Danica Patrick to race NASCAR full time but mum on Daytona 500 run
Danica Patrick said Thursday her full-time jump to NASCAR in 2012 was the "worst-kept secret in the world."
But the popular driver has decided to keep at least one announcement under wraps -- her plans for NASCAR's richest race, the 2012 Daytona 500.
"That's one of the things we have not completely decided yet," Patrick said when asked about competing in February's Great American Race at Daytona International Speedway.
Patrick -- along with Bob Parsons, the CEO for her sponsor GoDaddy -- did, however, announce at a video news conference in Phoenix that she plans to run a full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., and a handful of Sprint Cup Series events with Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by Tony Stewart.
When The News-Journal asked about the 500, Patrick had little to say before deferring to Parsons.
"I don't know. 'What do you think, Bob?' " responded the 29-year-old, dressed in her black, tight GoDaddy attire.
"I think there's a possibility," Parsons said with a big smile.
Daytona International Speedway president Joie Chitwood III sounded a bit disappointed Patrick did not announce her Daytona 500 intentions.
"I hope as they analyze the eight to 10 events she runs on the Sprint Cup side, I can't imagine that Daytona would not be considered favorably on that list," Chitwood said in a phone interview. "I hope Daytona is one of those select races."
Chances are it will be. All indications point toward Patrick attempting to qualify for the 500, which paid $268,550 to the last-place finisher in February.
She'll already be in town for the Nationwide race, which is scheduled one day before the 500.
And, The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday -- citing multiple unnamed sources -- that Patrick would enter the 500.
Patrick also said she enjoys racing on the Speedway's 2.5-mile tri-oval.
"I have definitely enjoyed going to Daytona, that's for sure," Patrick said. "I've done four races there. I really like it. I thought I had a great shot to win it at the end of the (Nationwide) race in July."
Patrick has run a limited number of Nationwide Series races with JR Motorsports since 2010.
In the July race at Daytona, she led 13 laps -- with Stewart pushing her to the front -- late in the race before crashing out on the last lap, finishing 10th.
There is speculation Patrick may use the Sprint Cup Series January test days at Daytona, officially called Preseason Thunder, to get a feel for the Cup stock cars.
NASCAR CEO and chairman Brian France was quick to welcome Patrick to the stock-car fold.
"We are pleased Danica Patrick has chosen to race full time in NASCAR in 2012," France said in a news release. "She has demonstrated a strong desire to compete and NASCAR provides the best opportunity to race against the top drivers in the world with the largest and most loyal fan base in motorsports on a week-to-week basis.
"Danica has shown solid improvement in NASCAR and we believe her decision to run fulltime in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with additional races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will be exciting for our fans and a great challenge for her."
NASCAR's gain was the IndyCar Series' loss.
Patrick, the series' four-time most popular driver, became famous by leading the Indianapolis 500 and winning an IndyCar race in Japan.
Patrick's Indy contract with team owner Michael Andretti expires this season.
"Danica has always been a great ambassador for IndyCar, and there is no doubt she has left a positive impression on our sport," IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said Thursday.
"We should give her a great farewell the rest of this season as she opens a new page in her career and wish her continued success with her new direction."
Patrick and Parsons won't have to make that Daytona 500 decision for several months. When Patrick made her NASCAR debut in the February 2010 Nationwide race at Daytona, she filed a post-dated entry only days before the event.
If Patrick makes the field for the 500, she will become only the third female to drive in NASCAR's most prestigious event, joining Janet Guthrie (finished 12th in 1977 and 11th in 1980) and Shawna Robinson (finished 24th in 2002).
Twenty-eight females have started Sprint Cup and Nationwide events. However, none has visited Victory Lane.
Patrick, however, would have slightly better odds -- both of her 2012 teams receive equipment and technology from Hendrick Motorsports, which has won the last five Sprint Cup Series championships with driver Jimmie Johnson.
Danica Patrick said Thursday her full-time jump to NASCAR in 2012 was the "worst-kept secret in the world."
But the popular driver has decided to keep at least one announcement under wraps -- her plans for NASCAR's richest race, the 2012 Daytona 500.
"That's one of the things we have not completely decided yet," Patrick said when asked about competing in February's Great American Race at Daytona International Speedway.
Patrick -- along with Bob Parsons, the CEO for her sponsor GoDaddy -- did, however, announce at a video news conference in Phoenix that she plans to run a full NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., and a handful of Sprint Cup Series events with Stewart-Haas Racing, co-owned by Tony Stewart.
When The News-Journal asked about the 500, Patrick had little to say before deferring to Parsons.
"I don't know. 'What do you think, Bob?' " responded the 29-year-old, dressed in her black, tight GoDaddy attire.
"I think there's a possibility," Parsons said with a big smile.
Daytona International Speedway president Joie Chitwood III sounded a bit disappointed Patrick did not announce her Daytona 500 intentions.
"I hope as they analyze the eight to 10 events she runs on the Sprint Cup side, I can't imagine that Daytona would not be considered favorably on that list," Chitwood said in a phone interview. "I hope Daytona is one of those select races."
Chances are it will be. All indications point toward Patrick attempting to qualify for the 500, which paid $268,550 to the last-place finisher in February.
She'll already be in town for the Nationwide race, which is scheduled one day before the 500.
And, The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday -- citing multiple unnamed sources -- that Patrick would enter the 500.
Patrick also said she enjoys racing on the Speedway's 2.5-mile tri-oval.
"I have definitely enjoyed going to Daytona, that's for sure," Patrick said. "I've done four races there. I really like it. I thought I had a great shot to win it at the end of the (Nationwide) race in July."
Patrick has run a limited number of Nationwide Series races with JR Motorsports since 2010.
In the July race at Daytona, she led 13 laps -- with Stewart pushing her to the front -- late in the race before crashing out on the last lap, finishing 10th.
There is speculation Patrick may use the Sprint Cup Series January test days at Daytona, officially called Preseason Thunder, to get a feel for the Cup stock cars.
NASCAR CEO and chairman Brian France was quick to welcome Patrick to the stock-car fold.
"We are pleased Danica Patrick has chosen to race full time in NASCAR in 2012," France said in a news release. "She has demonstrated a strong desire to compete and NASCAR provides the best opportunity to race against the top drivers in the world with the largest and most loyal fan base in motorsports on a week-to-week basis.
"Danica has shown solid improvement in NASCAR and we believe her decision to run fulltime in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, with additional races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will be exciting for our fans and a great challenge for her."
NASCAR's gain was the IndyCar Series' loss.
Patrick, the series' four-time most popular driver, became famous by leading the Indianapolis 500 and winning an IndyCar race in Japan.
Patrick's Indy contract with team owner Michael Andretti expires this season.
"Danica has always been a great ambassador for IndyCar, and there is no doubt she has left a positive impression on our sport," IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said Thursday.
"We should give her a great farewell the rest of this season as she opens a new page in her career and wish her continued success with her new direction."
Patrick and Parsons won't have to make that Daytona 500 decision for several months. When Patrick made her NASCAR debut in the February 2010 Nationwide race at Daytona, she filed a post-dated entry only days before the event.
If Patrick makes the field for the 500, she will become only the third female to drive in NASCAR's most prestigious event, joining Janet Guthrie (finished 12th in 1977 and 11th in 1980) and Shawna Robinson (finished 24th in 2002).
Twenty-eight females have started Sprint Cup and Nationwide events. However, none has visited Victory Lane.
Patrick, however, would have slightly better odds -- both of her 2012 teams receive equipment and technology from Hendrick Motorsports, which has won the last five Sprint Cup Series championships with driver Jimmie Johnson.
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