Following up on my earlier post speculating on Danica Patrick's move to NASCAR ... it's a lot closer to happening now than it was then.
Danica has had ongoing discussions with several NASCAR teams about moving over. The strongest links have her hooking up with Tony Stewart and his Stewart-Haas Racing Team. Tony has acknowledged the ongoing discussions, and has pretty much confirmed that financial issues are the center of the discussions now.
Her path to NASCAR, if you can believe the folks who are leaking out the information, will keep her in a full IndyCar schedule for at least 2010. She will also run select NASCAR Nationwide and Truck series races when the IndyCar schedule will allow, to break her into the world of stock cars. This should allow her to get in a good 12-15 races in the heavy stock cars, given that the IndyCar schedule only has 19 races on it.
This approach, if it is true, is smart. It allows her to get a dose of this type of car - either she gets valuable experience on her way to the upper level of NASCAR, or she turns up her nose at it and goes back to open wheel racing exclusively. How long she would remain at the lower levels remains to be seen (she is not known for patience), but other open wheelers who have made the transition successfully have spent 2-3 years down in the minors.
This whole thing is about money and fame. She has maxed out both in IndyCar, although she still only has one victory. To expand her 'brand' and marketing machine, she needs a larger stage, and NASCAR is it. I would not be surprised if she doesn't make it, but I am pulling for her. She would be good for the sport. I can just imagine her and Kyle Busch butting heads and fenders out on the track! Besides, she would then become the most overrated driver in NASCAR, taking that title from Dale Jr. (sorry Junior Nation fans ...).
Photo credit Sports Illustrated
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