Danica Patrick unveiled a new neon green look Monday morning for her #7 Dallara-Honda. But as the Indy Racing League’s most popular driver made the rounds on national talk shows, the big question didn’t involve her IndyCar Series ride. Would new primary sponsor GoDaddy.com be unveiling a similar paint scheme for her on a stock car soon? “I think it would be great if they partnered up with that because it’s a perfect marriage between the two, and it makes it all just flow and have a rhythm,” Patrick said in a phone interview with USA TODAY after the announcement on Good Morning America. “If they want to do that, then I would be very happy.” In announcing a three-year deal to remain with renamed Andretti Autosport (formerly Andretti Green Racing), Patrick didn’t reveal any plans to moonlight in NASCAR next season, but she also didn’t deny that her management team at IMG still is taking a hard look at stock cars. Patrick said Monday there were no other announcements planned and that she “can’t be sure” if there’d be another one soon involving NASCAR. “I really can’t say exactly where it is,” she said when asked about potential negotiations with NASCAR teams. “Me and my team have been working for a long time on bringing it together, so it would be great if it did. Like I said this morning, if I can run both (series), I’d like to. Whether or not that’s going to happen or not, it’s definitely not too late and it’s definitely a possibility.”
The IndyCar Series opens its season in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 14, about a month after the NASCAR season begins at Daytona International Speedway. Patrick would need to gain NASCAR approval to race in the Feb. 13 Nationwide race at Daytona, and NASCAR doesn’t permit test sessions at sanctioned tracks. However, Patrick could gain experience by racing in the Feb. 6 ARCA race at Daytona. The series will hold an open test at the 2.5-mile superspeedway on Dec. 18-20 for drivers pre-approved by ARCA and having paid the race entry fee. An ARCA spokesperson said Monday there had been no entry for Patrick for its race or the test. Patrick said she plans to spend the offseason with family and also is shooting commercials for GoDaddy, which has featured her in past Super Bowl ads and might put her in two spots next year.(USA Today)(12-1-2009)
