INDY 500

Drivers who bring sponsorship are a big part of open wheel racing right now. Danica is essentially one of these drivers, although she also brings more exposure to the series in general. Besides, it seems like Castroneves was as big a story after the race as Danica was, with his legal troubles and getting win #3.

All that said, I have to admit the GoDaddy ads are getting old. Note to godaddy.com marketing: making light of the fact that your ads are predictable, unimaginative, and just plain stupid doesn't make them any better.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 24 2009, 07:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>6926anica_Patrick_20.JPG]
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come on HF. tell me why i shouldn't like this bit of skirt ??
she can jam my stick shift anytime!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. Shupe @ May 26 2009, 07:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Drivers who bring sponsorship are a big part of open wheel racing right now. Danica is essentially one of these drivers, although she also brings more exposure to the series in general.
Drivers/riders getting drives/rides because of sponsorship, nationality etc is now and always has been common in motorsport, and whilst it is no doubt frustrating to those of similar or better talent without such advantages as long as results are not contrived or the driver/rider is not way off the pace I don't have too much of a problem; casey stoner's initial lcr ride was certainly helped by his australian nationality. I am sure danica's profile and sponsorship helps fund both the sport in general and her team and team-mate, and she would seem to be have at least mid-pack driving talent.

If she treats other drivers badly or claims a status greater than her talent and results justify as hayden fan seems to imply then criticism on this point is fair enough, particularly if based on personal experience, although I imagine she has copped a fair amount of attitude the other way as well purely based on her number of x chromosomes.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ May 26 2009, 09:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If she treats other drivers badly or claims a status greater than her talent and results justify as hayden fan seems to imply then criticism on this point is fair enough, particularly if based on personal experience, although I imagine she has copped a fair amount of attitude the other way as well purely based on her number of x chromosomes.

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From Time Magazine, 2005: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/...1069099,00.html

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>YOU POSED FOR FHM MAGAZINE IN A SKIMPY BLACK LEATHER OUTFIT. ANY REGRETS ABOUT THAT?

Not at all. It was an opportunity to find sponsorship, and it opened lots of doors. You have to do what you have to do, within reason and in respect to yourself, but I don't feel one bit uncomfortable with it. I look at the pictures and I think, The ..... are pretty. I had fun.

To me that sounds immature and unprofessional. I am sure it did open doors, but you lowered yourself in order to open those doors. But saying that, what sponsors actually signed on because of that? You were already racing for Bobby Rahal when that happened in 2004. Might have got Michael Andretti's attention (maybe looking for another wife when he gets old of the former Playmate of a current wife?), but it did not help a small US mortgage firm to sponsor you. Did not help Motorola (which is a long Michael Andretti backer).

And it really has not helped the team in general get new sponsorship. Tony Kanaan had 7-11 backing him since he joined the team in the IRL in 2003. Mutoh is running sponsorship from Honda in the form of Formula Dream. Marco is running local sponsorship from Meijer grocery stores, and from daddies bank account. Actually since Danica joined, they lost 3 major sponsors in the form of the New York Stock Exchange, Jim Beam, and Canadian Club whiskey.

My father worked with her as an engineer for her 2007 season in the IRL. He said his job was easy, as even though it was her third year in the series, he did little work as she would always ask for the setups from Kanaan and Franchitti. He said working with Michael Schumacher and Eddie Irvine was a more difficult job at Ferrari. Two drivers with incredible talent in one of F1's best cars. He said working with Giancarlo Fisichella in 2002 at Jordan was more difficult that 2007 with Danica.

And even with the setups from other teammate's, she's still complain that that car would not do this, do that, to her crew, which had no idea about the setup as they did not help develop it.

She is just another driver. If anything, during the course of a season is is average with her car. Inconsistent, and at times, down right off pace. Especially at the road circuits, which to every single IRL driver, is their background. She finished 2nd in the Formula Ford Festival, yet when the IRL goes to road circuits, she struggles.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>To me that sounds immature and unprofessional. I am sure it did open doors, but you lowered yourself in order to open those doors

A pretty .... doing some modelling to gain more exposure is not immature unproffessional or lowering her self imo. Geez ive seen men racer do that , gibber tosland marco randy ect ect and they didny cop any flak for it. As for her loosing her temper thats women and ive seen plenty of men racers spit the dummy out .
You say your dads job was easy while working for her, so what ! is that any reason to hate her ? You say she lost sponsors after her fhm shoot, was that as a direct result ??

Hayden Fan, showing the video of her hitting the crewman in her car is out of order and you know it. He ran across the pitlane when she was pitting, his fault. I'm not her biggest fan, but it does seem your trying imply she was at fault there. She wasnt.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ May 26 2009, 07:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I am sure it did open doors, but you lowered yourself in order to open those doors. But saying that, what sponsors actually signed on because of that?

It opened up the doors to her bank account, plain and simple.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (two-stroke @ May 27 2009, 05:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hayden Fan, showing the video of her hitting the crewman in her car is out of order and you know it. He ran across the pitlane when she was pitting, his fault. I'm not her biggest fan, but it does seem your trying imply she was at fault there. She wasnt.
To be honest, none of those video's has put me off her in the slightest. That bloke should not have been in the way of a pitting car as you pointed out, and she seemed to be the more reasonable one in the paddock argument vid. As for stamping her foot cos her car broke is totally understandable. shows she is a passionate racer imo.

^^^^ great post jumke.

I remember Katja doing a few sexy shots a while back. Think that was for FHM as well. Im all for female racers and im all for them getting there kit off for the boys as well

She used her body to get sponsors. To get money. Isn't that prostitution?

She's not attractive. I can not see what you see in her. Yes, she does look better than most females on earth, but compared to many, she falls behind.

The fact that her looks and being a female were the major reason for her getting the ride is what gets me. Her results prior to running in Indy Car were mid pack at best.

Karting championships aside (as even Ralf Schumacher had them), she only had 3 podium finishes in car races prior to entering the IRL, and that took until her win last year, to reach her first. No male driver would get to that point in racing with results as lacking as her's.

Danica's career statistics: http://www.driverdb.com/drivers/229/career/

How does Valentino Rossi and being backed by a tobacco company and beer company lower him? So would you lower Mick Doohan? Michael Schumacher? Jawques Villenueve? Wayne Rainey? All were backed by tobacco companies in Rothmans and Marlboro. How does that lower them as drivers, as people.

She lowered herself as she used modeling to get sponsors. I feel that is an act of desperation. If her talents are not enough to get money to race or impress team owners with money, than she should not be racing, or racing at the level she is.


Maybe after the last two seasons she might be able to claim she deserves her seat, but initially she did not. Even her seat in 2007 was out of the fact that she was bigger than the other three drivers on the team. Her results with Rahal Letterman in 05 and 06 were not deserving of anything. So what if she had a few poles and a 4th in 2005. You might be fast in a few laps, but in the races, of the races she scored poles in, she failed to finish within the top 5.

http://www.champcarstats.com/drivers/PatrickDanica.htm

Her second year should have seen her be out of a ride in the series. She was mid pack all season. Two 4 place finishes are not deserving of a ride in what is one of the top series in the series.

She might have talent, maybe more than I do, but from what I have seen from the races I have watched, she struggles. She gains many positions in the pitlane. While that is what racing is, you still have the other 99% of the race to overtake and advance, and she does not do that. Long Beach finish this year was made up from a bunch of great pit stops. I do not recall her overtaking a single car.

Her win is a fluke. You have Castroneves in the lead by over 3 seconds, and with only a few laps to go, he pulls up to save some extra fuel. That letting up allows Danica to pass and win. That is not a race won by shear talent.

But saying that, I feel that running a car (especially an IRL Indy Car) on an oval is not very difficult. It is all about the set-up of the car. Most tracks (even the 3/4 mile Richmond) set-ups allow for the car to be driven without letting up on the throttle. How is that difficult?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ May 28 2009, 11:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>She used her body to get sponsors. To get money. Isn't that prostitution?

She's not attractive. I can not see what you see in her. Yes, she does look better than most females on earth, but compared to many, she falls behind.



How does Valentino Rossi and being backed by a tobacco company and beer company lower him? So would you lower Mick Doohan? Michael Schumacher? Jawques Villenueve? Wayne Rainey? All were backed by tobacco companies in Rothmans and Marlboro. How does that lower them as drivers, as people.

She lowered herself as she used modeling to get sponsors. I feel that is an act of desperation.


1. modelling is not prostitution church boy Having ... for money is prostitution. Do you think every women who shows off there body in sexy attire is a whore ?

2.You say she is NOT attractive but she DOES look better than MOST females on earth Are you saying females are not attractive to you ?

3. I Think vale did lower himself by using Tobacco sponsorship, One thing this rossi fan did not like. My reason is he was always against tobacco sponsors and went with them against his principles. Danica did not. she said she was very comfortable with the shoot and has no regrets. To prostitute yourself is to do something you hate and goes against your principles but do it anyway either for money or to further your career.

Come on HF, your a good kid. Your not like tom. You may dislike Danica but you aint going to make us dislike her with your reasons mate. We see a hot racy .... who can drive the wheel's off a super fast car, She has legs up to her arm pits and a cute smile. You aint got a chance in hell of winning this debate mate so stop digging. Your time would be better spend finding pics of other female racers worthy of out respect and attention.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ May 29 2009, 01:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>... SELLS

(and I'm buying)
yup, none of us really gave a .... about LCR until the bunny's came along

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ May 29 2009, 06:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Not everybody. Pinky had/has a love affair with their two riders, casey and randy. Come out of the <strike>closet</strike> dungeon already pinks ya .....
yup

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ May 28 2009, 05:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The fact that her looks and being a female were the major reason for her getting the ride is what gets me. Her results prior to running in Indy Car were mid pack at best...

...But saying that, I feel that running a car (especially an IRL Indy Car) on an oval is not very difficult. It is all about the set-up of the car. Most tracks (even the 3/4 mile Richmond) set-ups allow for the car to be driven without letting up on the throttle. How is that difficult?

Racing on a super speedway and maintaining speeds over 210 for 500 miles can't be easy. Although I imagine the IRL cars are more gentle than the turbo cruise missiles of the 90s. Is getting the right setup not part of racing? Nailing the setup for an oval race is a challenge, just ask Danica.

Is Danica getting a ride on the basis of gender any worse than drivers using last names to the same effect? One could make a convincing argument that certain drivers didn't "earn" their jobs, but instead fell into them with a famous lineage and then failed to meet expectations ("Little E", Christian Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet Jr., and perhaps Marco come to mind). I imagine teams, when recruiting, take more than previous results into consideration. Racing is a business, and if Danica pulls in enough dough to keep the car on track, then teams will go that way.

Life isn't fair and those trying to make it in a competitive environment, such as racing, are smart to find an edge whenever possible, which can include lineage, contacts, money, even one's appearance.

Let me put it this way: if you were a teen idol with an army of female admirers, yet not on the level of Kanaan, Helio et. al in the talent department, would you accept a seat with AGR or Ganassi on the basis of your ability to attract sponsors and exposure? Or would your impeccable morality force you to decline the offer, languish in sub-par equipment (b/c you didn't deserve the good stuff), and risk your career?

Being paid to drive race cars is a really sweet deal; I can't blame Danica for taking advantage of her natural assets in order to avoid having to work some .... job 9-5. Besides, professional racing is a business and she does earn her spot by bringing in the money.

One more thing, have you seen Marco Andretti's Gillette commercial? Is he wrong for being filmed with his shirt off and displaying his physique on T.V.?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. Shupe @ May 30 2009, 08:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Racing on a super speedway and maintaining speeds over 210 for 500 miles can't be easy. Although I imagine the IRL cars are more gentle than the turbo cruise missiles of the 90s. Is getting the right setup not part of racing? Nailing the setup for an oval race is a challenge, just ask Danica.

Is Danica getting a ride on the basis of gender any worse than drivers using last names to the same effect? One could make a convincing argument that certain drivers didn't "earn" their jobs, but instead fell into them with a famous lineage and then failed to meet expectations ("Little E", Christian Fittipaldi, Nelson Piquet Jr., and perhaps Marco come to mind). I imagine teams, when recruiting, take more than previous results into consideration. Racing is a business, and if Danica pulls in enough dough to keep the car on track, then teams will go that way.

Life isn't fair and those trying to make it in a competitive environment, such as racing, are smart to find an edge whenever possible, which can include lineage, contacts, money, even one's appearance.

Let me put it this way: if you were a teen idol with an army of female admirers, yet not on the level of Kanaan, Helio et. al in the talent department, would you accept a seat with AGR or Ganassi on the basis of your ability to attract sponsors and exposure? Or would your impeccable morality force you to decline the offer, languish in sub-par equipment (b/c you didn't deserve the good stuff), and risk your career?

Being paid to drive race cars is a really sweet deal; I can't blame Danica for taking advantage of her natural assets in order to avoid having to work some .... job 9-5. Besides, professional racing is a business and she does earn her spot by bringing in the money.

One more thing, have you seen Marco Andretti's Gillette commercial? Is he wrong for being filmed with his shirt off and displaying his physique on T.V.?
I agree with what you have said. But Danica clearly has huge talent in the driving seat and imho deserves her seat regardless of looks ... or sponsorship deals. 3rd at indy proves that. Who ever said driving the oval is easy (HF i think) .Ok how many drivers finished behind her ?