God damn. I think I'm gonna be a NASCAR fan now.

[WilliamPitt]

Patrick preps for first IndyCar race
By Anne Proffit
Motorsport.com

The Indy Racing League IndyCar Series begins its tenth season of competition this year with 22 cars attempting to qualify for slots in the Toyota Indy 300 on the Homestead-Miami Speedway oval.

There will be plenty of new faces to look at on the grid, as many top drivers have found the League's competition sufficiently intense to jump in.

One of the most anticipated rookie candidates is Danica Patrick, driver of the #16 Argent Mortgage/Pioneer Panoz/Honda/Firestone racer. A two-year Toyota Atlantic Championship contender, Patrick joins 2004 Indianapolis 500 Mile Race winner Buddy Rice and Brazilian veteran Vitor Meira on the three- car Rahal Letterman Racing squad.

Danica Patrick will attempt to become the fourth woman qualifier for the Greatest Spectacle in Racing this May, following the exploits of Janet Guthrie, Lyn St. James and Sarah Fisher, none of whom had great success at the Brickyard oval and in IndyCar Series competition throughout the season.

But Patrick is of a different breed than the three who preceded her: she has worked at her craft since the age of 10, moved to Europe to hone her skills and only returned to the States when she felt ready for combat on a professional level.

An intense person with a handshake that could break bones, Danica Patrick doesn't really look the part of the driver. One can see she's focused on her job, though, as she listens intently to the advice given her by Rice and Meira and by the stellar team put together for her rookie assault on Indy cars.

...more...

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=178277&FS=IRL

Drive fast. Turn left. Mmmmmmmmmm...

[newscott]

1. Indy's different than NASCAR

Indy cars are open tired like in Europe.

You're off the hook. :evilgrin:

[rkc3]

2. Yup - IRL is not NASCAR. Lots more speed and foreigners.

[BorrowMyCrew]

3. She's hot!!!!

[paineinthearse]

4. Indy cars are different from NASCAR

More like Formula 1.....and, they make right turns.

[GOPisEvil]

5. Dude...watch Spike on the weekends.

Danica Patrick is the host of "Powerblock" a collection of automotive-themed shows.