3:09 PM
JD
To take an honest look at her finishes and her possibilities, you should first look at the case of Ricky Carmichael. In 2009, Carmichael began racing in the Camping World Truck Series, racing a total of 18 races. During those 18 races, Carmichael finished only twice in the top 10 and led 0 laps. Another telling stat is that he only finished on the lead lap in 5 of 18 races. His season was full of wrecks, unsure driving, and disheartening finishes.
In 2010, however, Carmichael had 3 top 5's and 9 top 10's in 25 races. He finished on the lead lap in 14 of those races and led in one of them. With a 13th place finish in the points, Carmichael has shown he is a worthwhile investment and could possibly see more success in 2011. He has also shown it is not an easy task to move to stock car racing from other forms of racing. It takes time to learn, adjust, and hopefully become competitive.
One large difference between Patrick and Carmichael is that Carmichael has given his whole year to pursuing NASCAR. Although he still makes motocross appearances, he spends a great deal of time testing, racing, and learning. After having strung together 4 straight top 10's a race prior to the end of 2010, be prepared to see Carmichael play an outside roll in competing for the CWTS championship this year.
If Patrick wants to have any lasting success in NASCAR, she will obviously need to race the full season. Sadly it will take success to pull her from Indy racing. In recent interviews, Patrick has seemed indifferent to her future with NASCAR, so if success does not come soon, her relationship with JR Motorsports could grow cold. Patrick likes the limelight, and no doubt enjoys the added attention she gets at NASCAR venues. But, at her heart she is a very competitive racer and if she ever feels she cannot win in NASCAR, she will be gone.
The silver lining for Danica is that in 2010 she did show some, however gradual, improvement. Her average finish slowly tapered up as you look more toward the end of 2010, and in her last race, Homestead, she actually led and finished on the lead lap. If she can grow comfortable enough with the NNS car and her abilities to drive that car, she could possibly show some marked improvement from 2011.
Some race fans have questioned her tenacity and whether she has the grit to truly compete in NASCAR at any level. For those of you who feel this way, I will refer you to her shoving Indy driver Dan Wheldon. The case could be made, though, that Patrick needs seat time whether she stays in NASCAR or not. Her finishes in Indy at NASCAR tracks last fall were improved. Another idea would have been to have her start in the Camping World Truck Series, but most would believe that to be "beneath" her. Either way, for NASCAR to get a competitive female driver in its Cup or Nationwide series', some work is yet to be done.
Read more by Joseph Davis at The Spotter Stand and follow him on Twitter @the_Bumpdrafter
Posted in: Dale Earnhardt Jr,Danica Patrick,Nascar,Nascar Blog,Nascar Nationwide Series,nascar news,Ricky Carmichael
8 comments:
To answer your headline..... NO!
She barely competes in the Indy series. She's always had a top ride there, and has only one win (that nobody saw). With only 18 full time teams in Indy, her 10th place points finish last year make her middle of the pack, at best. She led ONE lap in Indy cars last year. Indy champs like Hornish and Franchitti can't cut it in NAASCAR.... why should she?
She looks at NASCAR as a joke, just a payday. She never tests or practices. She is nothing but a marketing campaign. One definitely not based on performance, at that.
Based solely on performance and talent, not sponsorship dollars, she couldn't land a ride at Wally's go-kart world.
Also don't think so and comparing her to Carmichael is ridiculous too because even tho the results didn't show when he was a rookie, he was running in the top 15 when he had issues as opposed to Danica lagging around the back...and Carmichael didn't have top notch Hendrick equipment.
Only the elite open wheel drivers make the transition. That's why Stewart, JPM, and Allmendinger have been able to survive in Cup...Hornish and Franchitti prove the relative ease of the current IndyCar cars and competition(Remember, in Champ Car Allmendinger was barking constantly about the terrible drivers in IndyCar and how they were far inferior talents than those in Champ Car despite IndyCar being more popular)....If Danica can barely compete in that what does she think is going to happen in NASCAR?
Definitely good points! I agree, Carmichael's success in his first year was greater, even if it was one series lower. The main reason, I'll repeat, he has had more success quicker is his willingness to commit: he tested a TON before be began and has continued doing so. I do think it's slightly irresponsible to say she has no talent. She has to be one of the best females to attempt Indy car racing, if not then who? I would think they would have more to gain by having the best female driver racing, not just a so so kne who is good looking.
JD, Simona DiSilvestro and Ana Beatriz are far greater talents but arent as pretty and arent American. 2 strikes against them.
As a rookie, driving for a shoestring budget team, DiSilvestro routinely ran better than Danica.
Carmichael made the commitment. He even drove a year in the NASCAR East Series.... before he ever went to a national touring series.
I'm not saying she has no talent... just that the 'talent' in Indy cars is way below Cup level. Milka Duno has qualified better than some Indy 500 winners on occasion. And, I think we can all say she's not very talented... on the track.
Simona DiSilvestro will drive Danica out of Indycar racing. She possibly is a better driver and she definitely knows more about car set-up. The public is tired of Danica's failure to live up to the hype and will move on to Simona when she notches a win or two.
At that point, Danica will run a limited NASCAR schedule. it's unfortunate that she's a poor road racer because that's where most one-shot rides are available in Sprint Cup.
Virex6: Stewart and Allmendinger were NOT eleite Indycar drivers. Stewart was successful when the CART was still active and the IRL had a very poor depth of talent. Allmendinger came to NASCAR because he couldn't get a good ride in open wheel.
Franchitti, Hornish and JPM are certainly elite open wheel drivers, Dario may be the best in the last twenty years. Open wheel and taxicab racing are two different skill sets though.
Danica is inadequate wherever she goes. It appears that Allmendinger and Montoya will remain second-string. JPM may just be too old and rich. Hornish will not succeed in tin-tops and should move to Grand-Am.
Nope. Danican't won't produce. Outside of being a female shill and a marketing tool, she has limited talents and abilities as a driver. If not for her IndyCar team mates setting up her cars, she wouldn't be able to get the car around the track. And she has the same problem in NASCAR. If not for the other drivers in the JR Motorsports stable keeping the car in the Top 30 in points, she wouldn't be able to get the car into a race because she couldn't set it up and qualify fast enough to make it in.
considering that Scott Speed ran in the Trucks and NW series before getting to Cup, I don't think that would be beneath Danica at all...mainly since F1 is most certainly higher on the motorsports ladder than Indycar will ever be.
personally, I think anyone who wants to jump ship should start in Trucks at the very most...and I believe that is why Marcos Ambrose has a decent following since the fans appreciate that he's worked his way up without getting the silver spoon treatment.
Post a Comment