Who can forget last year’s 500, where a pit road miscue by Ryan Briscoe prevented nothing more than a rather mediocre finish by Patrick. The race’s most dramatic moment, or, rather, moments, turned out to be those captured by ABC’s cameras as they focused on Patrick’s long walk down pit land, the end of which she was apparently ready to give Briscoe a piece of her mind, and perhaps the backside of her hand. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and she was stopped before she made a further spectacle of herself. Unfortunately, the media, with their cameras and microphones, quickly caught up with her. Nothing like a sound bite from a woman scorned.
Yes, difficult to forget that moment now. Oddly, most forgot about it at Watkins Glen later in the season, when Patrick herself had a pit road mishap. Of course, racing being racing and the ultimate sport of “stuff happens,” that wasn’t the first – we can still pull video on You Tube of Patrick’s pit road accident at Homestead a couple of years ago.
Regardless, last year’s drama queen bit aside, Patrick is at her absolute best in a race car when she’s at Indy; all the more remarkable considering the immense media and public scrutiny she endures over May (the entire year, for that matter). Through all of Patrick’s faults, she knows how to set up a car and get around Indy, and quickly and competitively at that.
Her talent and skill in driving the car is always improving, as racing is a continuous learning process, for driver, crew, and organization alike. Patrick’s competitive streak is also a work-in-progress, but one that is more targeted and harnessing and controlling, rather than unleashing. Racing is not about speed – the history books are lined with speed freaks who loved the sensation of flying on wheels, but never made it into Victory Lane. Competitors like Rick Mears, A.J. Foyt, Dale Earnhardt – they never cared how fast they were going, just that they were faster, and in front of, the others. In fact, Rick Mears was fond of saying the best race is one that is won at the lowest speed. “Won” is the key word.
Still in the early stages of her career, Patrick’s on track performance has often been compromised by her emotional competitiveness. She’s noticeably more calm and purposeful this year, which can only bode well for her; poorly for her competitors. How far Patrick goes within the IRL lies not with her team or future sponsorship, but with how she handles adversity and the complications that inevitably arise through the course of a race week (or in the case of Indy, a race month).
Come Memorial Day weekend, expect another strong speedway run by Patrick. Expect “Danica-mania” on the air waves. Expect something to happen, then watch closely. What we see and hear next will go a long way toward telling us if Patrick is stepping forward, or backward.
Follow me on Twitter @RayHartjen
Keywords: Danica Patrick, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ryan Briscoe
