Danica Patrick Wins

[preach4bass]

She won her first IndyCar race in 50 tries.  I don't keep up with IndyCar as much as Nascar, but she's still an interesting sports figure.  Congratulations to her.

[rondef]

Congrats Danica

[Dan:]

I don't understand how she has had so much publicity already and JUST won her FIRST race! Honestly, she's the only Indy driver I can name, and she isn't even that good! That's ridiculous. I know she is "important" because she broke into a man's sport, but come on...Jackie Robinson was famous for being the first of a kind to play a sport but he was actually GOOD!

[Fish Man]

I don't understand how she has had so much publicity already and JUST won her FIRST race! Honestly, she's the only Indy driver I can name, and she isn't even that good! That's ridiculous. I know she is "important" because she broke into a man's sport, but come on...Jackie Robinson was famous for being the first of a kind to play a sport but he was actually GOOD!

my thoughts exactly, i never cound understand why she got so much publicity

[tipptruck1]

So got so munch publicity becasue people think shes good looking. She was on ever thing from hosting shows to adds. I got so sick of seeing and hearing about her I cant stand her any more. From what I rember IRL was pushing her like she was a god. Some how she was going to save IRL. That worked it took her three years to get a win.

[Tin]

I guess they really can drive. :

[Maxximus Redneckus]

She won because the other drivers kept needin fuel from what i hear???  a good luck sure??  a consistant way of winning NO

[Grey Wolf]

Some of you fella's are pretty hard liners I see. Shame on her for winning and kicking the boys a**es.

[cart7t]

She won because the other drivers kept needin fuel from what i hear???  a good luck sure??  a consistant way of winning NO

Sort of.

It was a textbook Danica race.

1. She qualifies decently.

2. The green flag falls and she either remains in her position or moves backward.

3. Somewhere between laps 1-15 she calls into the pits complaining that the car is either pushing or loose.

4. Pit stop 1.  Changes made, no help.

5. Pit stop 2. Changes made, no help.

6. Pit stop 3. Changes made, no help.

At this point the team realizes the only way to move her forward through the field is with some goofy, off the wall pit sequence.  If all the cards fall right, she winds up with the lead like she did last night or at Indy in 2005.

She's pretty good at keeping the car on the track and running at a comfortable pace. She rarely will be found running at the front with the big dogs.  With this racing style I just described, she's bound to fall into a win every once in awhile.

[abelfisher]

Some of you fella's are pretty hard liners I see. Shame on her for winning and kicking the boys a**es.

 I'm with you Bassbrat!  Hey, she beat the cream of the crop in Indy racing.  Regardless of how she won, she WON!  Every race is won by a strategy of some sort.  Having grown up in Indiana, I am a big Indy car fan.  My hat is off to Danica!  Good for her to win.  Let her enjoy her victory.  

For a girl who started in a man's sport and to get the checkered flag finally deserves praise.  Regardless if this was her 50th or 100th race.  

I am praising her for her victory.  Go Danica.  

[Dan:]

but why was she made famous BEFORE her first win? It wasn't because of her skill, it was because of her sex.

[=Matt 5.0=]

There were only 7 cars left running at the end of the race......

[abelfisher]

but why was she made famous BEFORE her first win? It wasn't because of her skill, it was because of her sex.

Just fyi, yes it was because of her sex.  She is a woman who ventured into a man;s sport.  That is good, not bad.  She started racing against boys when she very young with go karts.  Regardless of what you say, anyone who achieves her level of career is good. Period.  

And as far as only 7 cars left....whatever.  Must have been a tough race for the other guys, huh!  Let's give her some slack here and congratulate her.   I know she could outdrive me and probably everyone on this board.

[Long Mike]

Abelfisher, I agree completely with you.  She Won!  Good for her!  She beat the best of the best!  She Won!

As for all of the advanced publicity, has anyone noticed that she is drop-dead gorgeous?

[cart7t]

There were only 7 cars left running at the end of the race......

There were 14 cars still running.  Only 7 on the lead lap.  

[cart7t]

but why was she made famous BEFORE her first win? It wasn't because of her skill, it was because of her sex.

She brought a lot of attention to herself by posing for FHM magazine in 2003. She now admits she did it to attract attention and a sponsor. Prior to this win, Danica has never won a race in any sanctioned racing series, major or minor league.  To say she's the Anna Kournikova of racing is not far off.  

[Dan:]

but why was she made famous BEFORE her first win? It wasn't because of her skill, it was because of her sex.

Just fyi, yes it was because of her sex.  She is a woman who ventured into a man;s sport.  That is good, not bad.  

ok, but isn't promoting her because she's a woman and not because of her skill exactly the OPPOSITE of what a woman driver would want? I would assume a woman driver wouldn't want attention because she's different than the guys, but instead because she's able to compete with the boys....Which up until now she hasn't been able to do on a large scale. Her mediocre history only furthers the stereotype that she is trying to disprove: that girls aren't as good drivers as guys.

[=Matt 5.0=]

.

Her mediocre history only furthers the stereotype that she is trying to disprove: that girls aren't as good drivers as guys.

Shirley Muldowney might disagree

[preach4bass]

but why was she made famous BEFORE her first win? It wasn't because of her skill, it was because of her sex.

That's a funny quote to read on a fishing web site.  One of the most famous bass fishermen is "The G-Man" Gerald Swindle.  How many times has he won?

[Glenn]

Hear hear preach!

Some of the comments here are unwarranted and unnecessary.  Not one of those harsh comments would have been said if she was a guy.  

I'm a little shocked.  Not exactly behavior representive of the membership on this site.

[Dan:]

Hear hear preach!

Some of the comments here are unwarranted and unnecessary.  Not one of those harsh comments would have been said if she was a guy.  

You are absolutely right, because if she was a guy, she wouldn't have had more publicity than all other racers combined WITHOUT EVEN WINNING!

I'm a little shocked.  Not exactly behavior representive of the membership on this site.

Why? Are we saying anything sexist or mean? it's just an observation. She has been more famous than other Indy drivers even before she won. That is wrong in my book, give the guys who win the interviews, not the mediocre drivers who are news because they are different. The fact that being a women in racing is deemed newsworthy is sexist itself, it assumes inferiority of women drivers.

Maybe I should say this, it's great that she won, but the attention the media has given her has overshadowed the rest of the sport, including drivers who have  won more races, and THAT is "unwarranted" and "unnecessary." If you want equality, treat her the same way you treat the guys. Treating her better by giving her media attention despite not winning is just sexism in the other direction and assumes she is a lesser driver by giving her coverage saying how much she has accomplished when she hadn't even won.

[cart7t]

.  

Her mediocre history only furthers the stereotype that she is trying to disprove: that girls aren't as good drivers as guys.

Shirley Muldowney might disagree

All women in racing today owe a debt of gratitude to Shirley.  She was winning races and a championship at a time when the racing world didn't think much of woman in the pit or paddock areas, let alone driving a race car.

[Glenn]

Dominion Dan - Let's be honest, you can say that about a lot of men in other sports too.  I'm not saying it's right, but it happens.  You don't have to look any further than NASCAR.  But it also happens in the NFL, the NBA, MLB, etc...

"give the guys who win the interviews" She won. So now she's getting the interviews and accolades for WINNING!  So sorry you don't feel it's deserved.

Besides, she's done a lot for the sport - getting many more people interested in it and creating more fans.  Just like Jr. did for NASCAR.

[Dan:]

Dominion Dan - Let's be honest, you can say that about a lot of men in other sports too.  I'm not saying it's right, but it happens.  You don't have to look any further than NASCAR.  But it also happens in the NFL, the NBA, MLB, etc...

Sure, in other sports, losing players get more attention than winners sometimes, but it isn't because they are fundamentally different and it doesn't treat people unequally based on their sex, race, etc.

"give the guys who win the interviews" She won. So now she's getting the interviews and accolades for WINNING!  So sorry you don't feel it's deserved.

I'm fine with giving her credit now, it certainly is deserved. What I've been saying was only meant to apply to the undeserved attention she was getting as a WINless driver. Now she's won and she deserves the glory. I would be fine if the win had predated the media attention, but it didn't and that is unfair to women drivers and the drivers who were winning while Danica was not.

[FishTank]

Living here in Indy you would think that she was just another driver until you go to a race or especially carb day. She always has the longest line for autographs and the largest amount of fans. She used and did what she could to promote a sport that was losing fans. With Indy Car and Champ combining, some of the attention will probably fade. Lets face it, she may not be the best driver but she is a good one.