Danica- Danica- Danica!

By Paul Culin

Much like Marsha Brady’s envious sister Jan, many IRL drivers are struggling for their fair share of attention.  Case in point:  Andretti Racing’s Dan Wheldon.  Wheldon captured his third checkered flag of the season by winning the Indy 500.  In years past, marketing and media opportunities would abound for the winner of the most prolific event in international motor sports.  Especially for a winner that is young, handsome, and arguably the best driver in the series.   Wheldon should have been a lock for the cover of Sports Illustrated, as well as several TV gigs.  And let’s not forget the Wheaties boxes.  Not this year. Enter 23 year old, 100 pound rookie Danica Patrick.  According to her website, www.danicaracing.com, Danica is `battling in a man’s world to be a contender.’  Whether Danica has the goods to run with the big boys and be an IRL contender remains to be seen.  If her recent lackluster 13th place finish at the Bombardier Lear Jet 500 is any indication, it’s doubtful.  However, as a contender for the media spotlight, she’s the top seed.  Although Danica was not the first woman to compete at Indy, she was the first to lead a lap.  19 to be exact.  Not too shabby.  And neither was her 4th place finish.  However, a winner she wasn’t.  Or was she?   Danica was chosen over Wheldon to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.  Moreover, it was Danica who was invited to appear on co-team owner David Letterman’s Late Night Show.

Shortly after the Bombardier Lear Jet 500 in Texas, I caught up with IRL driver Tomas Enge and several of his Panther Racing crew at his hotel.  You may recall that when Danica spun-out at Indy, she struck Enge and team mate Tomas Scheckter, knocking them out of the race.  I couldn’t think of a better team to speak to concerning Danica.  Their reactions were interesting.  Enge, being the consummate gentleman, refused to say anything about her, changing the subject to matters concerning life in his native Czech Republic.  Thanks Tomas, but not what I was looking for.  However, one of his crew was quick to interject `I’m getting a little sick of her….she took out two of our cars at Indy.’  With that comment, the remainder of the crew became quiet until   the topic was changed.    

Commenting about Danica can be a Pandora’s Box for members of the IRL community.  Not only is Danica a woman, she’s an American woman competing in a League dominated by European men.  Moreover, she’s in a League competing with NASCAR to regain a once large fan base.  And she’s succeeding.   TV ratings for ESPN’s coverage of the Bombardier Lear Jet 500 were up a whopping 200%.  And many of those new viewers were women.  Earlier this week, the wing from Danica’s Indy 500 car was auctioned off for over $42,000.  (The piece she left lodged in Enge’s car.)

Like tennis star Anna Kournikova, Danica Patrick is a sports media darling, despite the fact that she hasn’t won any events.  Symbolism over substance?  That’s too early to call.  But don’t be surprised if `Danica’ is the number one name for baby girls this year.