I'm an IRL racing fan, and I must make a "rant" about people's statements about Danica Patrick

[Exiled in America]

Ok, this is a rant - and its a rant about IRL racing no less. So there probably won't be a wide audience.

But I am sick and tired of people who don't follow the league or the sport or have even the slightest clue about racing making all these stupid ass statements about Danica Patrick.

People who don't follow racing have now joined on the "Danica Patrick is overrated" bandwagon. It's funny, people seem to take great pleasure whenever they sense that someone with celebrity might "fall from grace."

But in this case I swear that there is sexism behind it. It's like people can wait for her to fail.

The only problem is, if you have one fucking clue about racing, she isn't failing. She is one of the best drivers in the sport.

People say she is overrated because she hasn't placed first in a race yet. However, she is consistently in the Top 10 finishers, and regularly in the Top 5. Her name is almost always, always, always at the top of the pack for finishes. More importantly, she is #7 in points standings for the entire league AND - most importantly to the owners - she is the #8 top earner out of the entire field. "Earner" in this case has nothing to do with endorsements - it is referring to cash prizes for race finishes.

In other words, she's a great driver. There is a reason team Andretti signed her, and it wasn't charity and it wasn't celebrity. It's because she is without a doubt the best female driver to race in an indy series ever - and she is also just flat out one of the better drivers in the league today. Period.

But I guess you have to actually KNOW something about the sport and follow it to get that fucking fact through your heads, all you blahbabdiy blah blah people who say "I don't really follow racing, BUT danica suckz!!"

Shut the fuck up until you KNOW what you're talking about.

That is all. :)

End rant.

[supernova]

1. Culture "savants"

I think it has more to do with those who want to be considered hipper than thou kiboshing anything as "so over" the nanosecond it becomes popular. Those folks have no need to be experts in said subject matter.

I don't know much about racing, but DP seems to be the real deal to me. :-) Good luck to her. :thumbsup:

[triguy46]

2. She may be good, but no Lewis Hamilton. n/t

[matcom]

3. I don't know ANYTHING about racing but I DO know

i'd hit it!

that is really all.

[skygazer]

4. Well, honestly, sexism is my main beef with all the hype

I don't know squat about racing but I've certainly heard of Danica Patrick and I could pick her out in a photo lineup. I also don't know squat about her abilities as a driver because her abilities as a driver aren't what is highlighted - the fact that she's an extremely good looking woman (who happens to be a race car driver) is.

I also don't know how many women there are in racing but I bet there are more than one and I bet there are plenty who have done well and deserved coverage. I've never seen any coverage but I see Danica Patrick everywhere. Why? Because she's beautiful.

I don't blame her for that but to me, it points out the stupid sexism that still exists and consists of a backhanded compliment which isn't right. If she was ugly or just average looking, I'll bet no one would outside of racing would ever have heard of her. And that's neither right nor fair.

[Exiled in America]

5. Well that sounds reasonable, but you're actually wrong

There have not been that many female drivers.

The ones who have raced in IRL have done horribly. They were also very pretty.

Danica Patrick, didn't start getting coverage the moment she started racing. In case you don't know, there are races in the season before Indianapolis. She started getting coverage when she became the first woman to lead at Indy, and the first woman to place in the top 5 finishers at Indy.

She continued to get coverage PARTLY (for sure) due to her being an "attractive" story to cover: a pretty girl who grew up dreaming of racing - its a story that is guaranteed to make celebrity out of anyone.

But she also continued to get coverage because she continued to be an extremely capable racer. Regular top 10 finishes - something no other women in IRL done. Top 10 points standing - something no other woman in IRL had done.

It was a story because she was GOOD and she made HISTORY - and then after that she continued to show herself to be a capable racer. The fact that she was pretty was a bonus - and it certainly lifted her to a different level of celebrity. The same thing happens with men. Yup. It does. You get a fat, ugly male racer who wins races, and he will get much less coverage than a hot young male racer who might not even have as good of a record.

Either way, the fact remains - danica's record defends itself to anyone who knows anything about racing, and gets the fact that there is a lot more to being a good driver than placing 1st in a race.

Don't get me wrong - she needs to do that to in order to be remembered down the road, but whether she is remembered along with other legends or not, she is a damn good driver. The five year mark is when people should start talking about whether someone is "overrated" or not.

Incidentally, she's not getting all the media attention she once did. And frankly, I don't have a problem if the sport wants to showcase a youthful, attractive, female face with lots of talent to represent their sport. I'd rather have that than a youthful, attractive, male face with lots of talent - because I like to encourage the teardown of gender barriers in sports, and racing is one of the worst.

[Zoigal]

6. Been a racing fan for years

Seen a lot of races including ones where Danica Patrick has participated.

Think she's a great driver. It's a tough sport. A gal has to be good to

compete. And she definitely is a competitor. By the way, does anyone know if she

is related to Scooter Patrick? Thanks.

[madrchsod]

7. she `s a very good driver and now she`s with a great team

now whether or not she`ll win indy or the drivers championship is another matter. of all the men who raced at indy only a select few have won once and a elite group have won two or more.out of all the racers only one can drivers championship..and that`s harder than winning at indy..

i`ve been following champ car racing for 52 years now and it`s about time the qualified ladies are offered good rides

[madrchsod]

8. here is my favorite driver....

[Exiled in America]

18. My understanding is that she has skills, but she's done very poorly in IRL so far

[Swede]

9. She is totally fearless, to boot.

She will win some day soon.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

10. Wow, late to the party!

I believe she is overrated, never won in Atlantics. The IRL is and has always been an unfunny joke. Tony George, and his league is responsible for the downfall of open wheel racing in America.

Top ten in a league with maybe three decent teams and a list of field fillers isn't much to write home about.

BTW, a lot of this is Danica's fault. She went along with the media hype, took part in the photo shoots, and two years ago went on every talk show in America. It's no surprise the media and fickle fans are turning on her.

[Exiled in America]

21. That's all just a matter of taste.

You're opinions about what's "wrong" with open wheel racing in America are the reasons I like it. I'm loyal to drivers. Not teams, and not abstract theory - drivers. I like the family legacy in the sport.

Sure things can always improve, but your criticisms are just a matter of taste.

As far as Danica goes your claim that "top ten in a league is irrelevant. My point was that people bashing Danica now are usually doing it WITHIN the context of IRL. You're making a meta-criticism of the league itself. Within IRL, Danica is one of the better drivers. You're argument is: that doesn't mean much outside the IRL. Maybe, maybe not, but that was never my concern.

[usaftmo]

11. I feel the root of the problem is

stubborn/closed-minded people who feel only men should participate/be successful in racing, regardless of the circuit. To me the issue isn't really anti-Danica it's anti-women. IRL is a much better place for a woman to compete as opposed to NASCAR.

[BlueCollar]

12. Open wheel racing

requires a lot of skill. Touching wheels at over 200 MPH in a CART/INDY/F1 car requires absolute nerves of steel to avoid or recover.

Danica has shown that she can race with the best...I really want her to win a race or two this season...She's a damn good driver racing for a very good team in Andretti Green Racing.

As for F1...Hamilton rocks....

I'm with you.

edit for spelling

[Hosnon]

13. I think she's great.

Her performance at Indy last year, i.e., 2006, was incredible. We really thought she was going to win. And her performance this year was just as impressive.

I do wonder one thing, though: Is it possible that women eventually will push men out of the sport (at least, to a significant degree) due to their weight advantage? Every little percentage point counts and the women in the sport probably weigh, on average, fifty pounds less.

[lildreamer316]

17. It's not just the weight advantage; it's the reaction time.

Some studies (not all) have shown that women have a quicker reaction time than men. Supposedly, for example; this would make them great fighter pilots; but there is where the weight and strength thing works to a man's advantage. In racing; you are right--the combo of quick reaction times plus lighter weight may turn the sport in a different direction. It will be interesting to see.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. Haven't Seen What You're Talking About

So, i don't have an opinion on that. But, i agree that every time i see racing results on ESPN or in the paper, her name is near the top somewhere.

This might be a little like the ". . .but he's never won a major. . ." when talking about a top shelf golfer.

Sexism might be at play re: Danica. But, it's not about golfers. Might be more just looking for a chink in the armor.
GAC

[Rabrrrrrr]

15. When she does a lesbian flick with Rachael Ray, then I'll care.

Otherwise - what the fuck is IRL racing?

How many fucking racing leagues do we need?

[lildreamer316]

16. You are so right; and it's also funny about Dale Earnhart's oldest daughter..

...back several years ago she was racing in the bush leagues; and was deemed by many as good or better a driver than Jr.--many said she was the best in the family. (I know; totally different sport)

Women are supposed to have faster reaction times-makes them really good for NHRA; like Cha Cha and (I can't remember her name the blonde woman who's been racing those for years..). There's also a girl and her boyfriend/husband who race drag bikes who are pretty consistant winners also.

[Tyler Durden]

19. Better G-force tolerance as well.

Theoretically, Women drivers should kick the mens' collective asses.

She is lovely though.

[LynneSin]

20. If I have to shut the fuck up until I know what I'm talking about....

I may never talk again

:cry:

[Exiled in America]

22. lol :) It was a generic venting, not aimed at anyone.