[The Champ]

Originally Posted by GT182

Tony saw that she has the willpower and the potential. That's why he's helped her where few others have.

Dale Jr. gave her a Nationwide ride that she didn't deserve. He gave her some of the best equipment and some of the best crews in the sport. Jr. has hired drivers to tutor Danica how to drive the bigger cars.

She has had plenty of help. She doesn't have the talent or the real desire to succeed.

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

I'm not agreeing with that because when she was driving a nationwide car he was sticking up for her and has continued to talk about her as a driver that has potential. I believe she's mediocre as you do though, time will tell.

Once again, Tony had a plan to get to 3 teams. He needed someone that could bring a big dollar sponsor to Stewart Hass. Danica was the only one - so he made nice comments about her. It was all a business decision IMHO.

[63Banshee]

Follow the leader isn't racing, it's child's play.

[Racer81x]

Originally Posted by Lightfoot

President of the Danica Patrick fan club:



Vice President of the Danica Patrick fan club:

I can't stand listing to those to idiots, I'm about ready to quit watching the races, and just watch the speed report and see the highlights.

[1969GTO]

This sucks......let's talk PONTIACTION ;o)

[ho428]

The one thing I noticed in the post race interview, she looked and sounded tired. First time plate racing for 500 miles running up front all day long.
She went into a trial by fire and survived nicely, now the real season kicks in.

But for Daytona she did good, some people will never accept her no matter what she does, for those people there's nothing she can do or say that would be good enough.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by ho428

But for Daytona she did good, some people will never accept her no matter what she does, for those people there's nothing she can do or say that would be good enough.

Derrick Cope actually won the Daytona 500. Nobody has ever considered him to be a great driver because of that.

If Wanica would stop whining about how no one will play with her and just go out there and race and accomplish something - I'll be the first to give her credit.

15 years of automobile racing and only 1 win.

She hasn't earned the respect of anyone in the racing world.

[65WJ]

Originally Posted by The Champ

Derrick Cope actually won the Daytona 500. Nobody has ever considered him to be a great driver because of that.

If Wanica would stop whining about how no one will play with her and just go out there and race and accomplish something - I'll be the first to give her credit.

15 years of automobile racing and only 1 win.

She hasn't earned the respect of anyone in the racing world.

Cope did not win that race he inherited the victory because the track clean up crew missed a very large piece of someones bell housing that Dale ran over and punctured his tire.
Cope was a back of the pack driver who got lucky one time.

patrick

[MikeNoun]

The most famous words in auto racing, "Drivers, start your engines!", ended up as the funniest moment of the 2013 Daytona 500. Not sure if you guys caught this or not....

Since the introduction of female drivers to Indy and NASCAR, the famous command has changed to either, "Gentlemen, and Lady, start your engines", or more frequently (with more females on the grid), it's , "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines."

But with all the Danicamania this past week, they had to tweak the line. Actor James Franco gave the command, but he blew it.

"Drivers......and Danica, start your engines!"

We burst out laughing. So Danica Patrick isn't a driver?

I think he meant to say "Gentlemen, and Danica, start your engines", but it came out wrong.

I thought she did very well in the race. Her pit stops sucked, she needs more practice on not spinning her tires, and she was always about 2 seconds slower (and losing positions in the process) than the rest of the field, but she's getting better.

I think her post-race interviews are painful to watch. When asked how the race went, she begins to give you every detail about the handling, traction, engine revs, etc., like she's giving her crew chief feedback.

All we wanted to know was how the race was for her, we're not your chassis guy.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by The Champ

Dale Jr. gave her a Nationwide ride that she didn't deserve. He gave her some of the best equipment and some of the best crews in the sport. Jr. has hired drivers to tutor Danica how to drive the bigger cars.

She has had plenty of help. She doesn't have the talent or the real desire to succeed.



Once again, Tony had a plan to get to 3 teams. He needed someone that could bring a big dollar sponsor to Stewart Hass. Danica was the only one - so he made nice comments about her. It was all a business decision IMHO.

The thing is Tony wants results not just a 3rd team. Ryan Newman is on a 1 year contract (probation if you will) because if he doesn't perform this year he will be looking for a ride.

On Tony's Sprint car teams the same hold true, you don't perform your looking for another ride. On that basis I still believe he sees something in her that I don't see, and expects within a reasonable amount of time she will produce results. Tony doesn't want her on his team just because he sees no other way to sponsor a 3rd car. If he does what he has in the past, if she has no wins in say 3 years and doesn't make the chase she's not going to be driving for Stewart Haas because Tony wants to win, not just have 3 teams that do a mediocre job in NASCAR.

I've seen him send drivers packing when they don't live up to his expectations many times in his dirt teams, and because he has put Newman on notice for this year, this proves he is carrying that philosophy over to the NASCAR side of things too. Darien Grubb was put on notice long before the chase and it seemed to be the kick in the ass that he needed to produce wins. I really don't think that Tony expected Grubb to do what he did, heck he didn't even expect to make the chase, and said so that because of the performance his team had, they weren't worthy of being in the chase. Plus he already had another crew chief in place for the 2012 season.

I have to agree that I don't think she'll live up to Tonys expectations, I will have to disagree on him signing her just for the bucks for a third team, he's not stupid when it comes to business, especially racing business. He also doesn't want to be associated with mediocre talent in his teams and winning races keeps sponsors and pays the bills.

[ho428]

I'm glad she signed with Tony, someone was going to and I'm glad it was a top level team, but I agree, I'm sure they've had "the talk" no excuses, we want results.

You want a strange signing, how about when Earnhart signed Michael Waltrip? Everyone said "WTF?"
But, he obviously saw something in him too.

[Region Warrior]

What did the other drivers do that she didnt(except run up front whole race)?
At least she didnt wreck anyone like some of the most experienced drivers did.

[INJUNTOM]

Originally Posted by ho428

I'm glad she signed with Tony

I was thinking about this yesterday and this tells a lot - Tony is in it to win it and wouldn't do anything to hurt his team. He must have seen something in her or she would not be there. Sure, sponsor dollars matter, but I don't think he would sell out his team at this point.

....and I don't think there's anyone more knowledgable or passionate about racing and winning than Tony Stewart.

As far as her performance goes, she ran about as smart a race as a rookie could. Like she said at the end - she knew that if she pulled out of line she would get freight-trained, and that's the truth.

[63Banshee]

He made a mistake or was thinking with his dick or both.

[63Banshee]

Make no mistake, THIS is why she got the ride. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/daytona...3--nascar.html

You guys enjoy watching them play follow the leader. I've had enough of it.

[Held for Ransom]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

The most famous words in auto racing, "Drivers, start your engines!", ended up as the funniest moment of the 2013 Daytona 500. Not sure if you guys caught this or not....

Since the introduction of female drivers to Indy and NASCAR, the famous command has changed to either, "Gentlemen, and Lady, start your engines", or more frequently (with more females on the grid), it's , "Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines."

But with all the Danicamania this past week, they had to tweak the line. Actor James Franco gave the command, but he blew it.

"Drivers......and Danica, start your engines!"

We burst out laughing. So Danica Patrick isn't a driver?

I think he meant to say "Gentlemen, and Danica, start your engines", but it came out wrong.

http://www.forums.maxperformanceinc....d.php?t=721359

I posted that right away.

And, everyone is thinking about the end of the race. When I posted she wasn't racing it was evident throughout the race. There were several instances where she could have tried the lower line and then pitted a few laps later and come out about the same position. Whomever coached her, hasn't done a very good job up to this point. While it's true I don't race, I have/had several friends that do/did and they like playing in the dirt.

[tom s]

I think Tony and her crew chief are telling her what to do.They have both said they want her to get laps and finish the races.Very easy for everyone to sit behind a keyboard and say what she should have done.I think she did impress her peers,JJ even siad he just saw her as another racers and she did finish way ahead of some very good racers in very good cars.Tom

[MikeNoun]

I like Danica. I'm not one of the Danica haters.

The only thing she needs work on now is her pit stops. She's already proven she can drive on a road course, which to me is far more impressive than being able to drive at a superspeedway. Road courses take talent, skill, and timing. Superspeedways take patience, a good car, and a drafting partner.

Yes, as pointed out by Champ, she has 15 years in professional racing, and 1 win.

Yes, that's overrated, and that deserves to be pointed out.

But she's good for the sport now, and I for one like seeing her out there. It's just business, and NASCAR is making her their golden child right now.

I still think she'll win a race this year.

And before we criticize her TOO much on her record....

Bobby Labonte hasn't won in 10 years, yet he still gets a ride every year.

Juan Pablo Montoya is one of the best drivers in the world, but in 6 years of racing NASCAR with a top notch team, he has 1 win.

[Baron Von Zeppelin]

idunno if she'll win a race this year - but she'll make some more good showings.
But within the next 2 years i bet she gets into a Yarborough/Allison fist fight with another driver. Then the ratings will soar like an eagle.

i see tremendous further potential in her making good finishes.
she's going to keep getting better and better.
She isnt JUST a novelty or another janet guthrie or kyle petty



If Travis Pastrana makes the big league, a lot of new fans will come into the sport too.
He has a lot of followers and could rival Dale Jr for most popular driver eventually - if he makes it - and does well. And i think he will.

He ran Strong in nationwide saturday.
- even though some think finishing 8th is easy.
He didn't make the pole which is probably easy too - but 2nd row wasnt bad

[The Champ]

Mike

Comparing Bobby Labonte to Danica just ain't right...

In the same time frame as Danica, Bobby has 25 NASCAR wins and a Cup Championship.

And Bobby won the Nationwide race in 2007 at Talladega (not a Cup win, but a NASCAR win). I give credit to Danica for a win in a totally different type of car, so it's only fair to give Bobby credit for that win.

Bobby hasn't been with a 1st echelon team since he left Gibbs. Bobby's making a living doing something he enjoys. I truly don't believe that he still has the desire that led him to 7 top 10 Cup finishes between 1995 and 2003 (that's was an average finish of 7th in the points).

I also wouldn't call Earnhardt/Ganassi a 1st echelon team. At least by my definition - 1st echelon teams are Roush, Childress, Hendrick, Gibbs, Stewart-Haas and Penske.

Those 6 teams represent about 40% of the field for most races. All 6 of those teams have produced Champions.

Earnhardt/Ganassi is a second tier team - just like RPM, MWR etc...

I really don't have anything against women racing. I'd love to see a woman come in and earn her way up in the sport like guys like Dales Sr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson.

Heck even Bobby Labonte earned his right to drive a Cup car. He was the 1991 Busch Series Champion.

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

The thing is Tony wants results not just a 3rd team. Ryan Newman is on a 1 year contract (probation if you will) because if he doesn't perform this year he will be looking for a ride.

I don't believe Newman is on "probation".

He finished 14th in the points last year and 10th the year before. Tony only finished in 9th place last year - that's not that big of a difference. Newman only got a one year contract because of the loss of U.S. Army sponsorship (dictated by some goofy congresswoman).

Is Tony going to fire Danica if she finishes in 30th place this year? Based on what you're saying he will. I don't believe he's going to fire her for that - as long as Go Daddy gives him another $20 mil next year (or something like that).

Tony didn't have to find a sponsor for Danica - she brought a sponsor to Tony. That's a totally different situation than Newman.

[hada76]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

I like Danica. I'm not one of the Danica haters.
The only thing she needs work on now is her pit stops.

it was pointed out during the race that she had a crappy pit stall, not enough room to get going. as far as making a move at the end of the race, her crew chief/spotters should have told her that jr. and the others were ready to haul azz