Danica Patrick biggest star since Dale E!?

[SportscarBruce]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/2006-01-26-daytona24-preview_x.htm

Founded in 1999, Grand Am has benefited the last five years from an influx of Nextel Cup stars at its 24-hour crown jewel, drawing champions such as Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Terry Labonte, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth.

The biggest Indy-car name, though, is Patrick, and a dose of Danica-mania at Daytona International Speedway could provide the Rolex with a jolt of popularity unseen since the late Dale Earnhardt and his son kicked off the NASCAR crossover trend in 2001.

Grand Am president Roger Edmondson says ticket sales are running well ahead of last year, and that's likely thanks to Patrick. The 23-year-old former cheerleader's on-track success and sex appeal drew record crowds to IRL races and drove record clicks on Internet search engines after becoming the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500.

"I'm confident she'll bring more fans," Edmondson says. "I'm absolutely sure she'll bring more media. There's no question of her star power."

[Jim Wilke]

She's on the cover of the program when they could have used Tony Stewart or Sebastien Bourdais or Max Angelelli. There's a reason for that.

[logjammer]

I would feel better if it stated she is the best marketing tool. As far as star and puting her name in the same story, line , country as Dale Sr., WTF? NOT even close.

I have stated many times I thought she is overused, I say that as a conservative, not as a race fan. I really do feel for the young lady, she has not had a fair learning curve, she is expected to be the next( insert name) since coming on the scene.

I just wonder had she progressed at her speed what she would really be?

[Doc Austin]

I have stated many times I thought she is overused, I say that as a conservative, not as a race fan.

Yeah, but as a guy, I'm ok with it. Well, except for on Fridays when we're all gay.

Oh......wait....

I really do feel for the young lady, she has not had a fair learning curve, she is expected to be the next( insert name) since coming on the scene.

Well, two things. First, I don't think Danica is "the next......" anybody. We've never seen a woman this good before.........and that's coming from Milka Duno's not-so-secret admirer. However, I think the next really good woman is probably going to have to live up to being "the next Danica."

I just wonder had she progressed at her speed what she would really be?

I really don't think it's effected her. It probably helpes having Buddy Rice for a teammate because no one, and I mean no one, is cooler than Buddy Rice. I imagine they sit in the motorhome together and laugh about all the stink that is generated around them. If you look at how the two dealt with the pressure at Indianapolis this year, Danica looks really impressive. Buddy just had a bad year, and he'll win the race again, maybe more than once.

Obviously the media frenzy could be a pretty good distraction for her, but I really think she is revelling and blossoming in it. The way she highroaded Bernie Ecclestone into the ditch was the final nail that made me a Danica fan.....and I really didn't want to like her. It was fun to see a 100lb little girl b*tchslap the most powerful man in motorsports and not look like she was the badguy about it.

Looking back, aside from having a biting sense of humor (which I sort of enjoy
), I think Danica handles herself with every bit as much aplomb as the endlessly gracefull Lynn St. James always did.

Personally, I'm glad she's at the Rolex 24, and any attention she takes from the superstars will just generate more interest in the series overall.

[mdkiel]

I didn't want to like her either...but after that Peak commercial...I love h...well at least her makeup person.

[rrrr]

I would feel better if it stated she is the best marketing tool. As far as star and puting her name in the same story, line , country as Dale Sr., WTF? NOT even close.

You didn't read very closely.

.......could provide the Rolex with a jolt of popularity unseen since the late Dale Earnhardt and his son kicked off the NASCAR crossover trend in 2001.

Where does it say shes a star and where does it compare her to Earnhardt?

[Indyknut]

You didn't read very closely.



Where does it say shes a star and where does it compare her to Earnhardt?

"The 23-year-old former cheerleader's on-track success"

a fourth, a couple poles but essentially a midpacker.

[Jim Wilke]

The fans don't seem to mind and since they are the ones buying tickets - extra tickets - I guess that's okay.

[ForzaFerrari]

Anna Kournikova was pretty popular for a while too. Made a final or two, won a couple of doubles titles (playing with the world no.1 at the time), cracked into the top 10, once. Retired at 22 without a senior title to her name.

Patrick has a massive amount of hype surrounding her, but unless the results start to match that, that will turn against her. She's not a rookie anymore. Anna was the darling of the tennis circuit for her first few years, now ESPN ranked her 18th in the "25 Biggest Sports Flops of the Past 25 Years".

Obviously, Patrick has talent. But it hasn't matched the hype....YET. But comparing her to Dale E when she hasn't won a race is asking for trouble. Nothing wrong with marketing her, but i think organisations should stop using her as the postergirl until after her results match the hype, or even half the rest of the grid.

[Indyknut]

Well, she'll have fewer cars to fall behind at the start this year.

[Canth]

I like it. "She's no longer a rookie anymore, the results better start coming!!!"....nevermind the fact the first race of the season is still about 2 months away. She's supposed to win now, even if there are no races to win!

It'll be a very interesting day to see some of the responses around here if/when she does win her first race.

[Kurt Cobain]

Anna Kournikova was pretty popular for a while too. Made a final or two, won a couple of doubles titles (playing with the world no.1 at the time), cracked into the top 10, once. Retired at 22 without a senior title to her name.

Patrick has a massive amount of hype surrounding her, but unless the results start to match that, that will turn against her. She's not a rookie anymore. Anna was the darling of the tennis circuit for her first few years, now ESPN ranked her 18th in the "25 Biggest Sports Flops of the Past 25 Years".

Obviously, Patrick has talent. But it hasn't matched the hype....YET. But comparing her to Dale E when she hasn't won a race is asking for trouble. Nothing wrong with marketing her, but i think organisations should stop using her as the postergirl until after her results match the hype, or even half the rest of the grid.

Anna Kournikova retired at 22 without ANY TENNIS TITLE to her name.

Same thing happened to a fair looker who was looked upon to be a saviour of the LPGA, Laura Baugh. Baugh took second in one of the LPGA majors (U.S. Open I believe) and the hype surrounding her was large. She was on talk shows, newspapers a few magazine covers and television commercials (Ultra-Bright anyone?).

Baugh NEVER came close to winning a title of any kind despite the hype.

Will Danica? Well only time will tell, but she's getting 10 times the hype Laura Baugh ever did and probably twice that of Kournikova (at least here in the US. World wide, perhaps not).

[Jim Wilke]

Here's what the Danica detractors always forget, the reason that she'll be popular for a long time: She competes against men, not other women.

[ptistheboss]

Here's what the Danica detractors always forget, the reason that she'll be popular for a long time: She competes against men, not other women.

Agreed. But its cause shes a racer, a real racer. Kat is gonna be huge. She has more talent and is way more "fan friendly". Plus that accent. Damn.

[SportscarBruce]

Agreed. But its cause shes a racer, a real racer. Kat is gonna be huge. She has more talent and is way more "fan friendly". Plus that accent. Damn.

Who is talking about Kat?