155 replies to this topic

[Johnny]

When she does well, it's all about the car and the men in the garage. When she does poorly, it's because she's a moron. Have I got that about right? 

According to many who post!

It's easy to sit at home in the recliner and make those calls!

[gerdog]

I think she'll screw it up.  She more often than not piles it up .... sometimes with assistance!

[Dave Van]

Swana's pole was in bush ,Danica the first in cup.if Shawna wasnt driving junk she could of got somewhere in nascar

I don't like that the news reports, everywhere from locol TV to major networks say, 'first woman to win a pole in NASCAR' and that is far from true.

Shawna just needed a few breaks to have had a lot of success.

[raildogg]

This pole win is a long time comming. In the end though it's where she will finish that I'll be impressed with. A top ten finish would be fabulous. You GO Girl!

[Terry Sumner]

martinfan said:

 

"I am not taking anything away from Danica's pole, but a monkey could drive a car at Daytona and win or win the pole."

 

Johnathan I think this statement is hilarious. Not because it's funny but because I would bet a year's pay that neither you, I or anyone else on this board could even qualify a lower class car for any race, let alone the premier division of NASCAR!  I've had considerable training in high speed pursuit and I've been in many instances where I've driven my cruiser at ridiculous speeds chasing some felon...  and I'm considered by many of my peers to be a pretty good driver. But I guarantee you I could not qualify a car in the Daytona 500 let alone win the pole. Heck I doubt if I could just step into and qualify a Whelen Modified for a race at a local track,!  And neither could you!

 

Yes there is truth in what you say that the team does a large part of the job. But without a great driver, the best racecar in the world becomes a moot point.

 

I submit that ANY person who makes it to be the pilot of one of these racecars is already one of the best drivers in the world.

[Johnny]

 And Here-e-e-e-es little Johnny, boosting that post count.

The skateboard must be broke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What's a post count? I couldn't even tell you what mine is as it doesn't mean jack to me.

Other than that all I did was state the obvious Pat!

[mikemodeler]

martinfan said:

 

"I am not taking anything away from Danica's pole, but a monkey could drive a car at Daytona and win or win the pole."

 

Johnathan I think this statement is hilarious. Not because it's funny but because I would bet a year's pay that neither you, I or anyone else on this board could even qualify a lower class car for any race, let alone the premier division of NASCAR!  I've had considerable training in high speed pursuit and I've been in many instances where I've driven my cruiser at ridiculous speeds chasing some felon...  and I'm considered by many of my peers to be a pretty good driver. But I guarantee you I could not qualify a car in the Daytona 500 let alone win the pole. Heck I doubt if I could just step into and qualify a Whelen Modified for a race at a local track,!  And neither could you!

 

Yes there is truth in what you say that the team does a large part of the job. But without a great driver, the best racecar in the world becomes a moot point.

 

I submit that ANY person who makes it to be the pilot of one of these racecars is already one of the best drivers in the world.

well said Terry. While we might all think it is easy "cuz a girl did it", truth be told driving one of those cars at 190 MPH is not what I would want to do! 

[sjordan2]

Ever driven ANYTHING on a high-bank track? I was shooting a commercial at Daytona once and had to take a Saab Turbo back to the pit area from the set on the far side of the track to get some gear. Tried to see how high I could get the car on the track but scared the heck out of myself and just went to pit road. You can't even stand up on a high-bank track without something to hold onto. This is not for amateurs or monkeys.

[Rob McKee]

well said Terry. While we might all think it is easy "cuz a girl did it", truth be told driving one of those cars at 190 MPH is not what I would want to do! 

 

I also agree with Terry's statement.

 

She has already proven that she can compete in the cup series. I think most of us have dreamt of driving a race car. Most of us don't have the skill or the nerves to compete at this level.

 

She has what it takes or she wouldn't be there.

 

I wish her the best of luck.

[rmvw guy]

Danica Mania has infected Daytona!  I still remember when Dan Weldon won the Indy 500 the first time and Danica was on the cover of Sports Illustrated with Dan's picture up in the corner, "500 Winner". I predict she will not be in the lead at the end of lap one and will probably crash before the end of the race, unless a miracle happens!  It still has to be good for the sport.

[michaelbaskett]

I don't know how you "put talent aside" when the person in question wins the pole position. I'd say her talent is right in front, and doesn't have a lot to do with just attracting attention through commercial promotion. Finally, she has a good car that probably won't break. But, of course, I'l be rooting for my hometown Knoxville boy, Trevor Bayne, to win again.

I'm with you on that one......

It would be so cool to see Trevor win this one again....

[grt222]

On the track by yourself qualifying and racing with 43 or so other cars is totally different. I say she causes the so called big one and takes out half the field.  

[Lunajammer]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if she does win on Sunday but she certainly doesn't deserve it. She hasn't paid her dues and she is greatly overrated...  

 

And there it is. Even if she wins. Just like Trevor didn't deserve it eh? 

 

Let's not forget she and Tony Stewart were hooked up half the day last year and they moved. If they do that again, and why wouldn't they, they will have every chance to gun for checkers.

Edited by Lunajammer, 19 February 2013 - 06:44 AM.

[brad4321]

She is quite the polarizing figure and there are a lot of irrational opinions on both ends.  Attractive or not, she wouldn't be where she is if she didn't have immense talent.  Point being, it's not like she is just pretty girl they grabbed up at the mall and stuffed into a car.   There are millions of pretty girls but only one driving this Sunday in the 500.  Does her sex appeal give her a huge advantage over the men it terms of having an opportunity?  Absolutely.  But at the end of the day, she will eventually have to prove she can drive with the big boys.   Winning the pole at Daytona doesn't change what I think about her as a driver either way.  Qualifying at Daytona is about engineers and engine builders.  I couldn't have qualified that car at 196mph but any top lever driver could have/would have.  The real test is Sunday and I hope she does a good job.  I would define "good job" as she takes the green with no missed shifts or spinning tires; stays out of trouble; and finishes on the lead lap.  She is capable of that.  But we shall see.   

[Brett Barrow]

Wow.  Replace "Danica Patrick" with "Wendell Scott"  and this thread reads it's like it's 1961 up in here. 

 

And talk about somebody that didn't pay his dues, Richard Petty, anybody?  Think daddy Lee didn't have anything to do with getting him into a quality ride? Naw, Lee just put him into one of his cars.  Same thing with Kyle - Richard put him into a race car for the very first time in his life (1982 ARCA race at Daytona in one of Richard's 1981 cars) and he went out and won the thing, IIRC, sitting on the pole.  First time ever in a race car.  Period.  I think they both did alright for themselves for a couple who didn't pay their dues. 

 

So she got a good seat and she brings a sponsor along -  reality of the sport these days.  If she doesn't perform she'll lose it.  Also a reality of the sport... 

Edited by Brett Barrow, 19 February 2013 - 07:15 AM.

[bandit1]

On the track by yourself qualifying and racing with 43 or so other cars is totally different. I say she causes the so called big one and takes out half the field.  

 

 

 

I do really want to see "Sparkle Pony" (Danica) wind something....but if she does take out most of the field then i wouldnt care who she took out as long as she leaves my driver alone!...88 FOR3V3R!

[johnbuzzed]

I am not taking anything away from Danica's pole, but a monkey could drive a car at Daytona and win or win the pole,  plate race's are about the car not the driver.

A monkey ?  Have you ever driven a cup car on any track at any kind of speed ?  You know, upwards past 65, like in the middle triple digits?  I have; ten laps at 135+ at Charlotte.  Just wearing the firesuit, head sock and helmet is not fun, nor is climbing into or out of the car, then tolerating the heat generated by all those rotating components (especially in June), then you get to challenge centrifugal force to keep from smacking the wall...  All this time, things are vibrating and the world is coming at you thru the windshield in a tunnel-vision blur that's picture-perfect, even with the glare, as you aim for your marks.  Oh yeah, there are other drivers on the track, too.  And that's just for us common folk.  Sure, a monkey could do it    ...

 

BTW, just listening to the exhaust note rolling in thru the window netting is worth the cost.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.  I am, after all, a higher primate; an advanced monkey, if you will, as are we all.

 

Danica has looks, she has the skills and abilities to be competitive and she won the pole position at Daytona.  Good for her, God bless her and let's see how the race goes.  I don't understand those who badmouth her.  Jealousy, perhaps?

 

Remember: Who would have thought that Trevor Bayne could win in 2011?

Edited by johnbuzzed, 19 February 2013 - 07:30 AM.

[brad4321]

I am not taking anything away from Danica's pole, but a monkey could drive a car at Daytona and win or win the pole,  plate race's are about the car not the driver.

This comment has rubbed some people the wrong way.  Though I understand why, I understand what you mean and agree.  I personally, nor most of us nobodies, could not get in the car and do what she did. But any decent race car driver would have run the same time in that car.   Daytona qualifying is nothing more than standing on the throttle and steering around.  Don't miss a shift getting up to speed and maintain a nice line and you got it.   It's not like she won pole at Martinsville or Sonoma.  And I don't mean that to take anything away from the job she did.  But the true test comes Thursday and Sunday.

[Johnny]

This comment has rubbed some people the wrong way.  Though I understand why, I understand what you mean and agree.  I personally, nor most of us nobodies, could not get in the car and do what she did. But any decent race car driver would have run the same time in that car.   Daytona qualifying is nothing more than standing on the throttle and steering around.  Don't miss a shift getting up to speed and maintain a nice line and you got it.   It's not like she won pole at Martinsville or Sonoma.  And I don't mean that to take anything away from the job she did.  But the true test comes Thursday and Sunday.

Check and see what the really experienced drivers are saying about the new car and you will hear a different story from them as to how easy this car drives.

[Psychographic]

Milka Duno started on the front row in the ARCA race, that should give you an idea of the talent needed to drive around Daytona by yourself.