Controversy of Danica Patrick
Some racing fans have claimed Patrick, as a rare female driver, has benefited from her minority status. They claim that most male drivers would have had more difficulty in finding a ride with a top racing team than Patrick did and would have been dropped sooner than Patrick was after failing to achieve any wins during her entire IRL career.
Some racing journalists, IndyCar fans, and other drivers (such as Robby Gordon) have claimed that Patrick's relatively low body weight gives her an advantage in a competition where engine size and car weight are strictly regulated. (Patrick's height is 5'2, and weight is 100 pounds.) The IRL president, Brian Barnhart, disagrees, telling Dave Caldwell for The New York Times that Patrick's weight had a minimal effect on the competition.
Patrick has also had to deal with sexist remarks from fellow racers, who feel that auto racing is a man's sport. In May of 2006, after an appearance on ESPN SportsCenter's Budweiser Hot Seat, Patrick made comments that ruffled the feathers of former NASCAR drivers. When asked if she would ever make the jump over to the NASCAR circuit, Patrick commented that, while she wouldn't make the jump, she hadn't even gotten a phone call (from NASCAR representatives).
Former driver Richard Petty responded, in a separate interview, by stating, I just don't think it's a sport for women, and so far, it's proved out. It's really not. It's good for them to come in. It gives us a lot of publicity, it gives them publicity. But as far as being a real true racer, making a living out of it, it's kind of tough.
When talk heated up of a possible future Patrick move to NASCAR in July 2006, fellow IRL driver Ed Carpenter said, I think Danica's pretty aggressive in our cars. I mean, you know especially if you catch her at the right time of the month, she might be trading plenty of paint out there.
He later said that he meant no disrespect, and that he felt she could hold her own on whatever circuit she was in. He also said it was unlikely she would jump to NASCAR.
In October of 2005, Patrick was mentioned in the men's magazine FHM by Formula One driver Jenson Button, who, while dismissing her prospects in Formula One racing, then added some colorful remarks of his own, notably the infamous line A girl with big boobs would never be comfortable in the car. And the mechanics wouldn't concentrate. Can you imagine strapping her in?
