We've still got a few months to go before Danica Patrick decides if she wants to stay with AGR, or go to a different IndyCar team, or try a different discipline of racing, or become the next star of the Food Network. In the meantime her World Leverage Tour marches onward, as she goes door-to-door in the racing world to not only seek offers but to also give the appearance that offers are being given to her. It's rather savvy, actually.
Anyhow, today's stop takes her to lovely Concord, North Carolina, home to Stewart-Haas Racing.
Yes, multiple sources confirmed that the princess of the IndyCar Series wanted to take a tour of the Concord, N.C., shop. Patrick, who is currently in her final year of her contract with Andretti Green Racing, has recently expressed interest in options other than open wheel racing.So Danica Patrick tours a race facility and the owner isn't even there to greet her? Hmmm. Maybe we should file this under the proverbial "dog and pony show" category.
Patrick was a guest of team owner Tony Stewart last fall at Phoenix. But the two-time Cup champion was not available to be a guide Monday because he was at a Goodyear tire test at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
According to sources, Patrick was introduced to Ryan Newman, crew chief Tony Gibson, General Manager Bobby Hutchens and engineer Matt Borland.
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I love that they used the word "princess."
Who is going to fall for this bollocks?
It's so tedious.
How about doing a tour of a driving school and learning how to pass people on a road course?
Danica starts 18th and finishes 6th at Toronto, but still gets accused of not being able to pass on a road course? Danica leads the IRL this season in points among non-Penske and non-Ganassi drivers, but still gets accused of not being able to drive? Fans are entitled to dislike Danica if they choose, but what is truly tedious is listening to them downplay (or ignore) her legitimate accomplishments.
Fact is, she's the best performer that AGR has this year. While I fully realize that NAPCAR can offer her gazillions of dollars, my suspicion is that she'll take the best offer an ICS team can give her, particularly if it comes from TCGR, as that does not completely close the door to the tintops.
Her greatest improvement this year has been on road/street courses, where, all of a sudden, she's not a moving chicane anymore (unlike Milka Duno.) She's also learned how to bring home the equipment in one piece.
Add to that the "kinder, gentler Danica" that we've seen in her personality this year, and I think she's made herself far more marketable than she was a year ago.
It seems to me that Danica going to Nascar would mean huge money and opportunities for her and unbelievable publicity for Nascar.
After all, Nascar is almost as much about personalities as it is driving ability. (See: most popular driver.)
I'd like to see her stay, but who could blame her for going for the money?
If it doesn't work out, she could always return to open-wheel ala Dario, except with a bunch more money in the bank.
Umm...the IRL has a most popular driver award as well, although it doesn't get as much as hype as Cup's... Although she is doing better than him this year, in a way you could say Danica is the Dale, Jr. of IRL (or vice versa)... Them on the same team with Gordon, Johnson, Martin, Newman, and Stewart...five elite drivers and two stars is too much. But I guess it would be much the same if she went to Ganassi in IndyCar with Dixon and Franchitti as teammates...they would then have about the same percentage of the field as Hendrick/Stewart-Haas does in Cup...
This is NOT the Danica Leverage Tour...
...its the Do-What-IMG -Tells -Ya Tour!!! Her big agents think this is how they get her an ICS contract (of Motorola proportions)
Hope Danica (& her IMG boys) don'r "bluff" Danica right into NASCAR!!!
I agree 100% with everything that SkipinSC said. Danica is really maturing as an IndyCar driver, and that's exactly why I think she should stay.
While I'm sure money is going to be a big factor in her decision, I hope she can look beyond that. Only one person will ever get to be called the first female Indy 500 winner, and she'd have a great shot with TCGR.
Darn. When I first saw this post I thought it said "World Cleavage Tour"...
all kidding aside. Danica has really matured as a driver this past season. No more silly tantrums, and she's been the most consistent driver for AGR this season. Her efforts on road and street courses have improved considerably. I think it would be a good thing for the league to have her on the Ganassi team.
With the state and value of Motorola right now, an ICS contract "of Motorola proportions" plus .50 might be enough to get her a half-caf skinny latte.
To be a total devil's advocate, it will be fascinating to see where she'll eventually end up. My personal take is, if she ends up staying at AGR, it's because she can't get any deal anywhere else, and her perception of her value is highly overinflated to any potentially interested teams. When she left RLR, Bobbie Rahal did not seem disappointed to see her go, despite the fact he was her earliest supporter. Might AGR feel the same?
You're right, DA
Bobby didn't seem so disappointed letting her go, but truth be told he was more into getting Graham's career off the ground than that team and look where they are today? That's right, they aren't racing in the series now, are they?
Damon: Bobby seemed P.O.'d about losing Danica to me & most of the stuff I read at the time!
Devil's AV: I understand Motorola is having issues... With boost mobile turning the Danica #7 from blue to orange is one big hint!!!
I meant the 27 MILLION/ 3 year deal she originally received from Motorola. That's NASCAR style $$$... how much does she really need?
Potential NASCAR MILLIONS or an actual shot at the Indy 500 or other ICS races & a nice career (not a media jerk in NAPCAR...)
AGR received the Motorola money - not Danica directly. The money to AGR was tied to Danica running the Motorola car. Who knows how much of the money actually eventually went to Danica, but AGR certainly wasn't paying for the entire team the past 3 years out of the goodness of their heart just so Danica could collect the whole Motorola money personally.
Sarah: Thats 9 MILLION a year from just Motorola. Add Pimp Daddy & a few other car & personal endorsements ... she's making a nice living
BTW, Compare the Moto $$$ to Meijer, a part-time NYSE, or Snapple Group's VENOM on Marco's car. AGR can sure as hell pay Danica a proper salary from the 27 Million pool.
The simple fact is this: take out the Penske and Ganassi factor and Danica is the TOP and most consistent driver in the IRL this year. Losing her to NASCAR would be another BIG nail in the coffin for the IRL. But I doubt that is going to happen...her goal has always been to win Indy and to win the championship. Driving a taxicab isn't going to accomplish that.