Danica Patrick could become the next star driver to defect from another major racing series to NASCAR. “I’m trying to get her here [into NASCAR],” said T.J. Patrick, father of the woman who dazzled the motor racing world last year by nearly winning the Indianapolis 500, but has struggled with a mediocre Indy Racing League car ever since. T.J. Patrick, who has managed his daughter’s career since her childhood, was at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday, holding exploratory talks with some Nextel Cup teams and sponsors about the possibility of Danica leaving the IRL for NASCAR as early as next year. Her contract expires with the IRL’s Rahal-Letterman Racing team, co-owned by TV comic David Letterman, at the end of this season. In addition to considering NASCAR, the Patricks are negotiating with other IRL teams — and appear unlikely to renew with Rahal-Letterman next year. Bobby Rahal, co-owner of Rahal Letterman racing, declined comment through a spokesperson. Danica, 24, wasn’t at Sunday’s USG Sheetrock 400 NASCAR race. T.J. and Danica’s mother, Bev, came to the Joliet track because “we’ve had some inquiries” from NASCAR teams, T.J. said. The Patricks were in the Nextel Cup garage area as guests of the powerful Roush Racing team, which fields five Ford teams.(Orlando Sentinel/Ed Hinton)(7-10-2006)
UPDATE: Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, said while T.J. Patrick was a guest of the team, no discussions took place in regards to his daughter’s racing future. Representatives from some other NASCAR teams including Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Evernham Motorsports, Robert Yates Racing and Team Red Bull also said they have yet to speak to the 24-year-old from Roscoe, Ill. A spokesman for Rahal Letterman Racing said the team had no comment other then to say discussions to extend Patrick’s contract which expires after the season are ongoing. Neither Danica nor her father could be reached Monday. “That father is doing all the pushing here,” said Rusty Wallace, a former NASCAR driver and current commentator on ABC/ESPN IRL broadcasts. “What needs to happen is that Danica has to come and make the decision … She’s the best lady driver I have ever seen.”(USA Today)
AND some quotes: “She’s certainly had an impact on open-wheel racing,” NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said. “I’m not privy to any conversation she’s had with any team, but NASCAR would certainly welcome Danica Patrick.” When asked about Patrick on Monday at Indianapolis while taking a break from testing for next month’s Allstate 400, Martin admitted he was still getting over the shock of Sunday’s announcement that Juan Pablo Montoya will compete in the Cup Series in 2007. “Oh, wow, you know, that would be another huge one for sure,” Martin said during a teleconference. I think it would be great, absolutely fantastic. She is definitely a major, major, major draw. It would be fantastic to see her getting involved at this stage in her career, which is in the early stages. It would give her enough time to really adapt to the cars and everything and make a go of it.”(in part from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)(7-11-2006)
