Interesting article on Danica. I don't like to bash her, but it's hard to argue that she's anything but a back marker.
Interesting article on Danica. I don't like to bash her, but it's hard to argue that she's anything but a back marker.
Being the Token Female Driver alone is as good as being a regular podium finisher in the advertisers' eyes. No different from being a pay-to-play driver with deep pockets really...
She's one of THE most valuable assets in racing, and will remain that way for a long time. Whether or not she can win.
It's not always about the racing. In fact, it probably never really is.
The way I look ar it she is obviously a talented driver to even be a back marker in NASCAR or Indy car. The fact that she is hot only sweetens the deal.
NASCAR teams are still at the end of the day businesses and she probably brings more to the table for them then a championship winning driver would. If she did not they would make the business decision to replace her with someone else.
Some one should look at all the rooky drivers over the last 10 years and see how she ranks..
That article seemed hell bent on bashing Danica in a politically correct manor.
SVreX wrote: She's one of THE most valuable assets in racing, and will remain that way for a long time.
I feel differently, but this is a very hot topic I'm interested in seeing how it plays out. 
I disagree that her fame is not because she is a good driver. Lets think critically about it...
There were a number of her finishes that were on the lead lap, some 20 or so seconds back and finishing in 20 something place. It appears to me that she was driving very conservatively on re-starts. I would be happy with a rookie season that good.
Plenty of careers were built on less talent than her's. Why is being attractive any worse than having a rich dad or famous last name.
Let's face it, the world isn't always about the most talented people getting the best positions. There is always that It factor that gets people ahead in the world. It's the same in every aspect of society and not just racing.
If it was just about pure results, she would be begging for a ride right now.
But, it's not and she has the It factor that helps her get ahead.
At my house, we're way behind on watching this season's MotoGP. We were watching the pre-reace stuff with the cameras working their way down the grid, and pondering how unlikely it is that the vast majority of naturally talented motorcycle racers also happen to be rakishly handsome.
Opportunity is rarely a pure meritocracy.
Don49 wrote: There were a number of her finishes that were on the lead lap, some 20 or so seconds back and finishing in 20 something place. It appears to me that she was driving very conservatively on re-starts. I would be happy with a rookie season that good.
a lot of her problems come from either not qualifying well and being in traffic all day or getting caught up in someone else's wrecks.
she's not the best driver, but she's also not start and park material, either. she does seem genuinely pissed off when she gets knocked out of a race for whatever reason- either at someone else for doing something stupid or at herself for doing something stupid- so it's not like she's out there just putting in laps to get a paycheck to cash. and she doesn't seem to be relying on her sex appeal as much as she used to- when was the last time you saw her do a somewhat racy GoDaddy commercial?
one thing she is good for- beyond bringing truckloads of cash to Stewart Haas Racing and NASCAR- is bringing attention to NASCAR and racing in general from people that normally wouldn't care. my 6 and 4 year old nieces ask if Danica is racing when they see me watching a race, and they can find her car in a pack..
novaderrik wrote: when was the last time you saw her do a somewhat racy GoDaddy commercial?
Anyone else thinking there is a reason she hasn't been seen in one?
In reply to N Sperlo:
This was hinted at in the article - change of management and promotional strategy.
I agree it seems she is being extra-cautious in her rookie season. As mentioned, she doesn't have the experience in this type of racing as most of her competitors. I would guess she'll make some progress in 2014, but nothing spectacular. I wouldn't be surprised to see her pull of a win in 2015. Whether or not sponsors will wait that long is another matter.
N Sperlo wrote:novaderrik wrote: when was the last time you saw her do a somewhat racy GoDaddy commercial?Anyone else thinking there is a reason she hasn't been seen in one?
maybe her boyfriend (NASCAR Cup rookie of the year) had something to say about it...
N Sperlo wrote:novaderrik wrote: when was the last time you saw her do a somewhat racy GoDaddy commercial?Anyone else thinking there is a reason she hasn't been seen in one?
even back in 2010 she was trying make sure that the racy ads didn't portray HER as racy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1dDoVP06Jg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmdaB21E2tY
And, FWIW, she's more talented than the vast majority of people who think they know how to drive.
Juan Pablo Montoya is a world class talent who has won everything worth winning in motorsports but his roundy round career wasn't exactly top notch. If he had a snatch im sure they would have ripped him apart.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Juan Pablo Montoya is a world class talent who has won everything worth winning in motorsports but his roundy round career wasn't exactly top notch. If he had a snatch im sure they would have ripped him apart.
bingo
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Juan Pablo Montoya is a world class talent who has won everything worth winning in motorsports but his roundy round career wasn't exactly top notch. If he had a snatch im sure they would have ripped him apart.
i think he will go down in the history books as the only driver to take out a track dryer and set the track on fire while under caution..
novaderrik wrote:Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Juan Pablo Montoya is a world class talent who has won everything worth winning in motorsports but his roundy round career wasn't exactly top notch. If he had a snatch im sure they would have ripped him apart.i think he will go down in the history books as the only driver to take out a track dryer and set the track on fire while under caution..
That was one of the only Nascar races I watched (though briefly) and I'm VERY glad I did. Very memorable. good thing nobody got burned, but I was still thinking how rarely you see burning jet fuel covering the track at F1 races...
If NASCAR had ten more Danica's and one less Jimmy Johnson, I would start watching again.
Dale Jr pretty much sucked forever. same with michael Waltrip. How many raced did it take them to get a win?
I think it was a mistake for her to leave Indy car racing.
Rusnak_322 wrote: Dale Jr pretty much sucked forever. same with michael Waltrip. How many raced did it take them to get a win?
Uh...not sure I can agree on Dale Jr. He won twice in his rookie season, and 15 times in his first 5 seasons. He hasn't had as much success lately, but how is that "sucked forever"?
I would go with pretty much sucked since he didn't have Dad's bottomless pocket. Even Michael Waltrip managed to win in his cars even though it took Dale Sr killing himself to get it done, a selfless act is own brother never would have done.
MIkey had the '01 Daytona 500 won long before Sr started blocking for him and Jr.
Jr's problem is that he doesn't have the same desire to win that some others have- i think he lost a lot of his need to win on the day his dad died. he'd prefer to win, of course, but he doesn't have the drive and determination to win at all costs like his dad had. he's a laid back kinda guy.. but much like Danica, he doesn't need to win to support a fanbase and bring in the sponsor and endorsement dollars.
I'm heartened to not see the mindless, sexist Danica bashing that seems to inevitably work its way into most conversations of her. There have been successful women in motorsports for years. Here's a very inspirational one I read about this AM. I'm trying to convince my son to ask her out. But given that her intellect is even greater than the size of her ovaries, I'd imagine that most teenagers would be terrified of her:
http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Girl-16-crushes-competition-in-monster-trucks-5022785.php
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