Teammate Nudge Leads to Second Danica Patrick Crash This Week
- Posted on February 25, 2012 at 6:46pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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(AP) — Danica Patrick’s day started at the front of the pack. It ended with another frustrating wreck.
After starting from the pole position in Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway, Patrick was caught in a crash when JR Motorsports teammate Cole Whitt nudged her rear bumper and sent her spinning into the wall.
Patrick vented her frustration on the radio with her team immediately after the wreck, then acknowledged after the race that she wanted an explanation.
“I don‘t think it’s ever great when teammates come together,” Patrick said. “So we’ll have to figure out what happened and move forward.”
Whitt said he didn’t mean to wreck Patrick, saying the incident was a result of the bumper-to-bumper style of racing at Daytona.
“Yeah, I think we’ll be fine,” Whitt said. “I wouldn’t expect her to be happy about it. I wouldn’t be happy about it, either. I don’t know why anyone would expect her to be like, `Oh yeah, it’s great.‘ We’re teammates. We want our teams to win. That‘s why we’re trying to push each other anyways. We want to get our team up front together.”
Patrick eventually got back into the race after her crew made extensive repairs to her car in the garage area. She finished 38th in a wreck-filled race that was won by James Buescher.
Patrick began the 300-mile event up front after becoming the first woman to win a NASCAR pole position since Shawna Robinson in 1994. She led at the start, spent the first part of the race in the top 10 before getting shuffled out of the draft and falling deeper in the field before the tap by Whitt.
“Well, we were just doing big pack racing and went down into (Turn) 3, got a little tap, got a little bit sideways, saved it, and then just got hit again and couldn’t save it,” Patrick said. “You guys saw the rest from there.”
Whitt said he just was trying to tandem draft.
“I got ahold of her in the corner, and that’s probably what turned her around,” Whitt said. “I got to her back bumper at the wrong spot at the wrong time, you know? So that’s about it.”
ESPN video of the crash:
Crew chief Tony Eury Jr. didn’t think the incident would be a problem for the team.
“It’s unfortunate,” Eury said. “He got into her at the wrong place, and that’s the way it happens. It’s no big deal. Her and Cole can talk about it. It’s no hard feelings. We’re all a team here.”
Eury said Patrick was doing a good job in the draft early on.
“I was really happy with where she was at,” Eury said. “I wish we‘d got to run some more and see what she had at the end because I think she’s really got something for these guys.”
Patrick said she was particularly frustrated because her car was so fast – even when she was running by herself behind two cars that had teamed up to form a high-speed drafting tandem.
“It was so fast,” Patrick said. “I could keep up to tandem cars in front of me all by myself. And it’s so frustrating when you have one of those kinds of cars, because there are other days where you don’t have that kind of a car, nobody seems to manage to find your bumper ever. It‘s very frustrating when you’ve got a really fast car. Tony Jr. obviously gave me a car that sat on the pole. I thought it was a lot of fun and quite chaotic up until then. But hopefully the fans were entertained.”
Patrick also has points to worry about now that she’s running full-time in Nationwide.
“Every race matters, every point matters, which is why we got out there again,” Patrick said. “But there are so many other days where your car isn’t perfect, or isn’t great, or isn’t super-fast, and nothing happens to you. And you think, `Why, on the days when I have a really fast car, does it have to happen today?’ But it did, and we’ll move on.”
Patrick, a former IndyCar star who made the jump to NASCAR, also crashed on the final lap of a qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Thursday. Much like Saturday’s accident, that one wasn’t her fault.
With her first Daytona 500 start looming Sunday, she doesn’t have time to dwell on the wrecks.
“Obviously, we’ve got the Daytona 500 tomorrow, my first time,” Patrick said. “And I can’t dwell on today. I need to buckle down and focus, I need to get ready for tomorrow for the big day. And hopefully we have a better day.”
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Comments (102)
wes14451
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:15pmshe needs to keep her mouth shut you know the government doesn’t like women in motor sports just saying
Report Post »VicksVaporub
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 1:39amThat what she gets for advertising for godaddy.
Report Post »USAF2003
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 7:17amShe supposed to get special treatment cause she a woman? Can’t hang w/ the big dogs? Stay on the porch.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 7:59amSeeing comments about DP shooting her mouth off about big
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 8:01amOOOpps….as you were….about big gov’t. What is the story here???
Report Post »grannyrecipe
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 8:12amI saw a news story that they are banning smoking at Nascar events except in designated areas…so the other non-smoking people can better enjoy the non stop breathing of toxic exhaust fumes.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:08pmYes, but can she cook?
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:47pmMy adolescent contribution for the day, Irish pie
Report Post »jlcook
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 9:42amMMMMM! piiieee!!!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:07pmHmm….I guess, letting someone “bump” you in the rear end, can really be dangerous….has anyone let the gay community know about this?
Report Post »USAF2003
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 7:49amNow that’s some funny stuff.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:44pmI would like to add that she could out-drive me any day of the week. To get to this level, the drivers have experienced more than most of us will in a lifetime. It is easy for us to armchair quarterback the wreck, it is an entirely different thing to be the one behind the wheel.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:52pmComing from Cart where there is no bumping without a major wreck, she just has to get used to the feel of the car with close drafting and fender bumps, and being ready to recover from being put off line by another driver. She probably could have recovered from this bump but it probably caught her completely off guard especially since it was her teammate. The seconds her brain was trying to process “why did my freaking teammate just bump me” were the seconds she needed to be focusing on recovering her trajectory. She won’t likely suffer from the same problem a second time. She’ll learn quick enough she has NO friends out there, not even other drivers for her same team.
Report Post »william1
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:16pmWho cares how she drives. After what she said about the federal government, I could care less what happens to her on the track or in life. After all, she said the government will take care of us. Maybe she needs to get some lessons from Obama on driving.
Report Post »omgfolks
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:35pmReally porr recovery skills, twice she had an opportunity to correct before hitting the wall and both time she over corrected showing minimal skills to be on that track.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:59pmHow many wrecked from slowing down today? She was the First one into the wall. This a case where Affirmative action may cause someone their life! Reminds me when Buckshot Jones was racing for Petty.That fellow was dangerous! Can not have dangerous drivers,regardless of how much the media shoves them down our throats!
Report Post »wes14451
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:11pmthe government didn’t tell her how to do it maybe now the big government bitch will keep her mouth shut and just drive
Report Post »BannedByHuffpo
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:30pmFrickin‘ WUSSY NASCAR dudes can’t stand it that a chick, and a gorgeous chick at that, is a better driver than they’ll ever be. These stupid ******** egomaniacs are why I don’t watch NASCAR racing any more. It used to be about the cars and the teams. Now you’ve got a bunch of nasty punks with an attitude. Who needs them? After all, if you remember watching Fireball Roberts and some of the greats back in the 60s, today’s drivers have a lot to learn.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:02pmDrives better than any one on the track? Did you see her kiss the wall on about the 4th lap? Affirmative action is going to get someone killed!
Report Post »txwheels
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 12:37amA better driver? She’s a damned joke behind the wheel. 125 races while she was driving Indy cars and won only one race. She won that one, because the guy in the lead almost lost it in the last turn. As was already said. she’s dangerous and she does NOT have what it takes to be in NASCAR!
Report Post »TickleMyPickle
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 8:02am@bannedbyhuffpo yes, it‘s everyone else’s fault that she can’t drive. the nerve of those bastards. they should know by now that they shouldn’t race her and let her drive by. oh and yes…it‘s everyone else’s fault that her own teammate was bump-drafting her and made her lose control of her car (which was clearly not recoverable *cough*). clearly the world is out to get her. *** end sarcasm here ***
Sarah Fisher much better driver imo. and she never plays the victim card.
Report Post »SFsuper49er
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:25pmThis pushing other cars needs to stop because you don’t know what is intentional ! This pushing people out of a race sucks.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:38pmNot a regular race fan are you? Daytona is a “WOT” track. Wide open throttle does not allow a lot of “forgiveness”.
Report Post »BlackAce41
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 8:25amYOU have never ever seen a race have you? WOT and her rear wheels must have gotten loose it can happen to anyone.
Report Post »Nicealltype
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:24pmWell shes still hot:)
Report Post »LIBS-ARE-DINGLEHEADS
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:18pmyour standards need an upgrade. Patrick is about as hot as a ice cube.
Report Post »obamanation
Posted on February 27, 2012 at 3:48amShe’s not hot. She‘s only a model because she’s a female racecar driver, and she‘s only a racecar driver because she’s a female. My point is, she is not hot and she is not a great driver. She‘s the only racecar driver I have ever seen that’s famous, yet she hasn’t won any races. Stupid PC America!
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:00pmHe did that on purpose, no doubt in my mind. Just another male chauvinist who can’t handle having a women in the race. I’d be more than a little peeved with him. Watch your behind buddy, cause one day Danica will be behind you and repay the favor and I will be laugh all the way. Karma is a bit_____.
Report Post »candcantiques
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:22pmI am not going to say he did it on purpose but I can say for sure that what he did was to hit her, NOT take his foot off the gas, hit her again, STILL NOT take his foot off the gas and then hit her a third time. Thats when she lost it. Either the kid has a lot to learn or it was on purpose. The race the other day I believe she was being targeted by one specific driver. The driver that eventually crashed her tried to do it earlier but missed his chance. It’s not something anyone is talking about but I am sure of what I saw. Wish I knew someplace where I could watch the entire race again to see that first crash again because with that video proof I would blog about it everywhere. Some guys just dont like her being there, they need to get over it.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:35pmIt’s Daytona. You don’t let off. If the car in front of you can’t handle the heat, they get moved out of the way. Danica got a lesson today (I really want to see her do well). If she is good, she will learn and adapt.
Report Post »obamanation
Posted on February 27, 2012 at 4:11amWhy‘s she going so slow that she’s getting bumped? Pick up the pace lady!!
I race in an amateur league.. and man or woman I would bump that car. Why would I slow down?.. It’s a race!!
I’ve never let anybody do that to me.
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:35pmIf I were younger I’d like to nudge Danica. Is that what they’re calling it nowadays?
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:56pmThey call it hooking up, and in auto racing that only spells disaster.
Report Post »give me a break
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:20pmYa Know a strong woman is hard to beat This little chic will do things this year that will prove her worth, i just hope NASCAR wakes up soon. Patrick has done things that very few women have , Ill ask you all,, name the first woman to win the pole at Daytona, and in what race,,, if it was so damn easy i would be there racing ,,,,,,,and BTW name the first woman to race in NASCAR ,and what year if you know the answer you wont be shocked.
Report Post »I have lost the taste for NASCAR, with the exception for the 500 and its heritage of the track and the dream of the France famly .
CatB
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:47pmI believe Louise Smith .. I remember her name because it is my middle and the last name of my best friend in high school … she raced in the late 1940′s .. I remember Janet Guthrie from the 1970′s and Lyn St James …
Report Post »SENIORCHIEF
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:16pmWelcome to the big time, Danica. Well, second tier big time. What I do not like about this story is that there was another female driver in the race who completed 119 of the 120 laps and got no air time at all. She finished in 21st place while Danica finished in 38th and everyone is talking about her. Big NASCAR fan but from what I have seen regarding her driving skills, she has a long long way before she can run with the big boys. Big difference racing a 3500 pound stock car, beating and banging every lap than racing an open wheel car weighing half the amount. Blocking is allowed in NASCAR, Indy car nope. You can beat and bang in NASCAR, Indy car you cant. Gotta learn this Danica.
Report Post »give me a break
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:39pmchief you are right.
Report Post »Anderti Green racing is missing the pull from Danica’s transition from IRL to NASCAR It is my hope that the people in Stewart Hass & Jr Motorsports give her the best car in May I think that Tony an Jr can field the fastest car for her in 2012
dwh320
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:11pmI understand the Government told him to tap her… so don’t get mad DANICA PATRICK it was you who said the government knows best.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:28pmAfter that “display” NASCAR had at the last race of the 2011 season with Moochelle Obama … nothing would surprise me . but as promised I will NOT be watching the race tomorrow … oh and btw … I AM a neilson family this week ;-) it makes me soooo happy!
Report Post »BannedByHuffpo
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:33pmI knew it! It was Bush’s fault!
Report Post »mikenleeds
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:08pmshe could nt make it in Indy and she sure can t make it in nascar … am sure she ll blame everyone else for her wreaks just like she did in Indy
Report Post »LeadNotFollow
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:07pm…
Report Post »A guy can’t stand to get beat by a girl, even if it’s his own teammate.
godhatesacoward
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:41pmdisagree.
Report Post »omgfolks
Posted on February 26, 2012 at 12:10amIt is not about her being a woman, it is about her blaming others her shortcomings and poor skill set. All these lib comments about women this and women that are just stupid. She crashed yet again because she didn’t measure up to the situation at had, we all know she will blame anyone but herself. Yeah she is cute and all but cute does not win a race.
Report Post »Legal Immigrant
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:03pmI’d tap her rear fenders anytime…
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:23pmShe was sitting on the pole at the time she was tapped, that time.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:55pmShe’s married dude. You’re a douche. Would you want someone talking about your wife like that?
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:59pmI hope she does better tomorrow but never correct a loose car going left by turning right & welcome to NASCAR .
Report Post »& to the lib loons :
YES WE PRAY @ THE START OF NASCAR RACES .
rightwinger76
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:59pmShe could not make it in Indy, and she will not make it in NASCAR. This is just the reason why I quit watching NASCAR. The last politically incorrect sport in America has gone the way of affirmative action. They are putting people into these cars that have no business being there. It is simply a commercial move to appeal to demographics that would otherwise not watch NASCAR. It diminishes the sport, and will end in disaster.
Report Post »Persimmon Knob
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:31pmI would only hope that she doesn’t kill herself or anyone around her in her search for self agrandizement. If she keeps driving like this someone will be hurt, badly.
Report Post »conserv2011
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:59pmstick a sock in it.. glad your not watching anymore. considering this is now a sport you care so less about … why are you posting this drivel here?
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:07pmWhats a matter boys, she too much for you to handle? Danica Patrick could run circles around you even before you get out of the driveway. You just keep that male chauvinist attitude; one day you will eat it.
Report Post »meeester
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:55pmShe rode that one out pretty well. Good racing.
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:50pmSorry Danica, he had you right of center. We know the left corner is touchy, but a bump in the middle should be able to be handled.
Driver error. And not on the trailing car.
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:37pmagreed.
Report Post »1casawizard
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:38pmI thought Whitt said he “got ahold of her in the corner.”
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:09pmSome men are blind. I saw the car move back and forth on her behind. Do you blind boys need reading glasses?
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 9:29pm@ COFEMALE,
Just watched the replay again. Although the hit wasn’t right of center as I initially thought, it was between the bow tie and the left tail light. It was a bump that should have been easily handled. She lost it, plain and simple.
Report Post »LIBS-ARE-DINGLEHEADS
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 10:21pm100% correct. You know racing. Patrick does not. Then again, she was probably radioing into government headquarters, looking for them to make a “good decision” for her. …..too late…..
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:30pmBaptism by fire, Danica. You are a rookie so this is good experience for you. I must admit, if I am forced to watch a race on tv, I do wanna see some fireworks and gratuitous wrecks without injuries.
Rock on Danica!
Report Post »gsp9993
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:30pmShe’s really not tough enough to drive with these competitive men. She’s going to kill someone.
Report Post »its_the_economy_stupid
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:00pmI’ve seen stupid…but this one takes the cake. I will fight for your right to say stupid things…but it doesn‘t mean I won’t call it when I see it.
To get to this level you got be better than just having passed your drivers test.
Report Post »ONETERM
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:01pmHave you ever watched a race? There were far worse wrecks (3+) caused by veteran MEN drivers today, including a bone head move by Kurt Busch at the end of the race to block the field.
The mistake she made was not locking the car down and spinning to the infield, but both wrecks she had this week were not of her doing.
Report Post »thejimmyzshow
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:23pmCNN’s John King did his best the other night, producing a question from one of his viewers:
“Since birth control is the latest hot topic, which candidate believes in birth control, and if not, why?”
To their credit, no Republican candidate was inclined to accept the premise of the question. King might have done better to put the issue to Danica Patrick. For some reason, Michelle Fields of the Daily Caller sought the views of the NASCAR driver and Sports Illustrated swimwear model about “the Obama administration’s dictate that religious employers provide health-care plans that cover contraceptives.” Miss Patrick, a practicing Catholic, gave the perfect citizen’s response for the Age of Obama: “I leave it up to the government to make good decisions for Americans.” (Mark Steyn writing in the National Review).
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:34pmI knew there was a reason I didnt like her Love NASCAR, hate women drivers. She will start crying and quit like she did Indy car soon enough.
Two wrecks and hasnt even been in the 500 yet. I see bad things happening tomorrow.
lukerw
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:10pmIf Patrick…. wants to be Leader of the Pack… she’s going to have “bump off” some of the Alpha Types!
Report Post »its_the_economy_stupid
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:02pmShe is Alpha…when it comes to gals…who do you know willing to do this stuff.
She’s way too much gal for most to handle.
Report Post »AB5r
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 7:05pmShe will face a lot of resentment if she is running that fast. There will be plenty of other drivers who would love to take her out if they can make it look like an accident. She will just have to put up with it for a while, sort of like hazing. But if she continues running fast, and eventually wins some races, she will earn their grudging respect. Maybe she should take up chewing tobacco and spit on some of the other drivers cars in the pits or something like that. But for her own teammate to knock her out, that is just plain lame.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:13pmPersonally…..and this is just me. I would like to see her in a bikini, nothing too revealing, just enough to show the gym visits. She needs to pose with a really LARGE sniper rifle. Something built by Van ****…..chambered in .338 Lapua Mag. Flash suppressor,Wait….Maybe a ghillie with some peek-a-boo holes strategically…………OK Sorry.
Report Post »338lapua
Posted on February 25, 2012 at 8:19pmOMG…..My favorite gun builder is a swear word………let me say this. Rhymes with pike, starts with a D
Report Post »obamanation
Posted on February 27, 2012 at 4:22amAB5R “But if she continues running fast, and eventually wins some races, she will earn their grudging respect”… wishful thinking. She’s not a great driver. She’s been racing for a long time and got lucky winning 1 race.
This race kind proves that… she got nudged by her team mate and totally wrecked. She should have been able to handle that, but she totally proved she could not.
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