Comments on: Danica Patrick Doesn’t Win Indy 500

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Mon, 29 May 2006 14:53:21 +0000

I will show my ignorance by not even being able to tell you how many other drivers where in the race, what positions they had in comparison to previous years, etc. The bottom line is I suspect that most drivers who try for this never win a major race (or at least never win Indy). A few win multiple major races.

This entire tempest seems to be that someone who is photogenic (imagine our modern culture valuing that) and a first in the field to be a woman is getting more publicity than if she was not the first or photogenic. And then she has the temerity to not immediately win the race unlike all the other drivers who won.

Who cares? I recognize the Andretti's name. Why is he not being questioned as to why he didn't win. And if he looks anything like his grandfather, please do not post any pictures of him in swimming attire.

Can I look forward to a post on every driver who didn't win the race?

By: Danica Patrick Doesn’t Win Indy 500 » OTB Sports

Danica Patrick Doesn’t Win Indy 500 » OTB Sports — Mon, 29 May 2006 13:01:15 +0000

[...] OTB [...]

By: James

James — Mon, 29 May 2006 04:40:07 +0000

Here's my $0.02. The first article that I read on ESPN.com about the results of the race made no mention of DP or how she placed in the race.

Perhaps this is a sign that she is considered to be a racer first.

Perhaps the novelty of a woman driver on the circuit has worn off now, and so people have raised their expectations, race wise.

Although I must admit that if the newest racing phenom was some European whose name would embarass me if I tried to say it, I wouldn't care near as much about it, instead of the verifiable hottie that's been in FHM, Maxim, etc.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Mon, 29 May 2006 03:18:50 +0000

Mark: They've probably edited the story half a dozen times since I posted. The current update is 9:13.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 29 May 2006 02:14:05 +0000

Actually, the story does mention where she finished:

Wheldon wound up fourth, followed by Tony Kanaan, Dixon, Dario Franchitti and last year's rookie sensation, Danica Patrick, the only woman in the 33-car field.

Granted, they could have edited the story to add this info.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Sun, 28 May 2006 22:11:11 +0000

No doubt. The Indy 500 isn't what it used to be, what with the split in the circuit that took place a few years ago, but 4th and 8th in her first two tries is still quite impressive.

By: John Burgess

John Burgess — Sun, 28 May 2006 21:41:06 +0000

She finished eighth. She had some bad luck in going into a pit stop just before a caution flag when up, costing her postion.

Not a bad race from her, though. Winning the Indy 500 is not something even great drivers do regularly.