Daytona and Danica Patrick: Novelty Is Out, Reality Strikes

Danica Patrick will take to Daytona International Speedway for the second time, but it is virgin territory for the NASCAR Nationwide driver.

The fascination of the media and fans with Patrick remains, but it appears to be more subdued as they wait to see how her performance will play out this year in NASCAR.

The driver of the GoDaddy.com No. 7 for JR Motorsports will drive in 12 Nationwide races this season, one less than last year.  She will continue to straddle both the IndyCar and NASCAR second-tier series with her first race in a fendered car being the Drive4COPD 300 at Daytona.

Patrick not only has the new-style Nationwide car to deal with, the track surface is a whole new animal for her and the other drivers. Her experience last year only benefits her so far as learning terminology and getting comfortable in the car.

The new surface at Daytona requires two-car drafting and drivers really need a comfort level to push another car or to be pushed. Patrick is having trouble finding a dance partner for the pairings and finds herself hesitating to pull up tight on the car in front of her during practice.

The closing rate for these cars is dramatic. Learning to drag the brake, slowing down to go faster and getting out of the draft to pass is totally different in all the races. It is a whole new ball game for not only Patrick, but every driver that takes to the new surface at Daytona International Speedway.

During Media Day at Daytona, Patrick stated, "The sport is ultra-competitive. The transition to NASCAR was difficult to figure out and what they need. Going back and forth throughout the year I think was fine."

Patrick added, "I really didn't mind that, but every now and again I would get in one of the cars and I was in the other one the week before and I'd think the steering wheel is in the wrong place or the pedals are in the wrong place, but you know that was just getting used to something for a weekend."

She acknowledged that last year's transition from open-wheel cars to stock cars was tougher than she expected.

Patrick said, "The biggest thing I've had to teach myself is that it's okay if I don't set the world on fire every weekend." She spoke of the importance of patience and said she was getting better.

Mark Martin spoke of Patrick's venture into NASCAR and said, "One thing you need to take notice of is that she has not wadded-up any race cars. How many newcomers come in and don't. So give her a break. She is really up against a lot."

The reality of racing in NASCAR appears to have set in with Patrick and as free agent time rolls around at the end of this year in both of the series she runs, it will be time for her to commit to where she wants to race.

Winning the Indianapolis 500 is her biggest goal right now and trying to fulfill the goal she set of finishing in the top-15 during Nationwide races remains the same this year.

She spoke of her relationship with JR Motorsports and the NASCAR Nationwide series.  Patrick stated, "I think it's a darn good connection as things unfold throughout the year and opportunities come along, myself and the rest of the team will listen to everyone."

Patrick went on to say, "Definitely at this point, there is obviously a very good relationship with GoDaddy and JR Motorsports and Dale Jr. I think being associated with JR Motorsports and Hendrick is overall quite a positive thing."

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said during Media Day at Daytona, "I enjoy looking forward to working with her this year and see how much more she learns."

Earnhardt continued, "She came a really long way for the number of races she ran and how spotty the season was. She did pretty good and really picked it up at the end in a lot of places."

At the last race of the season last year, Patrick qualified fifth and had her best finish of 19th at the Homestead-Miami track.

Optimism about Patrick's future in NASCAR seems to be lurking as a subplot with comments that indicate she could easily make a commitment to stock cars when it comes time to do so.

Sponsorship does not seem to be an issue with Bob Parsons, CEO and founder of GoDaddy.com, who stated in a press release, "Danica is smart, she's beautiful, she's successfully competing in a male-dominated sport."

Earnhardt Jr. commented on Patrick's future saying, "She learned extremely fast. Hope she keeps snowballing into what might become a full-time deal."

So as the new season unfolds for Danica Patrick and her Nationwide adventures, she will race at tracks which are new to her, including Bristol and Montreal. She will race on tracks like Richmond and Kansas, where she has run her open-wheel IndyCar.

The 2011 season is the real deal for Patrick and it's time for her to hone her stock car racing skills. The fanfare will settle as she attempts to just be a strong competitor in the NASCAR Nationwide series as opposed to a media darling.

The future could look very good for her with names like Earnhardt, Hendrick, and GoDaddy supporting her. If Patrick continues to improve, a move to the NASCAR Sprint Cup series really is not too far-fetched.