As Danica Patrick and Nascar fans in general wait impatiently for the new season to begin, one question lingers for D.P. fans. What can we expect from Danica at Daytona this coming February 24, 2013? With one complete full time Nationwide season under her belt (inside joke), and 10 Sprint Cup races completed, how will a full time Sprint Cup schedule pan out for Danica?
The naysayers, believe she is not capable of finishing on the lead lap and will be in the way of other drivers. They point their fingers at Daytona and the last Phoenix race and don’t even mention the fact she was collected in other people’s wrecks. Or that she finished a career best of 17th in a Sprint Cup race. Seems like they’re the same neanderthal group that keeps telling, D.P, to go back in the kitchen, which is all their minds are capable of conjuring up. Not only can she drive, she also can bake! According to her Tweets, so there you have it. She’s been in the kitchen and the drivers seat with double the skills; compared to those armchair crew chiefs.
For the majority of us watching a rookie learn and make progress, we know otherwise. She is capable of finishing on the lead lap in a Cup race and she is all ready capable of top 20’s, Phoenix proved that. She will have an experienced crew chief, Tony Gibson who will stay with her the entire season. She’ll have an experienced pit crew behind her and the guidance and advice of Tony Stewart, not too shabby.
My concern as an avid observer is her progress with relaying what changes need to be made on her car and translating that to her crew chief. Via video conference, on Huff Post live, I was able to ask her, “How do you learn the mechanics of the car and the improvements that need to be made to the car?” She said she try’s to know the elements of the car, so when she feels something on the track, she memorizes what adjustments were made and translates that to her crew chief. She said excitedly, “I think Tony Gibson is going to be really great.”
You can watch the interview from Huff Post Live below. Although, she did admit it’s something she is still working on and learning about. It will be interesting to see how the team will approach qualifying efforts. Will they go with the approach of making the car comfortable for Danica to drive and have her qualify mid to end of pack? Will they have Danica hold on to it and give her a qualifying set up and great qualifying positions? One thing I know for sure in Indy and Nascar, Danica is capable of passing cars. I think the approach of making the car comfortable for her over long runs is important. Even though we love to see her pole and start up front, it’s no fun to see your 1st place starting position fade away over long runs.
Re-starts is also something that I’m sure will continue to improve. We saw her eaten up in 2011 with the re-starts, to holding her own and even passing on occasions in 2012. Maintaining track position on re-starts will be an important factor along with not getting any speeding penalty’s. I do see her in the Lucky Dog position quite often, which is probably going to be nerve wracking for her as a driver, but entertaining for us the fans. A fun topic we tease about on Twitter, get out the hot dog wrappers and water bottles, we have to get her a caution, interestingly enough, it’s actually happened.
As a D.P fan, I’m looking forward to the 2013 Sprint Cup season, say what you will about whether you think D.P. deserves the ride, point is she’s there. She will be competing with some of the best drivers in the world, week in week out. Knowing what I know about Danica, she is not the type of person that is going to quit, even when rough waters arrive. She will be there, ready to compete, through setbacks and triumphs. Top 25’s may be aimed for at the beginning of the season, and if all goes well, mid season look for Top 15’s. Look for a dedicated team with a just as dedicated driver, and you’ll see the #10 Stewart-Haas 2013 Sprint Cup team.
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Also a thank you to #DanicaPack
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