Danica Patrick wants to compete in her eighth Indianapolis 500. Her Sprint Cup team owner, Tony Stewart, said before the season he hoped Patrick would be ready to ascend from the Nationwide Series to Sprint Cup full time in 2013. With Patrick unlikely to skip a Cup race as a full-time driver, especially NASCAR’s Coca-Cola-sponsored Memorial Day event and especially after recently joining the brand’s line of endorsers, there is now the highly intriguing possibility of one of sports ‘ most recognizable figures resurrecting the fabled but fallow Indianapolis-Concord ‘double.’ Charlotte Motor Speedway president Marcus Smith wants to do his part, as do many in motorsports. ‘That’s a big deal,’ he said of Patrick’s aspirations. ‘She’s a competitor. She’s hungry and she wants to race. I think that’s another piece of the story here, just for her to say that is a big deal. I don ‘t think she ‘d say it if she didn ‘t mean it. Man, if she wanted to do that I definitely would love to help any way we could. We would spring for the helicopter ride to get her from the airplane to the speedway.’ Stewart said he would support Patrick if she wanted to attempt both races. ‘Absolutely. She’s more than welcome to do it,’ he said. ‘I ‘m sure it would be big.’ Patrick’s agent, Mark Dyer, said he is ‘developing plans’ for a possible double bid, ‘whether it happens next year or not.’ Though the pursuit would be highly documented and likely garner mainstream attention, it would not be attempted simply for publicity, he said.(in part from ESPNW)(5-27-2012)
