Where's the love and support ?

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Permalink Reply by Todd Miller on February 13, 2010 at 10:53pm

I am guilty as probably most for not responding quicker. Maybe just trying to let it all soak in and watch some more racing.

She did spectacular over the last couple of weeks (there's the atta girl and the love). I think Danica is going to do fine in this series with some time and maybe not much. She has proven that she is a good study on this new type of racing, like bobsled compared to IndyCar. Already proven there but as someone mentioned earlier, I think too it might improve her skills in IndyCar. She's a true professional driver considering her comfort level in communicating with her team, her fans and the media. A dream for sponsors. They are the ones that make these sports possible.

If you listen to the other drivers in NASCAR, most seem to be quite impressed with her ability on the track and off, maybe a little jealosy here and there, that's racing and that's life. I don't give much thought to negitive blogs.

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Permalink Reply by DanicaFans on February 13, 2010 at 11:06pm

Hi Lee,

Don't worry, everyone here is very excited about today's race (at least from what I've heard). That said, we don't always (and perhaps we should) cheerlead as much as we could. You can bet that Danica's twitter account was full of congratulatory praise from the fans here, though.

Don

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on February 14, 2010 at 12:02am

All things considered, today was very successful. She learned a lot about the car, and was really getting comfortable with it at the time of the crash. Experienced stock car drivers have trouble in restrictor plate races, so being her first Nationwide Series race, she handled herself very well. I think one of the biggest things she learned today, she now knows how it feels to crash a stock car, something she never experienced before today, it's something every driver has to go through and now it's out of the way. We'll move onto next weekend, Fontana is a much wider track, no restrictor plates, she's going to be able to drive much more like in that ARCA event of last week.

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Permalink Reply by Damon on February 14, 2010 at 5:26am

What else can be said about yesterday's race other than it was a learning experience, she said going that it would be and called it 300 miles of practice, it was the media who blow the whole thing up and made it THE STORY from Monday through Saturday, she was just focused on driving the car.


After the race Tony Stewart said it right, "The Nationwide race wasn't about where she would finish, it was about gaining experience and she did that."


Hopefully they can give her a better car next week at Fontana that allows her to race with comfort at the start rather than force her to drop back.

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Permalink Reply by Cerberus on February 14, 2010 at 7:33am

Realistically, with only 3 hours or so of practice under her belt with a new car, she obviously wasn't going to feel good running in the pack from the get-go. She felt better running the ARCA because A) The car is more stable, and she said that, and B) She ran tons of laps within more than 10 hours of practice in december, plus a couple of hours during the race weekend. In the Nationwide she had to learn the car and the draft all at once, in a very short span of time. It was predictable that if she hadn't been comfortable she would have put herself in a quiet situation until starting to build up confidence. This is her usual approach also in the IndyCar races where she's much more experienced, so I let you imagine how it could be in yesterday's race.

So, back to the topic, was it necessary to yell "Gosh Danica did awesome"? We all love her, we knew her goals, just to gain experience and finish the race, she almost managed to do both, so it's fine.

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Permalink Reply by Fiiiiitttttzzzzz! on February 14, 2010 at 12:50pm

There was a large group of 15 to 20 members who were chatting "live" during the race yesterday showing support for her first real attempt at this type of racing. She has the support from members of this board. Although she is now running in a different type of motorsports racing than she has in the past with IRL, even the members who were vocal about their dislike for what has been labeled the "Taxi-Cab" series, those members are avid Danica fans and have also embraced her new ventures. I guess I may also be "missing something ?"

As far as what she did on that track yesterday, It was a great effort in a series with some talented drivers. NASCAR is a form of motorsports that has to have the "luck factor" included in the racing since the cars are designed to be able to touch each other at high speeds in close proximity with variables such as wind, track surface and human input all included in the equation. But, in a much different way than open wheel racing. She handled her car in a way that any talented driver who deals with high speed car control on a week to week basis should be expected to. However, her "luck factor" ran out when the hole closed in front of her from cars spinning on the track and smoke making it difficult to give her any other options than to do what they are told to do ....stay in your line.

Ive read some posts from others who feel that she is going to jump into a different type of race car and immediately be successful. Unfourtunately this is a fools dream. She has a learning curve that even she will openly admit needs to be overcome and eventually will become a contender on a week to week basis in this series of motorsports racing. But on that one given day that she has a great handling car, hit her mark and made perfect pit-stops, has the confidence and experience to win a race, she will still need to stay clear of the crash fests that are part of this sport and deal with that "luck factor".

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Permalink Reply by Shayne C on February 14, 2010 at 9:47pm

From what I am hearing From NASCAR Drivers and Fox commentators, everyone who knows about the sport thinks she did a Great Job, Rusty Wallace made a currious comment. He stated that NASCAR will help Danica in Indy like it did Dario F. According to Wallace Mario left NASCAR and became the INDY Series Champion the following year. What he doesnt say is Dario left INDY in 2008/09 to move to NASCAR. When he did he was the INDY Champion. Regardless, Danica is doing great, he objective and JR motorsports is to finish races and get seat time. They, (including Danica) dont want to throw her to the wolves in NASCAR. In a interview she clearly stated her goals and reasoning her racing scedule. Her goal is seat time and a race that she finishes is a success. She is running a limited race scedule tosee if she even likes stock cars. ''What if I get over hear and dont even like it" (Danica Patrick 10 Feb 2010). Danica is doing fine,
She does bring alot of media attention with her. The Arca Race was up by 60% in viewers and Fox was amazed at her following at her booth for merchandise (no wonder they are marketing her like crazy)
All that aside, Danica is a Great Driver nuff said

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Permalink Reply by Reggie on February 14, 2010 at 9:56pm

Yeah, I noticed that as well, he basically said that Dario would have never won an IndyCar title if not for his stint in NASCAR, but what he failed to mention was the fact that Dario was champion in IndyCar the year prior to his NASCAR run.

Shayne C said:

From what I am hearing From NASCAR Drivers and Fox commentators, everyone who knows about the sport thinks she did a Great Job, Rusty Wallace made a currious comment. He stated that NASCAR will help Danica in Indy like it did Dario F. According to Wallace Mario left NASCAR and became the INDY Series Champion the following year. What he doesnt say is Dario left INDY in 2008/09 to move to NASCAR. When he did he was the INDY Champion. Regardless, Danica is doing great, he objective and JR motorsports is to finish races and get seat time. They, (including Danica) dont want to throw her to the wolves in NASCAR. In a interview she clearly stated her goals and reasoning her racing scedule. Her goal is seat time and a race that she finishes is a success. She is running a limited race scedule tosee if she even likes stock cars. ''What if I get over hear and dont even like it" (Danica Patrick 10 Feb 2010). Danica is doing fine,
She does bring alot of media attention with her. The Arca Race was up by 60% in viewers and Fox was amazed at her following at her booth for merchandise (no wonder they are marketing her like crazy)
All that aside, Danica is a Great Driver nuff said

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Permalink Reply by DanicaFans on February 15, 2010 at 12:09am

Fine, you don't have to yell about it.

dewey l campbell said:

TWITTER SUX I WOULD NEVER GO THERE !
DanicaFans said:

Hi Lee,

Don't worry, everyone here is very excited about today's race (at least from what I've heard). That said, we don't always (and perhaps we should) cheerlead as much as we could. You can bet that Danica's twitter account was full of congratulatory praise from the fans here, though. Don

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Permalink Reply by Barbara on February 15, 2010 at 12:07pm

I think she did a fantastic job in Daytona. Very proud to wear the lime green and black this season. Going to Fontana to cheer her on in person. Someone commented on the live chat we took part in on Saturday. That has become the best part of the racing for me. Having other fans to share the excitement with as it happens.
Danica gets nothing but love and support from me. No matter what she is driving.

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Permalink Reply by Lee Nicomedes on February 15, 2010 at 12:51pm

Don,

First I must confess I'm not good at saying what I am thinking. My comment about cheerleading and being a " social " forum was more of a reason why I don't post anymore here than I do , I'll embarrass myself in short order and feel more comfortable on those less " refined " public forums. And I have no problem with this site , I think it's terrific . It's like going into an " upscale " nightclub where sometimes a little more liqueur is required before your able to hit the dance floor. In essence , I wasn't looking for cheerleading , just a place to ease my frustration.

I have watched enough NASCAR races to know it's quite common for the best drivers in the best cars to fall back with ill handling cars , then reappear in the front after pit stop adjustments and felt that is exactly what was happening with Danica . I definitely wasn't looking for nor expecting a good finish , I just wanted her to get up there with the cup regulars and ride around with them for awhile to learn from the best in the one race with so many present. I wasn't the least bit frustrated with her results or performance , just frustrated with a missed opportunity.It would have been cool to see her and Jr. in a little " bump drafting " lesson , but perhaps that would have been a little to much , a little to soon.What experience she did gain can only help next week and I am glad she decided to give Daytona a go!

BTW,

All the wonderful replies to this discussion was all that I was hoping to find here. Intelligent , honest , straightforward discussions . I guess I just didn't give it enough time to develop and that's , my bad.

DanicaFans said:

Hi Lee,

Don't worry, everyone here is very excited about today's race (at least from what I've heard). That said, we don't always (and perhaps we should) cheerlead as much as we could. You can bet that Danica's twitter account was full of congratulatory praise from the fans here, though.

Don

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Permalink Reply by Gene Benn on February 27, 2010 at 10:11am

I am in TOTAL agreement and for each mile she drives she just gets better. Danica is having a ton of fun,and when your having fun is when we all do our best.Danica has too many things against her, she is pretty, young, smart, Super talented, and a woman who has worked real hard to get here. All of that seems to irritate some people, and for those who think that her purpose is to beat men are mistaken, she just wants to win like everybody else. As a former race car driver the goal is that CHECKARD FLAG in this sport! Can't wait to see her first one in NASCAR, and it will happen! Have a great race today in Las Vegas, just keep learning,we love you and it will all come to you just like the other types of racing you have done.

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