Motorsports

Patrick's rivals see a bit too much glare

By wire services
Published June 11, 2005

FORT WORTH, Texas - The media glare focused on Danica Patrick at Texas Motor Speedway might be daunting to drivers with more time in the spotlight.

But the 23-year-old Indy Racing League rookie isn't bothered. In fact, she's having a pretty good time balancing the frenzy of fan attention and interview requests with preparations for tonight's Bombardier Learjet 500.

Asked if she knew "Danica Mania" was going to happen someday and had prepared, Patrick, who starts a career-best third tonight, smiled shyly and replied: "Would it sound cocky if I said yes?

"I never knew what was going to happen. All I knew is that, best case scenario, it would - that it would be big news and that it would have an impact and it would help the series and it would inspire young kids and girls and be a really great story."

Tony Kanaan and other Indy Racing League drivers are impressed by the way Patrick, who was in the developmental Toyota Atlantic series a year ago, has dealt with her Rahal Letterman Racing 650-horsepower car, as well as her newfound celebrity.

"She's done a lot for women," said Kanaan, the defending race and series champion who starts 13th. "She's the fastest woman ever. But, in my opinion, she's getting too much attention. But that's the way it is. We go with what makes news, right?"

Kanaan said he isn't criticizing Patrick for taking advantage of opportunities. It's just that he believes she has a lot to prove.

"It's going to get to a point where, if she wants to be the best of all, she's going to have to prove that she can win races and she needs to win championships," the Brazilian said. "Otherwise, it's going to just die out."

St. Petersburg resident Dan Wheldon, trying for a record fourth straight IRL win, said: "There are other guys out there other than Danica, and a lot of them are pretty good, too.

"But I think we all understand why this is happening and we just have to keep remembering it's a good thing for all of us."

[Last modified June 11, 2005, 00:26:12]