Freshrubber Blog

The question Danica Patrick fans are asking most often is whether or not she’ll try to move to NASCAR, following the lead of Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. Franchitti struggled with the heavier stock cars last year and came back to IndyCar this season. “The NASCAR rumors are true,” Patrick confirmed. “We’re definitely exploring all the opportunities that are out there for me as a driver and as a business and a brand.” Said Graham Rahal of the persistent rumor: “She’s good for the series. … She’s good for us. It would be good to see her stay.” — Vallejo Times-Herald

Interview IRL star Danica Patrick

IRL star Danica Patrick was at Stewart Haas racing Monday on a personal shop tour, she even went into the fan zone and signed autographs for a bunch of surprised fans who were visiting the shop. Patrick was a guest of team owner Tony Stewart last fall at Phoenix. But the two-time Cup champion was not available to be a guide Monday because he was at a Goodyear tire test at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  FOX Sports

The Silly Season spotlight shifts to Earnhardt-Ganassi, which has a gaping hole in its driver lineup. EGR could make it simple and put Aric Almirola in that ride for next year. Almirola has been on the shelf since sponsorship for his No. 8 dried up at the beginning of this year. But that ride is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, which is not signed for the full season next year. Would the company be encouraged to sign up for the full year with an unproven young driver at the helm? Not likely. And it wouldn’t do much good to put Almirola in the car and then pull the plug on him a second time because sponsorship ran out after midseason. The solution to this dilemma is obvious — although probably so obvious that it’ll never happen. Chip Ganassi needs to sign Danica Patrick. It’s a win-win for everyone, except perhaps the Indy Racing League. — Insider Racing News

Officials at Roush Fenway Racing and Hendrick Motorsports spent part of Sunday putting down another Danica Patrick rumor. This one, from an Internet blogger, implied that the companies are fighting over the IndyCar driver. The story offered no proof, only that “sources” have said that Rick Hendrick apparently has beaten Jack Roush, and that Patrick will replace Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Geoff Smith, president of Roush Fenway Racing, acknowledged that International Management Group is polling Cup teams, gauging their interest in one of America’s best-known racers. He said IMG hasn’t visited Roush Fenway yet, but it will.

“They’re talking to everybody over here, all the teams in the garage,” Smith said Sunday. “We’re in the loop, but we haven’t scheduled a meeting yet. Maybe we’ll have one pretty soon.” Autoweek

Chip Ganassi loves to shock the racing world, as he did by snatching Juan Montoya out of Formula One and bringing him to NASCAR three years ago.

But Ganassi is supposedly working on a deal at the moment that would not only keep open wheel racing’s biggest name away from the clutches of NASCAR, it would likely advance her ascention in Indy cars.

And the ‘ol Chipster would be a hero in the IndyCar marketing, public relations and promotions departments. SpeedTV

When the IndyCar Series season ends and Patrick’s contract expires, series founder Tony George and his good friends need to present Patrick with a giant check that lets her write in as many zeroes as she wants. Because she cannot — never, ever, ever — be allowed to jump from this series to NASCAR or Formula One. Ever. If this was, in fact, Patrick’s last Indy 500 as an open-wheel regular, the sport is back in very deep trouble as a niche sport on a second-tier cable network. … If, in the end, Patrick wants to go to NASCAR because of the higher profile, the challenge of it, the raised platform the sport would give her and her brand, then there’s not much the IRL can do no matter how much money it brings to the table. As much as NASCAR is struggling in this economy — and the IRL seems to be holding steady during tough times — the bottom line is, the stock cars run on Fox while the open-wheelers share time on Versus with my hockey games.– Indy Star

Which brings us back to Danica Patrick and our rankings of who will be the most valuable drivers in Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. Last year, Patrick placed 22nd at the Speedway, but she still pulled in about $15 million for her personal and team sponsors, according to Joyce Julius. The logos for her team and personal sponsors, including Motorola, GoDaddy.com and AirTran, spent so much time on TV that they rivaled that of Target, sponsor of winner Scott Dixon’s team, Target Chip Ganassi Racing. Target was on TV for 14 minutes; sponsors associated with Patrick and her team, Andretti Green Racing, were on for about 38 minutes. This year, Patrick is in much the same position, if not a better one. Not only does she still count GoDaddy.com and Motorola among her sponsors, but she’s also picked up Boost Mobile. Primary sponsorships in the IndyCar Series range from $2.5 million to $7 million, though few companies ever cite exact investment amounts. — Indy Star

Danica Patrick’s contract with the Andretti Green Racing Team expires at the end of this season. Always generating allot of buzz we want to know your thoughts. Do you think that Patrick would ever consider racing for a Nascar Team? Would a Nascar Team take a chance on Patrick? With a slumping economy affecting NASCAR Teams, and the growing uncertainty surrounding GM and Dodges’ futures, as well as their involvement in the sport, teams are unlikely to take a chance on developing a driver from another Racing Series. Whether Danika wins or loses she always generates tremendous attention, making her a sponsor’s dream. Patrick is one of the most popular race car drivers and whatever team she decides to join be sure that she will bring big sponsors. Your thoughts?

Danica Patrick and Raphael Matos had a difference of opinion after their cars slammed into a tire barrier during Sunday’s Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. “It is not exactly the ideal spot to pass,” she said after appearing to chastise the series rookie. “There’s not room for two people there.” Matos, who won last year’s Firestone Indy Lights division, was trying to pass Patrick heading to the treacherous 10th corner, but he wasn’t completely alongside her. As their cars touched, they got locked in a fast slide that knocked the barrier back several feet. Fortunately, neither was injured. Matos refused her blame. “Danica made a big mistake passing a lapped car, and I really had a good run on her,” he said. “I was halfway up on her. I thought she’d give me enough room to pass, but she didn’t. “It was very unfortunate and it’s frustrating (and) it shouldn’t have happened.” — Indy Star