This story appeared in today's Bloomberg, I love the line of Danica being motor racing's version of Anna Kournikova. Sad but true: BN 00:05 Danica Patrick Needs to Win First, Then Whine: Scott Soshnick Commentary by Scott Soshnick July 17 (Bloomberg) -- Post-race Danica Patrick seems to always end up at the same place. Only it isn't first place. Never. The marquee name in open-wheel auto racing is pointing fingers at the competition. She's playing the blame game. Again. ``That kind of driving is really unnecessary,'' Danica told reporters after this past weekend's Firestone Indy 200 in Gladeville, Tennessee, criticizing the tactics of driver Ed Carpenter. ``Not smart on his part.'' Nor hers. Danica finished third, which matches her career best. For you sports fans who keep track of a little thing like winning, Patrick is 0-for-41. That's 41 races. Zero wins. And counting. Sound familiar? The Danica Patrick story is, so far, reminiscent of tennis player/model Anna Kournikova, whose looks, not win-loss record, made her one of the most popular and richest female athletes in history. Patrick, according to a Harris Interactive poll released last month, is the second-most-popular female athlete in the U.S., sandwiched between No. 1 Serena Williams and her sister, Venus. Serena, however, has won eight Grand Slam singles tennis titles. And Venus, even with six grand slams to her credit, is still looking up at Patrick. Of the three, Patrick is the only one with a layout in FHM magazine. Take a Guess This is just a guess, but I'll wager that more than half of the respondents to the poll were guys who like ogling her in the pages of men's magazines more than following her progress on the track. Patrick says she might have won this past weekend -- if only Carpenter had played nice. If only Carpenter had been courteous. If only the competition had, well, made things easy. Apparently Carpenter, who had been lapped by the field and was out of contention, didn't, as protocol dictates, get out of the way and let Patrick pass. Because of him, Patrick contends, there was no chance at her mounting a late-race challenge. ``You need to let the people at the front have their race,'' she said. ``Carpenter was not cooperating.'' Stuck in traffic, Patrick couldn't make up ground on teammate Dario Franchitti, who finished second behind Scott Dixon. Just Cooperate As for Carpenter, he admitted he could have been more cooperative. But, move aside or not, Patrick had zero chance of passing Franchitti, he said afterward. In others words, stop the whining. This isn't the first time that Patrick and Carpenter have made headlines. At least this dispute had to do with actual racing. Two years ago Carpenter made a stupid crack about Patrick being a particularly aggressive driver, ``if you catch her at the right time of the month.'' He said he was joking and offered to apologize. Patrick, to her credit, said she took no offense. Patrick made more headlines in June after she yelled at -- and then pushed -- Dan Wheldon after the two went tire-to-tire during a race. ``I'm sure she's just feeling the pressure of not winning races,'' Wheldon said at the time. ``She's just being Danica.'' Fans of the Boston Red Sox are familiar with the phrase ``Manny being Manny,'' which is just about the most courteous way of saying that outfielder Manny Ramirez is a flake. Still, Ramirez is a beloved figure. Holds Her Own Patrick isn't. Not for her racing abilities, anyway. And that's a shame. Danica Patrick has talent. She competes with the best drivers in the world and holds her own. Until she wins, though, it's best to keep quiet. Just imagine the backlash had golfer Michelle Wie blamed her poor performances against the men on a playing partner. If, and when, Danica Patrick wins a race, then perhaps the competition will take her protestations seriously. Until then she'll remain the pretty gal with too much whine and not enough win. (Scott Soshnick is a Bloomberg News columnist. The opinions expressed are his own.)
Thanks for posting - FWIW, my comments follow This got my BS alarms ringing! More than this author knows it would seem.... Can you imagine how much trouble he'd be in if he'd held up the third place car in F1? BS meter now off the graph Scott Soshnick needs to continue writing about "Bloomberg stuff" and get lost IMHO -) As usual, my 02c, Cheers, Ian
Danica is a really good driver. She's not the best driver ever, but she's better than half the field, at least. She's not in the top 5 but she's still young and learning. She has nothing to be ashamed of. As for her post race comments, you should hear what the NASCAR boys say (Stweart in particular). They get a pass because they're men? Ken
+1 FM was none too happy at Silverstone, and according too many on these boards, FA does *nothing* but whine! BTW - Can anyone post the FHM pix referred to? I reckon she'd be the first to admit she's no Anna K, but reckon she could "clean up" pretty good [*Please* don't flame me as a "male pig" - I honestly haven't seen 'em and am now interested - Thanks.]
BS! Tony, Dan, Sam, Helio, Dario, Scott, Buddy, and probably Marco are all most definitely better than Danica. She woln't win a race as long as these guys don't have any big problems.
I think you and Ken are both right, not sure why you call BS. He said she isn't the best but better than half. Well, she finished 9th in pts last year and is currently 7th now. That's better than half. As to the whiner vs winner. She needs to win and has the equipment to win, but her complaint about Carpenter was valid - she was being held up by a guy 2-3 laps down with 10 to go on a track that was quite difficult to pass anyone. I do agree, however, that the result would have been the same. No way she was gonna pass Dario.
danica has never one anything, consequently she can't be a winner. She's a whiner plain and simple. She's just out there to put on a show and make money by doing maxim magazine shoots. I'm sorry the fact that people consider her a great driver when she hasn't won a thing is just so stupid.
and we can thank god for that. the thought of an FHM spread of Venus or Serena Williams makes me shudder and feel sick lol on the topic at hand im not that aware of Danica, tho i have heard of her. her profile isnt big in the UK, but that could well change if she does start winning.
she never won in the atlantics nor has she won in the irl. she will certainly not ever win in nascar. i remember seeing her on a windtunnel interview a while back and she was asked if she would consider going to nascar if she was offered a top tier ride. her response was a cocky "well obviously...if i did not get a ride w/ the top team, she would never consider the move." what makes her think that she could even be considered for a top ride save for she is cute and would garner sponsorship...it aint talent that will get her there!!!! oh yeah...she is a whiner!
Well, she hasn't won a race so she's not a winner. That makes her a whiner to answer your question. I really couldn't care less what she does in her life anyway. IRL sucks.
It's pretty easy to tell that the writer of the article, and a few of the posters have never raced at a professional level. I know of quite a few racers who haven't won in a while. I ran for a few years, then had a year when of 16 starts I won 15 races. Never had it happen again, although I won a few more championships. Racing is hard, and you don't aways win. You can go for years without a win. An example is Ben Spies, who's been behind Mat Madlin for the last few years. Finally coming into his own. Anyone who says he isn't top drawer, obviously doesn't know what they are talking bout. If she's running near the front, sooner or later, she'll win. That balance of that crap is sexist, and frankly boring. She's got the talent, and she can speak her mind. She's in a car that is capable of winning, but Dario is probably a better package, at least at this point in time. Art
it's not even a question of other that have not won yet. who with her equipment has not won or even finished on the podium? she has the BEST ride in the irl and cannot stand her lil buns on the podium...at least not yet.
Danica raced with Rahal Letterman for 2005 and 2006 so I'll let her slide for no wins her rookie and sophomore years, whatever. This is her third year in the best cars (supposedly). 2007 season for her and her teammates: Dario Franchitti: 8 podiums in 11 races including 3 race wins. Tony Kanaan: 4 podiums in 11 races including 2 race wins. Marco Andretti: 1 podium (2nd place) in 11 races, 6 retirements (one win last year as a rookie) Danica: Two podiums (both 3rd place) in 11 races. No wins in 41 starts...
She was third last week. There's a podium at least. I think she's highly overrated and only got to where she is because of the fact that she's a girl. A guy with her career stats would probably not still have a ride, much less with Andretti-Green. Whiner? Bigtime, it seems that all she does is whine, her little encounter with Dan Wheldon was so ridiculous, she seemed like a little brat. Winner no, but concidering how oval races and the IRL in particular seem to go sometimes, if she's at the right place at the right time, she might luck into a win. Skill wise she might be able to beat you or me but she's not even in the top drivers 10 in the IRL. The Anna of racing title does seems to suit her. Only Marco hasn't won with the same equipment this year but he's had a run of DNF's. He's generally faster than Danica as well.
whether she has the best equipment - we'll never know. she moved to andretti green to get it and this is only her first season with the team ? regardless, the article is shabby. one that could have just as easily been spun as the good looking girl with talent that fights for every inch against the big boys. author obviously doesn't realize that FHM layouts feature only women.
I went to the IRL race at the Kansas Speedway and at 215 even in a circle they can all drive as far as I am concerned. Seats were on the straight out of turn 4 and in traffic I would be pinching one off. I have noticed that her attitude has changed from her rookie year, but mine would probably change too.
