-
Home
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- NASCAR
-
Latest Headlines: NASCAR
-
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
Nationwide
NNS: Patrick Hopes Learning Continues
Danica Patrick is competing this weekend in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Carfax 250 Michigan International Speedway...
Danica Patrick is competing in both the IndyCar and the NASCAR Nationwide Series. (Photo: Getty Images)
Danica Patrick’s NASCAR education will continue this week at Michigan International Speedway, where she at least will have company in trying to learn the car as her competitors are using the new Nationwide model for only the second time ever and the first time on the 2-mile oval.
LINK > FINAL PRACTICE: CARFAX 250 - MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Patrick has competed in five Nationwide races, with a best finish of 24th in her latest outing, last month at Chicagoland Speedway. She will drive eight more this year as part of a two-year deal with JR Motorsports that has her in a Nationwide car for 13 races each season.
Because this is a race featuring the new car, drivers got six hours of practice Thursday before getting an hour of practice Friday for the race Saturday.
Patrick was 26th on the speed chart in final practice Thursday.
“It was good to have a full test day, especially for me not having ever been here in a stock car before,” said the 28-year-old IndyCar Series driver. “It was nice to slowly get up to speed. … I was able to really build up.
“It was an OK day. The quickest time of the day was with the first run that I did, which I’m finding is more familiar with these cars. In an IndyCar, it’s usually the end of the day.”
Patrick said her times got slower as the track heated up and the car was pushing.
One thing that could help Patrick here is she won’t have any preconceived notion as to how the new car should feel on the race track compared with the old car.
“I honestly can’t tell the difference,” Patrick said. “I’ve never been here in the stock car. … Ignorance is bliss on some level, and maybe that will play into the new car.”
Currently 11th in the IndyCar Series standings with five races left in that season, Patrick said her season has been difficult, and she will continue to strive for top-20 finishes on the NASCAR side.
“The same rules apply as any other weekend,” Patrick said earlier in the week. “We need to just try and get into the top 15, 20 and have a really solid day.
“Anything can happen. You can have a really great day and finish in the top 10. You can have a bad day and crash on the first lap. All these things can happen. The top-15, top-20 is realistic for me.”
Patrick’s next race after Michigan will be next month at the 1-mile concrete Dover International Speedway oval. She will then complete the IndyCar Series season the following week and then run the final six Nationwide Series races of the season.
She was talking with JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler on Thursday about her future races.
“He was like ‘Ohhhhh,’ [about Dover],” Patrick said. “Everybody keeps doing that. I don’t know if it will be one of those races I will want to get as much practice as possible and want to be back to next year or if I will say, ‘That is a little tough right now, let’s try something out.’ I have no idea. There are a lot of Nationwide races I haven’t been to yet, so we’ll just have to see how it goes.”
Her 2011 schedule is not done yet as she is waiting for the release of the IndyCar and Nationwide schedules.
LINK> FINAL PRACTICE: CARFAX 250 - MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
SceneDaily.com • Nationwide drivers obtain sponsors for Michigan race
LINK > FINAL PRACTICE: CARFAX 250 - MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
Patrick has competed in five Nationwide races, with a best finish of 24th in her latest outing, last month at Chicagoland Speedway. She will drive eight more this year as part of a two-year deal with JR Motorsports that has her in a Nationwide car for 13 races each season.
Because this is a race featuring the new car, drivers got six hours of practice Thursday before getting an hour of practice Friday for the race Saturday.
Patrick was 26th on the speed chart in final practice Thursday.
“It was good to have a full test day, especially for me not having ever been here in a stock car before,” said the 28-year-old IndyCar Series driver. “It was nice to slowly get up to speed. … I was able to really build up.
“It was an OK day. The quickest time of the day was with the first run that I did, which I’m finding is more familiar with these cars. In an IndyCar, it’s usually the end of the day.”
Patrick said her times got slower as the track heated up and the car was pushing.
One thing that could help Patrick here is she won’t have any preconceived notion as to how the new car should feel on the race track compared with the old car.
“I honestly can’t tell the difference,” Patrick said. “I’ve never been here in the stock car. … Ignorance is bliss on some level, and maybe that will play into the new car.”
Currently 11th in the IndyCar Series standings with five races left in that season, Patrick said her season has been difficult, and she will continue to strive for top-20 finishes on the NASCAR side.
“The same rules apply as any other weekend,” Patrick said earlier in the week. “We need to just try and get into the top 15, 20 and have a really solid day.
“Anything can happen. You can have a really great day and finish in the top 10. You can have a bad day and crash on the first lap. All these things can happen. The top-15, top-20 is realistic for me.”
Patrick’s next race after Michigan will be next month at the 1-mile concrete Dover International Speedway oval. She will then complete the IndyCar Series season the following week and then run the final six Nationwide Series races of the season.
She was talking with JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler on Thursday about her future races.
“He was like ‘Ohhhhh,’ [about Dover],” Patrick said. “Everybody keeps doing that. I don’t know if it will be one of those races I will want to get as much practice as possible and want to be back to next year or if I will say, ‘That is a little tough right now, let’s try something out.’ I have no idea. There are a lot of Nationwide races I haven’t been to yet, so we’ll just have to see how it goes.”
Her 2011 schedule is not done yet as she is waiting for the release of the IndyCar and Nationwide schedules.
LINK> FINAL PRACTICE: CARFAX 250 - MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
SceneDaily.com • Nationwide drivers obtain sponsors for Michigan race
Shake and Bake: Recent Posts
-
Last Lap: Danica Makes Goo Goo Eyes At Ricky, Campaigns For Votes (Video) »
-
Top Talladega Moments: Edwards Goes Flying, Johnson Edges Bowyer »
-
Rowdy Busch: The Real Life Ricky Bobby »
-
Top Talladega Moments: Airborne Allison, Earnhardt’s Stunning Rally »
-
Last Lap: NASCAR Upholds Penske Punishments »
-
Top Talladega Moments: Ron’s Rookie Magic, Elliott’s Epic Comeback »
-
Spencer on Piquet Groin Kick: “It’s Boys Have At It. Not Have At The Boys” »
-
NASCAR & Golf Go Together Like Chinese Food & Chocolate Pudding »
Jeffrey Earnhardt At Richmond
LATEST HEADLINES: NASCAR
-
CUP: Hamlin Cleared To Race
After four races on the sidelines, Denny Hamlin eligible to race… -
SPENCER: Drivers Behaving Badly
NASCAR drivers...It doesn’t always pay to be cocky... -
CUP: Thursday NASCAR Notebook
Jimmie Johnson hoping restrictor-plate “trend” continues… -
CUP: Sprint Fan Vote Race Tightest In Years
Leaders separated by average of only 19,500 votes... -
SPEED: Crew Heads To Talladega
SPEED reporters and analysts weigh in on the upcoming Talladega Superspeedway… -
HAMMOND: Kurt Busch Trying Harder
Kurt Busch dogged in pursuit of wins... -
CUP: Kurt Busch – Very Restricted
Kurt Busch rides into Talladega in search of first restrictor-plate… - More News
