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Danica Patrick talks with reporters following her crash at the NASCAR Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 auto race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010.
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 | 7 p.m.
Sun Coverage
Danica Patrick experienced about as wide a range of emotions as she possibly could Saturday in the Sam’s Town 300 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Through 67 laps, Patrick was in third place and racing significantly better than she did in her first two NASCAR events. But 17 laps later, on the second turn of lap 84, Patrick ran her No. 7 Godaddy.com car into the back of Michael McDowell’s No. 81 Monte Carlo car and ended her day prematurely.
“That’s racing,” Patrick said. “It happens.”
With that, Patrick’s foray into the NASCAR Nationwide Series ends until late June. She will now prepare for her IndyCar schedule, before re-joining the Nationwide Series in New Hampshire in the summer.
“It would have been nice to have a decent finish,” Patrick said. “I was feeling better and better all the time.”
That was on display Saturday. Despite starting 25th, Patrick worked her way up to the front of the race after taking an early pit stop that put her on a different cycle than most of the drivers.
Patrick was able to battle with some of NASCAR’s top drivers, including eventual-winner Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards for a few laps at the front of the pack.
“It was nice to run up there with those guys and start trying to earn their respect,” Patrick said.
Her demise came less than 20 minutes later after she dropped back a few spots into the middle. Coming across the second turn on fresh tires, she prepared to blow by McDowell.
But the front of her car collided with the back of McDowell’s. She then slammed into the wall before making contact with McDowell once more.
Patrick was fine, but the front of her car suffered major damage. All she could do was roll into the garage as a swarm of media and fans rushed over to see her climb out of her car.
“I feel bad for everybody who worked hard,” Patrick said. “I feel bad for crashing the car. I’m not the type of person who crashes a car.”
McDowell, however, said Patrick had nothing to apologize for. He took full blame for the crash.
Patrick was trying to go underneath McDowell when he dropped back and the crash occurred. The collision also ended his day.
“I take 100 percent responsibility,” McDowell said. “The closing rate was just so much that there wasn’t a whole lot of time to make a decision.”
Patrick said she would miss being around NASCAR but would be paying close attention on television.
She’s already looking forward to being back on the circuit in June — especially after tasting some success at Las Vegas.
“I felt good the whole time, really,” Patrick said. “I felt like I was on a roll.”
“This was a big step.”
Thank you, Danica! Come back and see us soon!
HEARD THE INTERVIEW ON ESPN WHAT A BIT_H. SHE IS FULL OF HERSELF.
She's in the ring with some heavyweights. Anyone who takes on the reigning hierarchy, as a female, has tremendous courage. Much of society just follows the leader. She wants to beat them. Thanks for coming to Vegas, DP.
She goes postal, ready to fight, as good as the male coo coo coo drivers. She fits right in, more so than Indy prima boys. She needs a makeover though, too much look at me and how sexy I am, than grease n jeans.
Hey SmarterThanYou, go back to your cave and hibernate until you can bring yourself into the real world.
I think we've got a bunch of "men" who are afraid a woman will demonstrate how easy this "sport" is....
Way Overated!! Go Back To INDY toy cars!
It'll be fun to read the posts, when she beats the good old boys. Like it or not the broom rider can drive. Get over it.
Anybody that watches a bunch of cars run in circles for hours is a few sandwiches short of a picnic and it doesn't matter if the drivers are males or females.
Smarterthanyou-
It's not a "mans sport" it's not a sport at all.
It's NASCAR. But it sure as hell is not a sport.
She should be able to marry well from where she's at right now as a nascar driver.
Good looking as she is, she best not wait to long....
it's funny how the bumpkin fans of nascar always...ALWAYS validate their stereotype.
@cignettis
"is a few sandwiches short of a picnic" haha.
- Mark Szczygiel
Hey Plantearthcalling: "She is married"
I see what you mean, Akbal.
After all these guys aren't tattooed head to foot, 'ya hardly ever see 'em snorting coke, hardly ever see 'em in a courtroom for shooting somebody or beating up their 'significant other'.
They just go out there for 3 or 4 hours in cars that can be 140 degrees inside and maintain a VERY high level of concenration to avoid being killed or maimed. NO sport there! Hitting a ball with a stick or throwing one through a ring in an indoor, air-conditioned arena - now THAT is "sport"!!
I will say this about her
She cleans up very well!
that go daddy commercial is HOTT!
peace out
That is dangerous business for a woman. Goodness she's all right now. Take care lady ahead of all others in the highways.
You just watch this girl go , once she gets out of the pack that shes seems to find herself in she will be be a contender,those lil sissys like
Gordon,Johnson,And fat boy Tony better watch it. She WILL be the first female NASCAR champion you just wait and see.
She's Easy on The Eyes, Spicy and a Good Driver who will eventually move up as she gets more accustomed to the system. Good for the sport.
Miss Patrick has no idea of what she's into. Somewhere along the line she and her smart mouth,...one she's had from what I hear back to her high school days will overload her booty and she'll have her head handed to her,...might still be in her helmet.
She's gonna tee off on some seasoned Nascar driver (as she has before in Indy Cars) and sometime later TV won't be able to count the number of times her car spins and rolls even with high definition replays.
Should be fun to see
"sport" hahaha
oh daddy! someone check her BAC!
Damn, now the publicity stunt is temporarily on hold while she goes back to Indy cars.