Kinder Gentler Danicker

Posted by Iannucci | 5/09/2008 | 4 comments »
Bookmark and Share

The rains continued to fall at IMS yesterday (What? Rain in May? How shocking.), perhaps to symbolize the soul cleansing of the IRL’s most famous driver. Then again, maybe it was just a storm front cause by pressure variances in the atmosphere.

Regardless, The Canadian Press has quotes from Thursday that reveal the Post-Motegi Danica! as one who sees the glass of milk as half full.

"I realize, over time now, how unproductive being angry all the time is and how it doesn't really do any good for my driving," Patrick said Thursday. "I think that being positive does."



"I will say that it started, that whole being angry thing, because I wanted people to know that I wasn't OK with finishing sixth," Patrick explained. "I wasn't OK with driving my butt off and finishing eighth. I wasn't OK with those results. I'm not OK with finishing third.



"I want to win races and I wanted people to know that. I didn't want them to see me smiling and going 'Woo Hoo' and them saying, 'That's it? That's all she hopes for?' I wanted them to know that I wished and believed in more."



"But I'm trying to grow up. I'm trying to be better all-around for all kinds of reasons: for myself, for the people around me and for the people I don't know who are around me."

4 comments

  1. Jennifer Coomer // May 09, 2008 10:14 AM  

    Good for you, Danica. Good for you.
    Did, like, Billy Graham recently meet with all the drivers or something?

  2. Anonymous // May 09, 2008 3:01 PM  

    Hey!Danica,Go Bake Some Cookies!!

  3. Anonymous // May 09, 2008 3:30 PM  

    I'll reserve judgment until after the fallout from this afternoon shakes out.

  4. Anonymous // May 10, 2008 5:05 PM  

    I watched Pole Day coverage all day. I want to know who that pod person inhabiting Danica's body is, and what he/she has done with her.

    I don't know why, although I have quite a few ideas, but when interviewed she actually discussed things today in a friendly, positive manner, even when it wasn't going particularly well, didn't diss her car or her crew or anyone's efforts, didn't diss any of the other drivers, and actually, actually smiled in an interview. It helped that the broadcast crew didn't obsess on her, but treated her and her story just as they did any of the other racers going for pole. I attribute this particular broadcast change directly to Eddie Cheever, who IMHO did a terrific job today.

    If Danica keeps this up, even partly, I might not wear out the mute button on the new remote as quickly as I wore out the last three. And you know what, she will find that being more pleasant and less obnoxious won't change anyone's idea of whether she has the desire, competitiveness, etc. etc. Because she definitely does have it.