I would hazard a wild guess that Danica has met with a little bit of that 'ol boyz network in Indycar racing.
I don't think it's all her fault at all, but she might have seen it coming (from out of the shadows of history).
I think this almost descends from the time when folks like old AJ Foyt were racing and from their point of view, racing was for men and having babies was for women. In the '40's thorugh the 80's, all forms of motor racing were truly invested with a proprietary chauvinism. Then as we know, here in North America (Guthrie, St. James, and now Danica Patrick.. including Debbie Gregg and a couple of others) have struggled their way into pro racing. Also there were a few in England and Italy and a couple of other places.
Ladies' success at racing seems to be as relatively equal as men's. It's only that their participation level is so low as to almost come in "below the radar".
I was a corner worker/flagger/race marshall for 32 years. So when I see intereting developments occuring in the Sport, I'll do a little research. One of the premier events in racing, but virtually uknown in North America is a week long contest called the "Formula Ford Festival" held at Brands Hatch Circuit in England. Hundreds of cars of identical classification and design are invited to particpate in a series of ladder heats and races until a final set of winners is decided. I have always had that event on my list of things to get to, but alas never managed when I was an active safety worker. Maybe sometime when I'm a tourist.
Nonetheless. This event is held, as I said for several hundred entrants driving a small single seater racer with a 125 horsepower relatively unmodified English Ford 1.6 litre four cylinder engine. The car is capable of reaching top speeds of about 140 miles per hour. The real test is to drive these tiny twitchy racers in heavy competition against other very talented drivers from as many as 25 or more nations.
Danica Patrick (from my research) entered the Formula Ford Fetival a couple of years ago. She finished 2nd overall, the highest position ever for a female driver and the highest position ever for an American driver. That was all that Bobby Rahal needed to know (owner-manager for Rahal Letterman Racing), and he hired her.
So, Ms. Danica comes to Indycars with all the 'credentials' she needs to compete. Luck and bucks to build bulletproof racers week to week will all add to the joy or frustration of winning or coming close. I laud Danica for actually and honorably racing for position continually. If she gets verbally testy from time to time, she's no different from any other driver, and it's easy for "they guyz" to try to shake her by their greater numbers, when talking to the press.
Spenser
