When she is not busy driving in the IndyCar Series or endorsing GoDaddy.com, Danica Patrick is busy making plans about her future. As the rumor mill continues to swirl, Danica is front and center with "NASCAR" tied to her collar. The 2009 IndyCar Series concludes in October, and the media wants to know if Danica Patrick will have fenders on her car in 2010?
Danica Patrick Considers NASCAR
NASCAR and the media smell "blood in the water", and they want to know about the future of Danica Patrick. Her contract with Andretti Green Racing expires at the end of the IndyCar season, and it has been widely speculated that her next move will be to NASCAR. Patrick says she's keeping herself open to any and all possibilities. "NASCAR has so many viewers and so many partners," Patrick said. "There are lots of options for drivers inside and outside the car. And it looks like fun. Oval racing always is fun. It's kind of like the Indy 500 event weekend."
Danica is open to NASCAR, but she has already obtained moderate success in the IndyCar Series. Patrick finished third in the 2009 Indy 500. Her finish was the highest for any woman in the history of the race. In 2008 Patrick won an IndyCar Series race in Japan. She became the first female to win a major sanctioned open-wheel event.
Danica Patrick the Endorser
NASCAR is a big money sport and often relies on charismatic personalities to endorse products on television and in person. Patrick is already well known for her television commercials for GoDaddy.com and Peak Antifreeze. By most media standards, Danica is certainly "easy on the eyes", and she has now transcended her sport and become a pop culture celebrity. Similar to Dale Earnhardt Jr., Danica Patrick would be an advertisers dream, and NASCAR is certainly aware of her earning potential. Patrick will have a steep learning curve coming from the open-wheel ranks to the stock car level, but here ability to endorse and cater to her sponsors has already been well established.
Danica's Future
Whether it's just another rumor or if Danica Patrick decides to jump to NASCAR, she'll certainly be under the microscope and garner attention from everyone in the sport. As for now, Danica just wants to make the right choice. "I just want to know what my options are and who's really serious. That's where we're at. We're just collecting information at this point. Hopefully we can keep our heads down and figure it out and make a good decision."
