Danica Patrick Focused On Daytona 500 Luck And Nationwide Championship

By Anne Proffit

Anne Proffit

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Anne Proffit has worked in the automotive field since - well, not telling you that. She's been a car salesperson (before it was popular to hire... More

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1,768 views Feb 16, 2012

Danica Patrick with her father TJ - Anne Proffit photo

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The most anticipated rookie in this year's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is Danica Patrick, who left the IZOD IndyCar Series open-wheel program to compete in the stock cars full-time in 2012. While Patrick's initial focus will be in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, she intends to race in 10 Cup contests with the intent of further learning the craft of racing these heavy, powerful cars in the No. 10 GoDaddy.com Chevrolet.

The door for a rookie win opened wide during last year's Daytona 500 when 20-year-old Trevor Bayne won the biggest race of the year in his first try. That might make it easier for Patrick, who has been competing part-time in Nationwide over the past year or two. What will it take? "Luck," she said. "I have a fast car so I think that's taken care of but I think it's going to take some good breaks and a patient race, staying out of trouble."

Apparently, Patrick's been listening to stablemates Ryan Newman and team co-owner Tony Stewart, the reigning and three-time Sprint Cup champion. "I've found when you're up near the front away from the thick of things you're much less likely to be caught in an accident that smoke is filled the air to and you can't miss or you can't see," she advised. "But I do think luck is going to play a big factor."

NASCAR has worked over the winter to remove the tandem racing that permeated last year's restrictor plate races at Daytona and Talladega; it's far more likely fans will see pack racing, something Patrick has become accustomed to in the Indy cars. Still, she recognizes that she'll have to "make sure to stay in touch with the pack. If you lose the pack you are in trouble," Patrick pointed out.

"I believe what is going to win the race is something tandem," she predicted. The accidents might be bigger again just because everybody is closer but hopefully it's exciting for the fans. I know they have asked for pack racing back and I know it looks visually more interesting and it's fine. We did some pack racing in testing a few weeks ago and I think everybody enjoyed it."

While the Daytona 500 is the biggest race of the NASCAR year, let's not forget that Patrick has driven in the Indianapolis 500 - and nearly won it - and that event "is one of the biggest races in the world, if not the biggest race in the world," she said.

Although she's left the Indy car scene in her rear-view mirror, Patrick is still keeping tabs on what's going on in the Indy car ranks. "I'm sure when May comes around I will definitely be a little sad that I'm not there (in Indianapolis for the 500) and at least thinking about what's going on and curious about what's going on. I'm also sure," she stressed, "that the curiosity will dwindle as my work load grows here, but once May comes around I'll be curious. I'll be paying attention - I'll be paying attention throughout the year."

The door isn't closed to an Indy 500 return it's just not in the cards this year. "I'm having to compromise in one place and unfortunately the one that is going to get compromised is the Indy 500 because I'm focusing on the Nationwide Series," which races in Iowa on Sunday of Indy's qualifying weekend. "You can't really put that sort of situation into play and not be able to follow through on everything."

Patrick has the added benefit of being guaranteed a spot in her first Daytona 500 this year, thanks to an agreement between Stewart-Haas Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing. In the races where Patrick doesn't compete, veteran David Reutimann has the seat. "I'm definitely going to hope that David has good races and that he finishes well or finishes and I'm sure the other is quite true as well. He's going to hope when I get in the car that I do okay," Patrick said.

Stewart-Haas and Tommy Baldwin's two racing teams are working together with added information for everyone involved. "I think it's just going to be an upside from here on out," said Patrick.

The important facet of Danica Patrick's 2012 season is the Nationwide Series and its championship. "As Tony Jr (Eury) told me, the first 10 races really set the stage and set the pace for the rest of the year. It's like being in school; you get a couple of bad grades on your first few tests and it just seems you can't get out of that hole and it's always the same. If you can start the year off well, have great test results at the very beginning it seems like you just kind of hang up there. So hopefully it's a good start to the year and we can feel good about it."