interest in a sport that could use a boost.
They do, they allow for 180 and offset it every 10lbs down to 140 I believe.
Plus in these cars weight is not as big as advantage as with her Indy cars. if you look a lot of those guys are pretty small, I bet the actual offset is only about 20lbs across the board.
Plus in these cars weight is not as big as advantage as with her Indy cars. if you look a lot of those guys are pretty small, I bet the actual offset is only about 20lbs across the board.
She got scared
Watch her post race interview when she got out of the car,
she was rattled and didn't make the move because in her words she was worried about getting "freight trained".
She may be good in open wheel where you can't touch
but she needs to leave that pussy at home and get used to the bump and run to win in Nascar.
After what happened Saturday they were all a little worried about getting another one thru the fence. That is why everyone just rode around for so long. That is also why the lead didn't change hands as much as a normal plate race.
We will begin to see the real Danica next weekend. Phoenix is a tough track.
We will begin to see the real Danica next weekend. Phoenix is a tough track.
She did fine. I make my living in racing, and haven't been a Danica fan. But, this was a solid performance. She ran up front, kept the car in position, and lost a few spots at the end instead of gaining some. Anyone who hasn't done that before hasn't competed in ANYTHING.
Nice job Danica. You earned respect this weekend for sure.
Nice job Danica. You earned respect this weekend for sure.
While I agre with you, we are all fans and thus get sometimes passionate about our sports. She does and will continue to draw both good and bad reactions as long as she is there. If it was t for the arm chair fans, the sport wouldn't be what it is.
Been meaning to jump back here after the race... and I am 100 percent with Wingnut.
Danica went a long way on Sunday to showing her competence and capability as a driver. If she had a little more 'help' on the last lap, she could have been in the top 2 or 3... And even though she dropped back at the last lap, her whole race was a model of solid, consistent, professional and competent driving. She might have been more aggressive on the last lap, but instead she stayed calm, stuck to her plan of balancing aggression and caution and finishing well... and still finished in a great position.
Moreover, her interview as she got out of the car was magnanimous, professional and was the kind of thing fans (yes, I am in an armchair) would expect -- and respect -- from any driver.
If Daytona gives an indication of the season Danica will be having, she should be one to watch for her driving this year, not her TV commercials. She went a long way to win my respect and, I think, the respect of a lot of NASCAR fans!
Cheers,
Sirhr
Danica went a long way on Sunday to showing her competence and capability as a driver. If she had a little more 'help' on the last lap, she could have been in the top 2 or 3... And even though she dropped back at the last lap, her whole race was a model of solid, consistent, professional and competent driving. She might have been more aggressive on the last lap, but instead she stayed calm, stuck to her plan of balancing aggression and caution and finishing well... and still finished in a great position.
Moreover, her interview as she got out of the car was magnanimous, professional and was the kind of thing fans (yes, I am in an armchair) would expect -- and respect -- from any driver.
If Daytona gives an indication of the season Danica will be having, she should be one to watch for her driving this year, not her TV commercials. She went a long way to win my respect and, I think, the respect of a lot of NASCAR fans!
Cheers,
Sirhr
That was a really hard lick she took today. You could see she from the in-car camera was a little stunned. Give her credit; she took it well and appeared to take it all in stride.
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