The Official Danica Patrick Fan Site

Michael Andretti on Danica

Q: Your thoughts on Andretti Autosport losing Danica Patrick to Nascar?

A: Our team did a lot to help Danica. We got her her first win (at Motegi, Japan, in 2008), gave her credibility, made her competitive. When Nascar came along she lost focus, and her results showed it. We wish her luck.

I'm not going to get in the way of a driver wanting to do something else. There was life before Danica, and there's life after.

I also think Danica's effect on IndyCar has been played out. We've gained fans from her, but we won't lose them all when she goes. Once you follow IndyCar, you follow not just Danica but the other guys too. So I don't think it's going to be as big a deal as everybody says. It's just business.

Nothing like burning a bridge, eh Mikey?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim Huntington on February 15, 2012 at 7:21pm

Classless to the very end. Good riddance.

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Permalink Reply by DanicaPowerX on February 15, 2012 at 7:45pm

I don't think Andretti Autosport and Danica are going to be getting back together anytime soon. lol.

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Permalink Reply by elliott bayne on February 15, 2012 at 9:02pm

I am SOOOOO glad I don't have to watch the camel races this year to see Danica drive. If vapid IndyCar management and insipid team owners like little Mikey don't grow a brain the Indy 500 will wind up being a go kart race in a few years. Watching this noble institution wither like it has after a hundred successful years is a sad thing. I always thought only politicians could screw up that badly and keep their jobs.

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Permalink Reply by vern m on February 15, 2012 at 9:09pm

Dont worry about what he says as it doesnt matter anymore. Indycar people keep saying she wont matter now that she's gone and its funny as it seems like they are trying to convince someone, maybe themselves? There isnt really anything else they can say at this point, but some of their remarks are classless for sure. AA lost his meal ticket when she left as the GoDaddy funding for the other car Hinch will drive is only half of what they got for Danica driving for them all those yrs, so its natural they are upset.

On a better note heres a great interview from Pressdog int Danica on lots of things, charity, driving and personal .

http://pressdog.typepad.com/dogblog/2012/02/danica-patrick-on-copd....

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Permalink Reply by Becky on February 15, 2012 at 9:11pm

Comments like this from Michael is why I wish GoDaddy wouldn't have continued with AA in IndyCar. He is just so classless...

For the most part I won't be watching much IndyCar this year but when I do I think I'm going to be rooting for Oriol Servia.

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Permalink Reply by BudmaninTx on February 15, 2012 at 9:20pm

You are right on Vern, Becky and All. Let's put all this Indycar stuff behind us. I think it is obvious to all of us she wasn't getting all the support from AA she deserved over the last couple of years. Lets move on to the new nascar era. Personally, I'm looking forward to the twin Danica races coming up in Florida. Its the FIRST ANNUAL NASCAR NATIONWIDE DANICA-300 on the 25th, followed on the 26th by the FIRST ANNUAL NASCAR SPRINT CUP DANICA-500 on the 26th !!!! I for one, can hardly wait !!!!!

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Permalink Reply by DanicaFans on February 15, 2012 at 9:29pm

I have great respect for Servia.

Becky said:

Comments like this from Michael is why I wish GoDaddy wouldn't have continued with AA in IndyCar. He is just so classless...

For the most part I won't be watching much IndyCar this year but when I do I think I'm going to be rooting for Oriol Servia.

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Permalink Reply by Damon on February 16, 2012 at 12:08am

When does GoDaddy's sponsorship sentence with Andretti's team end and they're allowed of sponsorship jail?

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Permalink Reply by David Williams on February 16, 2012 at 4:11am

I like the new names for these two races, Jim. I wish there was some way we could attach them, even as graffiti, to some prominent piece of NASCAR advertising.

BudmaninTx said:

You are right on Vern, Becky and All. Let's put all this Indycar stuff behind us. I think it is obvious to all of us she wasn't getting all the support from AA she deserved over the last couple of years. Lets move on to the new nascar era. Personally, I'm looking forward to the twin Danica races coming up in Florida. Its the FIRST ANNUAL NASCAR NATIONWIDE DANICA-300 on the 25th, followed on the 26th by the FIRST ANNUAL NASCAR SPRINT CUP DANICA-500 on the 26th !!!! I for one, can hardly wait !!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Alfred Lucky7 on February 16, 2012 at 12:35pm

Mmmmmmmmmm Ok Andretti is Right IZOD INDY is Business...And Danica Patrick Gave so Much to this "Business" ¿or not?...Whatever I Feel Sorry 4 Andretti and This Words.

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Permalink Reply by DanicaPowerX on February 16, 2012 at 11:11pm

I have a ton of respect for Michael Andretti in the fact that he's one of the best American open-wheel drivers of our time and a former CART champion, but his recent comments against Danica Patrick mean-spirited, hateful and brimming with ridicule. He basically just all but out-right suggested that Danica was a "complete waste of talent" who is "unfocused". Then goes on to dress down her marketability.

I'm starting to think that fun racing wasn't the only reason she left IndyCar, but rather, because she'd have to put up with him for another two years...