Pictures are a bit "racy"? ouch!

While I recognize that photos like this are a de riguer for a woman in a traditionally male sport, I'm beyond tired of women who think it's cool to 'get their kit off' for publicity. It's the stuff of actresses, and diminish Danica's skills in the mind of the women IRL/IROC/F1/NASCAR are so desperately trying to attract to the sport of auto racing.

Ms. Hospenthal probably has her best shot to win this year. Last year she drove what amounted to a three-legged dog, after the switch of teams shes been a bit more competitive this year.

Milka "Milkalicious" Duno while achieving some success in the sports car arena is far out of her element at Indy.

Other than being this year's "Indy Darling" she won't do much except get in the way.

Kevin, I this this post is off base. The lady enters Indy for the first time TWO YEARS ago, breaks the Top Ten, is a threat to win again, and you think she's a Kournikova because "she's never won an Indy race?" She finished FOURTH and EIGHTH fa crissakes.

I was a bit annoyed by all the hype and "racy pics" before, what with the "she's a girl" crap that her sponsors/managers/agents/bankers/media consultants were no doubt humping (sorry), but I gotta like her (and the other two women) for their assiduous refusal to accommodate the whole "battle of women" baloney:

"If we're wanting to be recognized as drivers, why would we stand alone and have you take a picture or write a story about us being girl drivers? Why would we put ourselves in that situation that, 'Look, we just want to be drivers, but yet we're going to stand here as women and single ourselves out again.' Why would I do that? We need to stand with other drivers -- with good drivers. That will bring the respect level of women drivers up because it will put us on an equal playing [field], but not if we stand there as girls together."

(personally, she look kinda boney to me)

Langtry:

While I recognize that photos like this are a de riguer for a woman in a traditionally male sport, I'm beyond tired of women who think it's cool to 'get their kit off' for publicity.

Get their "kit off?"

Please, she hasn't done any photo shoots wearing anything that wouldn't be seen on every beach in America.

If she ever does a "Britney" of a "Lohan" and lets her who-ha hang for the world to see then come back and complain about it.

Wavemaker, while not a "fan" of Danica in the "she's the be all and end all" of Indy sense like her sycophants are - and I have written plenty of storys on her and many other female drivers both "big" and "small" time - what specifically do you see wrong with the Kournikova comparison?

Kournikova was a "threat" to win and never did before slinking off to be whatever she is now.

Patrick was a threat to win in 2005 but didn't. In 2006 she was no threat because of the cars under performance.

This year in a much better prepared car she's had a 7th, 8th and 14th place finishes.

Having said that... she's due to win based on the number of IRL type races she's competed in. At this point she's a couple races over the average number of IndyCar events new drivers have run before their first win.

She's Smokin Hot!

I'd do her if I can get a break from campaigning.

She's a mediocre racer in an even more mediocre racing series. It's a sign of just how far the Indy 500 has fallen that someone like her would be the biggest story of the race. And as a resident of central Indiana, I know much too well just how over-exposed she is.

Unless IRL and Champ Car can get together, open-wheel racing in this country is doomed. And that makes me very sad indeed because I loved the 500. I attended my first race in 1955, when I was just 3 years old and followed it all the way up to 1995, which was the last race before the split.

Paul:

I couldn't agree more about Patrick, and about the IRL and Champ Car series. Things went downhill fast when Tony George screwed over CART and made the race IRL only in '96.

Paul:

It's a sign of just how far the Indy 500 has fallen that someone like her would be the biggest story of the race.

While there is no valid argument for the split between the IRL and CCWS having been good to use that as a basis to diminish Patrick's skills is absurd.

Janet Guthrie, while not the "looker" that Patrick is faced the same media onslaught and was the "biggest story of the race" in her time.

The same can be said of Lyn St James and Wille T. Ribbs on the male side of the sexual divide, they all were the "biggest story of the race"

At least your consistent Paul, you're as misguided in things related to auto racing as you are in the political arena.

Danica is proof positive that IRL and CART are not even in the same league as F1.

CharlieDontSurf

And using the acronym "CART" is proof positive your a decade behind the times.

Beside that no one is saying CCWS or the IRL is on par with F1.

marc:

Come on, man, give Paul a break. He and I are diametrically opposed ideologically, but there is no question open wheel racing, and most notably, the Indy 500 has gone way downhill since 1995. Thanks to Tony George, of course.

I think what Paul was saying, (if he doesn't mind speaking for him), was that the level of competition has fallen far and fast since then, and Patrick seems to be more skilled now because of that fact. I'd like to see how she would fare in F1, and I would bet it wouldn't be very good. The first thing she has to do is win a race or two in the IRL, though.

I will grant you that she is competitive right now, but I'm not so sure she would have been as competitive back in the early '90s when the competition was better (in CART/USAC).

marc:

I just followed your link, and realized why you had such a strong opinion...;-)...and I've been to your blog before, I just didn't remember it was yours. Who's your favorite to win this weekend? I checked over your IRL link real quick and didn't see any posts on that topic yet...

...and, more on topic here, where do you think Patrick will finish this weekend?

You nailed it, Tom. There was a time when top to bottom, there was top notch talent in the 500. Drivers came from Formula 1, NASCAR and everywhere else because back then, the Indy 500 was the world's premier race.

Now there are 6 or 8 drivers who could probably hold their own whatever series they ran. But the rest are has beens like John Andretti, Al Unser Jr and Roberto Moreno or never-weres like Jon Herb, Darren Manning, or AJ Foyt IV, who couldn't get a job driving the team truck if it weren't for his name.

I really yearn for the days of Mears, Bobby and Big Al, Parnelli and all the rest. Those were truly great talents as well as dynamic personalities. Helio Castroneves is about as close as we have to that today...

And Marc, anytime you want to discuss racing, just let me know. I know my way around all of it with the exception of drag racing.

Paul Hamilton:

Your more than welcome to drop by my blog at your leisure to discuss not only any of the racing outlined via my categories but any other not listed there including drag racing F1 Boat or Unlimited Hydroplane racing or the Red Bull Air Races.

Tom:

Come on, man, give Paul a break. He and I are diametrically opposed ideologically, but there is no question open wheel racing, and most notably, the Indy 500 has gone way downhill since 1995. Thanks to Tony George, of course.

Break over what, an illogical connection between Patrick's looks and media attention as related to her relative talent level?

As already noted she's just the latest in a long line of media darlings at Indy that the media made into the "biggest story of May."

And I've already implied the TG split was and continues to be an unmitigated disaster for American open wheel racing.

With no fix in sight.

As for Sunday... rain will win.

Monday it will be either Castroneves or Hornish Jr. winning with Patrick somewhere between 4th and 8th.

Hey Marc, I followed that link, too and that's a great site! I posted comments to several of the threads you had posted.

I really appreciate how you cover all forms of motorsport, and I'll add your site to my visit-it-daily list.

marc:

"Break over what, an illogical connection between Patrick's looks and media attention as related to her relative talent level?"

I think you made the illogical leap here. Here's what Paul wrote:

"She's a mediocre racer in an even more mediocre racing series. It's a sign of just how far the Indy 500 has fallen that someone like her would be the biggest story of the race."

You skipped over the sentence in bold, quoted the next sentence, then somehow interpreted that to mean he was knocking her over her looks. From what I'm reading, he's knocking her skills as a driver. I agree with Paul, she's just not that good. She's made the break into the IRL, she's competitive, but she gets far more media coverage than her skills warrant at this point.

"And I've already implied the TG split was and continues to be an unmitigated disaster for American open wheel racing. With no fix in sight.

That's something we all agree on. I hope you're wrong about the rain. But you're probably going to be right!

Slightly off topic: If it rains this weekend, I hope it doesn't come back until after the Memorial golf tournament slated for next week.

Okay, let's get to the heart of this situation in Indy. I don't know how old you are, but I'm 55 and have lived my whole life in Indiana, so the 500 is a part of my DNA.

Yes, there have always been media celebrities at the track. The first one I can really remember was Eddie Sachs, who was the Darryl Waltrip of his day -- he ALWAYS had something interesting to say and the reporters flocked around him.

But Sachs was not only a champion talker, he was a champion driver. And one champion among upwards of 70 or 80 who showed up every May to try and make the race. There was none of the carefully-choreographed PR nonsense like there is today -- like that photo op in times square. Can you imagine AJ or Vuky taking time out from their race prep to go to NY to have their picture taken? They would have laughed...and then probably punched you in the nose for even the suggestion.

And back then, the racing was exciting. Every year there was something new and interesting to get the fans talking -- the Novis, the turbine cars, and who could forget Smokey Yunick's "sidecar." Today, Indy has become little more than a spec series.

I don't want it to seem like I'm slamming Danica Patrick. I'm sure she could drive circles around me with one arm behind her back. But the problem is that when Janet Guthrie came to the track, she was controversial. People wondered whether she had what it took to compete in the great Indianapolis 500. When Danica Patrick arrived, she was all anybody talked about, and nobody seemed to CARE whether her talent was up to the event. You can make an argument either way whether that was because there really wasn't much talent around or because this was a case of good PR conquering all, but in all honesty, Danica Patrick does not deserve to be the biggest name at Indianapolis. Her first year at the track, she was a teammate of the defending race champ, Buddy Rice, but she got 95% of the attention. That ain't right.

But as you said, she's far from the first. It just troubles me that as the years go by and the split in American open-wheel continues, the gimmicks are now bigger than the race. That's a fundamental problem in the sport, not just a problem with Danica Patrick.

And the longer this watered-down race goes on, the more damage is done to what used to be the greatest racing franchise in the world. Once upon a time, the stands would be full to the brim on every day of qualifying. Now they have created a "bump day" for every qualifying session but the place is just about empty anyway. Again, gimmicks won't work.

Every year they've struggled to fill the field. Look at all the cars in the race this year with no sponsorship on their cars at all. That's another very bad sign -- when the sponsors leave, it starts a downward spiral that's very difficult to reverse. Compare that to the massive entry lists of the fifties through the eighties. And big name sponsors were everywhere. Now they've all gone to NASCAR along with most of the talent. When Tony Stewart (whom I still like very much) gave up on Indy to run NASCAR exclusively, it broke my heart, but he was just following the money.

Anyway, I've gabbed enough. I hope Danica wins. I really mean that. With a combination of her media presence and the results to give her cred, it would be a huge shot in the arm for open wheel racing and would add a little more incentive for Champ Car and IRL to get their act together and give the public something to get excited about. I don't think she *will* win, however.

It's very hard to be cubic dollars and so you have to go with one of the Penske drivers as the favorite. Even odds for Helio or Sam to win. After that, you'd have to go with Kanaan or Franchiti. I'd like to see Tony win myself -- he has gobs of talent and has been so close so many times.

My fondest wish is that Al Jr, Michael Andretti, Buddy and Jacques Lazier, and Roberto Moreno finish the race healthy and announce their retirements. They're all well past their prime and it really worries me when people are out of the car for long stretches and then try to get it together for a race like Indy or Daytona.

So there you go. I guess you can cancel my membership in the Danica anti-fan club. :)

Hey Tom, last fall, there was huge coverage locally on a rumor that CCWS and IRL were right on the brink of getting back together. Of course you really never know how much you can trust media coverage of unattributed rumors, but reality *has* to be staring these guys in the face. They can read the bottom line and the tv ratings and they know that the longer they stay apart, the worse things are going to get.

I don't like it, but Tony George is the one holding all the aces here and I suspect that this year or next, at the very latest, CCWS will merge with IRL, adapting their car standards. I just hope that the series is about evenly split between ovals and road courses. It's encouraging that IRL has added a couple road courses, so that's one tiny bit of common ground at least.

If they CAN'T get together, I think Champ Car will fold. They simply no longer have any means to sustain themselves.

Her first year at the track, she was a teammate of the defending race champ, Buddy Rice, but she got 95% of the attention. That ain't right.

That kind of proves my point. While the talent level is watered down the top 6-10 drivers are very talented and against that she nearly won in a competitive car.

That didn't occur in 2006 because of the crap box David Letterman & Co provided the team.

At this point with less than 40 events total in the series her accomplishments are on par with the average 3rd year driver. But as I said earlier she's at the point now if a win doesn't come this year the attention and possibley a ride in a top machine will go away just as it did with Guthrie.

And BTW Paul I got you by a year (56) and spent many May's doing yardwork in Michigan listening to the 500 via a radio propped up in the bedroom window before the 500 was televised.

My formative years were spent rooting for Bobby Unser in the 500. While I'm a little young (41) to remember how much coverage was given to NASCAR, I do remember the hype surrounding the 500. It almost seems that the two have completekly switched places in terms of public awareness. I lost interest after the split, and have watched only a couple of 500's since. I have, however, almost become a full-bore NASCAR junkie, being able to identify many of the drivers without help. I agree with others here that open wheel racing needs a big shot in the arm to maintain any kind of status. I wouldn't mind seeing Patrick win, because I'd know that she earned it.

I don't think like a man, nor do I even want to try. But if you guys think it's just fine for a girl (woman) who has broken into a traditionally male dominated sport with actual talent to spread her legs on top of some race car for a cheesy photo shoot, then fine. But Langtry hit the nail on the head. It lowers my opinion of her because it detracts from everything she's put into her career and knocks her back down to the level of just "meat display". The pics look trashy. Especially the first batch. I'd have a much higher opinion of her and might even take and interest in her career if she used class and style. Call me a prude if you like. I assure you, I am no prude. I think everyone already knew she was a female, and a good looking one at that. No need to cheese it up.

Smart and talented, poised to succeed in her field. But when you add the fact that she is smokin' hot, all the ladies get jealous and snarky.

It will take years to get the sponsors back to Indy. Nascar is my game. Love the fact that the drivers, crews, owners and fans love the sport first and foremost. ww

Hey Paul, I saw that. For the survival of open wheel racing, it would be nice if the two series could somehow resolve their issues despite Tony George's over-inflated ego.

Oh baby, baby. Some of those photos started my engine. But seriously, Patrick is a very good racer, but she felt that some limitations by David Letterman's Race Team including his cars and mechanics held her back from winning the whole thing. Today will test whether it's the driver or the car. Good luck Danica!

Exactly, Oyster. I can't think of a single case where a male driver has tried to establish himself in the sport by doing beefcake. Patrick was probably trying a little too hard her first year, and of course the media were willing accomplices. Fortunately the last couple years, she's been a lot more tasteful.

Race hasnt even started and im sick of Pussburger talking about her. If they would just shut up about her till she wins something it would be nice. Im sorry but she doesnt walk on water and all this coverage by Pussburger and ilk has made the past few 500's hard to take.

Marc sez:

"And using the acronym "CART" is proof positive your a decade behind the times." - Oooh, ouch that hurt...it will alway be CART as far as I'm concerned,a name change isn't going to save that series.

"Beside that no one is saying CCWS or the IRL is on par with F1." - Exactly why I brought it up, IRL isn't that tough...please try to keep up.

Just a comment on the race:
If it's true that Kanaan's pass on the restart was team orders, I'll take back everything I said about hoping he would win. The team knew that rain was just moments away and dictating the outcome such as this makes a travesty of the race along the lines of the way Ferrari used to act when Schumacher was driving for them.

Anybody who has a problem with sexy photos of Danica is either a gay man or a butt ugly woman or maybe just a plain old prude. Indy car racing would already be dead without Danica Patrick.Nascar is killing Indy racing and Danica at least gives us a reason to be interested. She will win a race soon and I hope she poses for Playboy the very next day.She has talent and a nice little booty too. Now, that's a perfect combination.

Oyster:

I don't think like a man, nor do I even want to try. But if you guys think it's just fine for a girl (woman) who has broken into a traditionally male dominated sport with actual talent to spread her legs on top of some race car for a cheesy photo shoot, then fine. But Langtry hit the nail on the head.

Langtry and you are both wrong. Or at least until I see condemnation from both about NASCAR's Carl Edwards posing for cheesecake photos in while all oiled and buffed up while wearing bikini briefs.

There is no difference between what Patrick or Edwards has done and neither one has shown more than what's seen on the beaches of the world and a hell of a lot less than some beaches.

But somehow because the images are on paper in a magazine it's different.

Wildwillie:

It will take years to get the sponsors back to Indy. Nascar is my game. Love the fact that the drivers, crews, owners and fans love the sport first and foremost. ww

In that case why haven't you stopped by my place?

Marc: Patrick did a great job today. She was the equal of anybody on the track and unfortunately got shuffled out in the last pitstop sequence. My man Tony apparently made a stupid move on a restart, removing him from contention. And Franchiti's decision to stay out worked perfectly when Kanaan's and Marco's yellows allowed him to remain on track until the rains came.

All in all, a very interesting race...

taz, I am not jealous. Your comment was uncalled for particularly because you do not know me. Ditto, to "misbehabior". Next time either of you posts commentary expressing your opinion, I'll gleefully imply that you're "butt ugly" or "jealous". Ad hominem attacks are so much fun, aren't they?

Marc: how am I wrong? I did not express an opinion of Edwards' photos, being unaware of them.
But in the interest of being consistent for your benefit, I think it's just as unnecessary for him to do so. My point about Patrick is that this is a male dominated sport. Her credibility should be based on her abilities, not her looks. Many feel she's been over-hyped just because of her looks. Can she drive? "Gee, I don't know, but look at her!"

And Paul H, I'm glad to hear that she has decided that she doesn't need to look or act like a "meat display".

Okay, I still say she's boney.

Oyster:

My point about Patrick is that this is a male dominated sport. Her credibility should be based on her abilities, not her looks.

And in general her abilities and credibility has been based on her track performance.

That the media, and at times myself in blogging about her, overly stress her looks or photo opportunities given her is a distraction at best and doesn't effect her as a driver.

Yeah she's a hottie alright. Will she ever win? Maybe, maybe not. But just like Phil Mickelson, you don't get respect until you win "the big one". BTW: Phil has bigger titties too.

You're right marc. I didn't express what I meant correctly, but that's exactly what I wrote.

Paul Hamilton: "She was the equal of anybody on the track and unfortunately got shuffled out in the last pitstop sequence. "

I would suppose your somewhat close to being right. I attended the race and at the last point I had heard there were 22 cars on the lead lap. I can't remember any 500 when there were so many on the same lap. Danica therefore was the measure of the rest of the field and held her own. However, when she was in the top 3 during the second part of the race it was ONLY because the pit sequence shuffled her forward. As soon as the teams got through the green flag stops she ended up pretty much where her car got her...somewhere between 8-12. And the fact that Penske drivers had issues and the Target Chip G cars were never really a factor might have been one of the reasons she was able to run close to the front.

I gave Danica creit for finishing 4th her first year with all the attention/pressure she got. However, Danica has not only never won an IRL race, she never won a Toyota Atlantic race for Rahal before she jumped to the big cars. I am assuning she won kart races as if she hadn't there would have been no reason for anyone to give her a shot.

As much as everyone says Milka Duno was the flavor of the year, I think she did a good job for a team that was also a rookie in IRL and did fine for a driver that had been in her car for less than a month before she had to pass her rookie test. And one important fact...Milka HAS won races in sports cars and has been on the podium plenty of times.

USA Today has an article (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/irl/indy500/2007-05-23-danica-patrick_N.htm) that includes a box listing 9 Indy car drivers who were rookies in 2004, 2005 and 2006 who have not won a race. Danica is in the top 3 in earnings (on the track). I can't find any data on drivers who were rookies before 2004 or how long some present "winning" drivers went before their first win. Sarah Fisher has never had an Indy Car win, and she's been racing a lot longer than Danica. I did find this link, http://www.indycar.com/stats/supplements/driver_quick_facts.pdf which has interesting stats.

As for Danica's glamor shots--so what? If she were a butch dyke lesbian, you'd all hate her as much or more than you do for her being pretty. Grow up!