The Rumble at the Speedway

This is just fantastic! I know it's all about the racing, but sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's about the story.


The Danica/Dan confrontation continues to reverberate, getting coverage throughout the country. Not only has provided a topic of discussion for shows on all you major sports networks, but I personally have had friends who don’t normally watch IndyCar racing ask my thoughts on the fracas “with Danica and that other driver” (and no, they didn’t catch who actually won the race in Milwaukee).



Ladies and gentlemen, start your keyboards!

Chicago Tribune: “The race ended and she clambered from her car and immediately made her way to Dan Wheldon. When she reached him she grabbed his left forearm, which riveted his attention, and with unabated emotion got into his face.”

Boston Herald: “Danica Patrick may be small, but she’s not about to back down on the track or off.”

Los Angeles Times: "Men are from Mars, women are from Andretti Green Racing."


Indianapolis Star: "If Danica Patrick wants to get tough with Dan Wheldon, the former Indianapolis 500 winner is ready for it."

Arizona Star: "I’d love to see those two go it. I bet there’d be a lot of hair-pulling."

Edumnds Online (Edmunds? The auto site? Yes, even Edmunds!): "Was Patrick crowded by Wheldon, or is she just showing the signs of pressure for her to succeed in the IRL? Your answer depends, probably, upon which driver you root for."


So what does this mean beyond all this fun pablum? It means Texas Motor Speedway is spending the week hyping the bejeezus out of their upcoming IndyCar race. From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

Through their public relations representatives, both Wheldon and Patrick declined further comment on Monday. But that didn't prevent TMS' marketing department from launching a fight-themed advertising campaign -- "Rumble at the Speedway" -- heading into Saturday night's Bombardier Learjet 550.

"I am dizzy from the giddiness from the moment I saw that [TV clip]," said TMS president Eddie Gossage. "That's pretty strong stuff, and we are developing a marketing campaign about the controversy that erupted between Danica Patrick and Dan Wheldon. The best promotion is something that occurs within the confines of the competition on the track. But when you're dealing with facts and statements on video that are colorful, if not inflammatory, you can't serve up a better promotion."

Yeah, I know this little arm shove is completely overplayed – and I don’t care. People who otherwise wouldn’t know Dan Wheldon from Marty Feldman are talking about IndyCar racing with an excitement in their voice, and that’s all good to me.