Saturday, April 26, 2008 | 10:44 a.m.
Now that Danica Patrick has an IndyCar win, will it be long before NASCAR comes calling? One thing that’s missing from NASCAR’s roster of accomplishments is a competitive female driver. In addition to Danica’s proven ability to win, her marketable face and personality would make any corporation salivate at the chance of getting their products on her race car.
Suppose NASCAR called tomorrow. Should she jump ship and slide into a stock car? I think she should wait just a little longer until she gets more experience. It would be a good idea to drive in the Nationwide Series before she moves to Cup. The transition from open-wheel racing to stock cars can be anything but smooth. Just ask the current crop of open-wheel biggies, some who have come from Formula One racing, how bumpy the road can be.
I hope Danica will eventually move to NASCAR and when she does I hope she has the experience to be competitive early on. I’m not suggesting she couldn’t jump into a Cup car today and drive it competently, but NASCAR sponsors are impatient and want immediate results. I’d hate to see the often unrealistic expectations in this sport ruin the chances of the first truly competitive female in the Sprint Cup Series.
According to NASCAR.com, a reporter asked Jack Roush on Friday if he thought a woman would have what it takes to compete in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series. The reporter seemed to suggest women “might not be mean enough.”
“I think they could do it,” said Roush. “Some of the meanest human beings I’ve known in my life are women.”
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