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[Rivelution]

Danica is talking about moving to F1 in the not so distant future.

IndyCar's latest new winner Danica Patrick has dismissed criticism from a former world champion that she is not good enough for Formula 1, by insisting she is ‘dead set' on making the move into the top flight in the future.

Whilst three-time title-winner Nelson Piquet suggested the IndyCar Series was an inadequate training ground for someone wishing to switch across to grand prix racing [see separate story – click here], Patrick herself has hinted that it is something she is seriously considering – after she fights for the IndyCar title, that is.

The 26-year-old from Wisconsin became the first female to emerge victorious in a premier open-wheel race when she triumphed at Motegi in Japan a week ago, but she admitted in an interview with British newspaper the Daily Star that her heart had been set on F1 from an early age, right back to when she competed in the UK at the tender age of 16. During that period she went on to finish runner-up in the prestigious Formula Ford Festival – the best result ever achieved by either an American or a woman in the high-profile event.


“During my three years in England, I followed Formula 1 closely and became dead set on racing in it,” confessed Patrick, currently competing for Honda-powered Andretti Green Racing across the Pond. “F1 is regarded as the highest level of racing with the best drivers in the world, and it's very flattering to have that as an opportunity.

“First I want to contend for the IndyCar championship, though, and then we'll see what opportunities arise.”

Scuderia Toro Rosso ace Sebastian Vettel, meanwhile, dismissed suggestions from some drivers – amongst them Jenson Button – that women would not be physically strong enough to race in F1.

“Well, I'm not exactly a bear!” the young German joked.

Honda star Button had previously joked in an interview with men's magazine FHM that “a girl with big boobs would never be comfortable in the car, and the mechanics wouldn't concentrate. Can you imagine strapping her in? You wouldn't want to be on the circuit with them, would you?”

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/f1/news/162648-0/danica_dead_set_on_move_to_f1.html



I dont know about you guys, but I dont want to see Danica in F1. She is the most OVERRRATED driver in the indycar series, and all she does is whine about other drivers. There are a lot of talented women that would be a helluva a lot better in F1 than Danica such as Katherine Legge, and Susie Stoddart. I wouldnt mind if women raced in F1, in fact I think it would be great, but Danica is just annoying, and overrated. It really ticks me off that she is the most popular driver in the indycar series simply because of her beauty. All of the other drivers' hardwork is overshadowed by Danica and her new hairstyle or tweezed eyebrows. I think there are 2 other women in the indycar series and you never hear about them because all you hear about is Danica.

[darwin dali]

She's tiny and light, so the teams would like her for that alone as they could play even more with ballast and all. She's photogenic - that's another plus in her column. America needs a driver in F1 and if it's a popular one like DP, all the better. She probably can't do worse than Scott Speed, can she?
We've had the first black driver in F1 and he's doing great - it's about time we have the first woman who could actually stand a chance to win something in F1 (we've had a handful who unfortunately didn't amount to much). Will it be Danica? We'll find out. I'd say give her a chance - that's the least we should do Rivelution, right?

[texasmr2]

She's tiny and light, so the teams would like her for that alone as they could play even more with ballast and all. She's photogenic - that's another plus in her column. America needs a driver in F1 and if it's a popular one like DP, all the better. She probably can't do worse than Scott Speed, can she?
We've had the first black driver in F1 and he's doing great - it's about time we have the first woman who could actually stand a chance to win something in F1 (we've had a handful who unfortunately didn't amount to much). Will it be Danica? We'll find out. I'd say give her a chance - that's the least we should do Rivelution, right?

I agree 100% !

[Denthúl]

Whilst that may be so (I have no idea - I don't follow IRL), a woman entering Formula 1 would have a number of positive aspects, not least the fact that it might encourage more young women to push for that goal, as it would no longer be a men-only club as it appears at the moment.

[darwin dali]

as it would no longer be a men-only club as it appears at the moment.

I sure don't hope it is

[Rivelution]

She's tiny and light, so the teams would like her for that alone as they could play even more with ballast and all. She's photogenic - that's another plus in her column. America needs a driver in F1 and if it's a popular one like DP, all the better. She probably can't do worse than Scott Speed, can she?
We've had the first black driver in F1 and he's doing great - it's about time we have the first woman who could actually stand a chance to win something in F1 (we've had a handful who unfortunately didn't amount to much). Will it be Danica? We'll find out. I'd say give her a chance - that's the least we should do Rivelution, right?

I'm sorry I really dont like Danica. I'd much rather have Katherine Legge or Susie Stoddart, but I agree that she cant to much worse than Scott Speed

[madbrad]

ANyone else find it funny that her initials are DP?

Anyhoo, I think to be considered by an F1 team, you have to do very well in IndyChamp or wherever you race. She hasn't done that yet. Only one win so far so no need to go apeshi+.
I don't follow IndyChamp so I don't know but I thought Legge was doing worse than DP(giggle), not better. That other girl you mentioned, I haven't heard of her.

[darwin dali]

ANyone else find it funny that her initials are DP?

You dirty, dirty old man

[madbrad]

ANyone else find it funny that her initials are DP?

You dirty, dirty old man

Flattery will get you nowhere, well maybe a couple places.

[Rivelution]

ANyone else find it funny that her initials are DP?

Anyhoo, I think to be considered by an F1 team, you have to do very well in IndyChamp or wherever you race. She hasn't done that yet. Only one win so far so no need to go apeshi+.
I don't follow IndyChamp so I don't know but I thought Legge was doing worse than DP(giggle), not better. That other girl you mentioned, I haven't heard of her.

Its seems like she was doing worse because the drivers in champ car are real drivers compared to the IRL drivers. Look at St. Petersburg, most of the top 10 were Champ Car drivers. Danica only won because she had a better fuel strategy then Helio, Dan Wheldon, and Dixon.

[bud]

she wont race in F1

[Forti_Corse]

agreed, she hasnt got a chance at all. theyve always had theyre old ways of keeping it a mans sport, nothing sexist but its the way it has been and will stay, europe doesnt fold as easy as the other countries. it would cause too much friction and sidetracks in F1.

its known that CART and champcar transfer drivers never do any good in F1, why would they choose a female US import???

once again, nothing sexist

[bud]

good post forti, another thing she is 26 and F1 is at a stage where its hard to break into past 25 without any past F1 experience, given she is female and that might play to her favour i still think F1 teams will look past her. unless some big backers $$$ are behind her

[darwin dali]

good post forti, another thing she is 26 and F1 is at a stage where its hard to break into past 25 without any past F1 experience, given she is female and that might play to her favour i still think F1 teams will look past her. unless some big backers $$$ are behind her

SB is 29. But granted he's a proven winner.

[darwin dali]

agreed, she hasnt got a chance at all. theyve always had theyre old ways of keeping it a mans sport, nothing sexist but its the way it has been and will stay, europe doesnt fold as easy as the other countries. it would cause too much friction and sidetracks in F1.

its known that CART and champcar transfer drivers never do any good in F1, why would they choose a female US import???

once again, nothing sexist

I don't think it has anything to do with that. It's more to do that there haven't been too many female drivers in general, so only very few made it ever to F1, and the ones who made it never made it big. If a female driver comes along who could do really well in F1, I'm sure she would get a chance - even if it's just for the publicity/money that Bernie would get out of it.