Danica Patrick takes historic pole position for Daytona 500

[Keifer]

Most will look at the fact that she never won anything in the open wheel cars, and if she struggles in NASCAR they will just make the connection and it will be that she isnt talented enough to get it done.

A very small percentage will dare to consider that she might have done better if she came up another way. And even if they do consider it, they will look at her track record/results and that will override everything.

A few will give her credit for her Daytona pole and some other big moments if she has them, but the slobbering love affair will fade.

She's made a lot of money and the novelty aspect has aroused some fan interest so its been good for the sport. But in reality, its like girls in the military - they just arent physically created to do man stuff on the same level as men. Sure there are those rare exceptions on some levels, but men are men and girls are girls. So far, there is no reason to believe this will be any different.

As long as Go Daddy keeps writing the big checks she will have a top ride no matter what her results are.

I don't think her talent level is anywhere near the hype she gets but the girl does have skills. In racing today its not good enough to just be talented, if your not just an absolute phenom you have to have something that's going to get you noticed and being hot, fast and fiery has let her write her ticket.

I think a lot of the venom she gets is from commentators making excuses for her and trying to make her into something she isn't and that really isn't her fault.

 

[Risen Star]

As long as Go Daddy keeps writing the big checks she will have a top ride no matter what her results are.

I don't think her talent level is anywhere near the hype she gets but the girl does have skills. In racing today its not good enough to just be talented, if your not just an absolute phenom you have to have something that's going to get you noticed and being hot, fast and fiery has let her write her ticket.

I think a lot of the venom she gets is from commentators making excuses for her and trying to make her into something she isn't and that really isn't her fault.

Right. She's got some talent but she also has opportunity well over and above that talent simply because she's female. Sam Hornish was force fed into Cup, failed and was immediately out of the series. Danica can probably get away with being non competitive for years since her sponsorship won't leave her.

She's embarrassing herself right now. Darrell Waltrip was commenting during final practice yesterday that he thinks they needed to get another driver in the car for that practice just to get an idea of what the car is doing and adjust from there. She's lost. Doesn't know what to tell her crew chief.

The only way you'll ever get competitive female drivers in the Cup series is by doing what the males have done. Develop at a young age in lower levels of stock car racing and earn the promotion to the next series through merit and on track performance.

I think she qualified like 40th this week again. She'll ride around in the back off the pace looking to avoid wrecks like she did last week. This is where she really stands in that series, not the completely irrelevant pole position she won at Daytona.

 

[Risen Star]

Most will look at the fact that she never won anything in the open wheel cars, and if she struggles in NASCAR they will just make the connection and it will be that she isnt talented enough to get it done.

A very small percentage will dare to consider that she might have done better if she came up another way. And even if they do consider it, they will look at her track record/results and that will override everything.

A few will give her credit for her Daytona pole and some other big moments if she has them, but the slobbering love affair will fade.

She's made a lot of money and the novelty aspect has aroused some fan interest so its been good for the sport. But in reality, its like girls in the military - they just arent physically created to do man stuff on the same level as men. Sure there are those rare exceptions on some levels, but men are men and girls are girls. So far, there is no reason to believe this will be any different.

I guess I just don't see why females can't compete with males in auto racing. I don't see the physical side of it that is so important that it completely disqualifies a female. It's not a ball sport. They don't have to tackle or check anybody. They don't have to run, swing a bat or dribble.

Are the best drivers in the world all male? Yes. But I think that has to do with opportunity. Women weren't brought up believing they could have a career in auto racing, so very few begin at a young age. I think as you see more women like Danica involved in the sport you'll see more girls involved at a young age and that will eventually lead to more legitimate female drivers in the top series.

I could be wrong. I just have a hard time understanding why a female can't drive competitively with a male as long as she has the same background and experience her male counterpart has.

There are no black drivers in the Cup series. Am I supposed to believe that's because they just can't drive like a white guy? Or is it maybe the interest wasn't there and they weren't involved with racing as kids?

 

[jcollins28]

Right. She's got some talent but she also has opportunity well over and above that talent simply because she's female. Sam Hornish was force fed into Cup, failed and was immediately out of the series. Danica can probably get away with being non competitive for years since her sponsorship won't leave her.

She's embarrassing herself right now. Darrell Waltrip was commenting during final practice yesterday that he thinks they needed to get another driver in the car for that practice just to get an idea of what the car is doing and adjust from there. She's lost. Doesn't know what to tell her crew chief.

The only way you'll ever get competitive female drivers in the Cup series is by doing what the males have done. Develop at a young age in lower levels of stock car racing and earn the promotion to the next series through merit and on track performance.

I think she qualified like 40th this week again. She'll ride around in the back off the pace looking to avoid wrecks like she did last week. This is where she really stands in that series, not the completely irrelevant pole position she won at Daytona.

She has always been out to lunch when it comes to car setup and telling her engineer or crew chief on what the car is doing.

 

[Risen Star]

She has always been out to lunch when it comes to car setup and telling her engineer or crew chief on what the car is doing.

I listened to her radio during most of last season's Nationwide schedule. I was embarrassed for her.

 

[Risen Star]

You can't call that race boring.

 

[jimmy40]

Well hell, a race broke out at the end and Tony Stewart needs his kicked. Yeah Nascasr

 

[jimmy40]

Stewart got blocked on the restart and wants to cry.

 

[jimmy40]

Gotta love Stewart speaking his mind even though he would have done the same thing. Lol. Of course NASCAR will fine him for it, can't have any emotion.

 

[Risen Star]

Danica report - qualified 40th, finished 26th, 1 lap down. 29th in points.

Stewart - qualified 8th, finished 22nd. 22nd in points.

Newman - qualified 20th, finished 10th. 20th in points.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

You can't call that race boring.

Great end, but not so good to see the little ugly brother win.

Nascar really needs more races like this. Good stuff. Something to get fans to tune in with anticipation and see what happens next week.

Logano needs to win some races or he might be one of these guys that will be out of a ride in a couple of years. He's trying to be a tough guy racer, but not so sure he has IT. Maybe he does. He may be growing a pair finally. If he doesnt win, he'll be gone.

 

[Yeagermeister]

Stewart got blocked on the restart and wants to cry.

When he's done the same thing countless times

 

[jimmy40]

When he's done the same thing countless times

gotta love the way he took just long enough approaching Lagano that he could get a shove in knowing it would then be broken up. Come on Tony, run up there and jump on the guy if your serious.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

gotta love the way he took just long enough approaching Lagano that he could get a shove in knowing it would then be broken up. Come on Tony, run up there and jump on the guy if your serious.

These guys arent serious about getting in a really good shot. Remember years ago when Tony and Jeffie were going at it at one of the road track courses? Some verbage mostly and a lil chest puffing but nothing real.

This is why its better when they throw a helmet at another car or something like that. Or take a guy out on the track.

 

[Risen Star]

gotta love the way he took just long enough approaching Lagano that he could get a shove in knowing it would then be broken up. Come on Tony, run up there and jump on the guy if your serious.

I think Stewart was in the wrong but I highly doubt he was worried about getting into a physical fight with Joey Logano.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

I highly doubt he was worried about getting into a physical fight with Joey Logano.

True, but none of these guys look like fighters.

Remember when Kyle Petty ran across the hood and acted like he wanted to pound on Bobby Hillin? Bobby Hillin was like a Gold Glove Champ at one time and would have pummeled Kyle.

 

[jimmy40]

I think Stewart was in the wrong but I highly doubt he was worried about getting into a physical fight with Joey Logano.

it was the classic wait till someone can break it up before you do something fight. He sure talked a lot in the interview afterwards about what he's gonna do to Lagano. and Martinsville is next? We'll see.

 

[WPBCowboysFan]

Danica is "overwhelmed"

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/...-race-practice-struggles-outlook-tony-stewart

 

[Sarge]

I think Stewart was in the wrong but I highly doubt he was worried about getting into a physical fight with Joey Logano.

Agreed - what does Joey weigh like 135 pounds? lol.

 

[TheCowboy]

Personally I am not a fan of Martinsville. I like Bristol a lot more, but today's race was just alright.