Danistar Makes it Official -- IndyCar, You're Just a Passenger

You know those average members of a team -- the right guard, second-string linebacker, special teams specialist -- who stand in the back grinning relentlessly as the star quarterback gets interviewed and praised for being so super awesome?

Well today that's IndyCar as the media swirls around Danica Patrick. IndyCar is kind of like the offensive linemen, standing in the back, icing their body parts and trying to figure out why their socks are full of blood as the news cameras gather around Peyton Manning/Danica and grill her on why she's so super-duper awesome. Even if Peyton Danica throws several bones to the O-line, they know -- and everyone watching knows -- who's the star.

Well the IndyCar is the O-line today. Danica Patrick announced she's going to run some races in the NASCAR Nationwide series next year around her IndyCar gigs.

Yeah, good for her. Yeah Danica. Some are saying "You see the IndyCar right there in the shot with the N-word car! Great exposure for IndyCar."

Pardon me while I buy a cake and plan a party! We're "in the shot." So is the third-string cornerback during the Super Bowl celebration. You can "clearly see the IndyCar logo!" Super-awesome. Except for the fact that I have some pride and prefer not to see IndyCar grovel for table scraps from Cabland or to have the series' nuts kept in a jar on Danica's nightstand.

Anyway, here's the news release. Get ready for SportsCenter to explode in orgasmic fury. Maybe IndyCar's logo will be clearly visible in some of the shots! Won't that be fortunate for us! Firestone and Honda gotta be pleased with the Chevy bowtie and Goodyear boot Danica is sporting in the photo above! WHAMMO!

Where's my scotch?

Comments

[redd carr]

We Indy fans do have to realize that we're second (or third or fourth) racing fiddle in the eye of the national sports media and casual sports fans.

As for DP, it could have been much worse. Daniker will do both, at least for two years, so I'm good with that. I was more disappointed that Munter is going to go test for Nascar. I'd like to see Indy develop and/or promote other suitable females--diSilvestro, Mann, Beatriz, Munter and Fisher before N-car takes them all. Danica is marketable, but she's not the only fish in the pond.

[Brad]

She'll rub those dumbasses the wrong way before the season is half over. There's a reason the guys at AGR call her a "Little Ball of Hate".

[pressdog]

I'm bummed that Leilani can't work out a ride in Lights as well. But it's a pretty straight ride buy situation in Lights, and try as she might Leilani can't find a sugardaddy sponsor. So, if your a driver, you go where the jobs are. They are all in fenderworld, unfortunately. I'm rooting for Leilani at all times.

[AZZO45]

Love how ESPN was all proper, calling out the NAPCAR Nationwide Series as Danica's 2nd job but referring her main job as the generic "IRL" (as opposed to its new official name: the IZOD Indycar Series)

Guess redd is right... this speaks to the level of respect(or the lack of...) the national media gives Indycar & its drivers! :( :(

[Sue]

What I'd love to know is how much JR Motorsport (or Go-Daddy) will have to pay Andretti Autosport in the event Daniker gets hurt in NASCAR and can't fulfill her contract to drive in the IZOD Indycar Series - especially for the 500. There has to be a financial contingency for that eventuality. It isn't unrealistic to think she just might get hurt, particularly when her first real NASCAR race is planned for Daytona. It's going to be verrryyy interesting, as Arte Johnson used to say.

[Rob]

I can't help but think this has nothing to do with Danica racing and everything to do with promoting her "brand". My guess is as long as she is selling T-shirts, running in the back wont be so bad. Now if she were running a sprint car at the dirt mile at Duquoin, that would get my attention. nascar, not so much.

[Dylan]

but, if you run at the back, how long will the T-shirt sales last? Junior keeps his popularity, partly because he used to run up front, so there's hope. If your like Sam Hornish, and there's no hope, will anyone care about you?