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Danica Patrick's historic winDanica Patrick just made history. Last Sunday, she became the first woman ever to win an IndyCar race when she finished No.1 in the Japan 300. In her 50th career start, Patrick finally got what she wanted since her debut back in 2005: first place. Patrick poses with her trophy at Twin Ring Motegi in Motegi, Japan, on April 20, 2008 And it’s been a long, long ride since she first got on the road. Patrick was usually tormented with “When are you going to win something?” questions and with comparisons with Anna Kournikova, the tennis player who never won anything but became famous for being good-looking. But Patrick’s no Kournikova. Not anymore. "I'm not going to lie," she said. "I was getting frustrated. I believed in myself. It was just a matter of when it was going to happen. I've been asked so many times when I'm going to win my first race — finally no more of those questions." Patrick is one of the Indy’s biggest stars, but she has always been known more for her good looks than her abilities. In 2005 in Indianapolis, she took fourth place — her best result prior to her win in Japan — and that was enough to get her more attention than the race’s winner, Dan Wheldon. She was even named Rookie of the Year for her 2005 IndyCar Series without ever having won anything. So it always came back to haunt her: Was she famous for being good or good-looking? Patrick arrives at the 2007 ESPY Awards in Hollywood Over the years, she even had to put up with a whole bundle of sexist remarks. Bernie Ecclestone, Formula 1's CEO, told Patrick that "women [drivers] should be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances." Robby Gordon, another Indy Racing League driver, said he would refuse to race with her because of her weight advantage: "Right off the bat, a guy my size is spotting her 105 pounds"; "That's the reason she's so much faster," he said. Ed Carpenter, a Nascar driver, even referred to her PMS: "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 it was just a joke. Funny, huh? In spite of all the criticism and controversy, Patrick kept going. And now everything's different, because she’s finally achieved something. As of April 20, Patrick can start getting attention for the right reasons: She’s actually a good (female) race car driver, not just a hot driver. She’s now up there with other female race car pioneers such as Maria Teresa de Filippis, Michèle Mouton, Janet Guthrie or Jutta Kleinschmidt. Congratulations, Danica!
Submitted by on April 25, 2008 - 4:00pm. |
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WOW this is enough to get
Boys, move over! The Lady is coming through!
It was really awesome her victory in Japan. I looved they way ESPN guy screamed when she finished the last lap:
"Boys, move over! The Lady is coming through!"
What a rush of adrenaline! Danica is a though girl and seeing a woman winning for the first time in a sport that the only thing you see around is men, men, men and more men, is a big deal. Danica rocks!
I just can't help it : www.sogaysowhat.com
and talk about ...
...One of the most testosterone filled "sports" EVER ... straight men are just so classy sometimes, aren't they? Then add chrome and an engine ... awesome.
Good for you, Danica. This doesn't make me want to watch people making left turns all day, but I'll certainly read about it in future.Speak what we feel not what we ought to say.
Score!!
I LOVE that she won because it just irritates all those men out there with the big mouths and tiny penises.
I'd love to see Ashley Force, who happens to be super cute, get on up there and snag the top spot in Funny Car drag racing!
praise the race car gods!!!
i dont watch race car driving. i find it kinda boring. but i love watching a girl kicking butt against a bunch of guys! and thank goodness i no longer have to hear about how danica is the race car version of kournikova. i love kournikova. she's hot and she helped start the russian tennis revolution. but i hate listening to sports commentators everytime there is an attractive woman playing a sport who doesnt win right away.
viva danica!!!
And remember that, in a world of ordinary mortals, you are a Wonder Woman!
Yeah Baby!
wow
Whouuuuu Houuuuu Yeah!!!
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
COOL! COOL !COOL! COOL! COOL!
Heard the fantastic news on Eurosport. Hope this will just be the first in an endless line of victories.
Go Dame Danica! Let 'em boys cough in a cloud of burned rubber and see nothing else than your quickly disappearing rear lights!
Shirley Muldowney.
I grew up admiring the first lady of drag racing...and so I think Danica winning her first race is very exciting!
I have read detracting statements and rumors about Danica...and I am sure she is not perfect...but I suspect she is being held to a higher standard then her male competitors.
Danica
I have had danicamania since she started racing in IRL a couple years back. I was screaming and crying when she won right along with her. What a great move forward for womens sports.
Women racers.
Rock on! Why isn't that
Congrats Danica!!!
Big deal....
Actually I'm sick of hearing about the win now. If anyone becomes a race fan just because she won is insulting other drivers in the series who work harder than she does or just as hard. I still don't like her since that person posted about her win. No one mentioned the other female driver that won all over the news. I still hold on to the theory that because men think she is sexy and she poses for men magazines that this win seems bigger than what it is and she is getting way too much credit for something that any race driver can do-win by fuel mileage. I feel the same way about male race car drivers. You have to win more than one race for me to be impressed or to think you are actually a great driver. There is no rule that says as a woman that I have to like or support Danica and I wish women would stop acting like there is
boooooo.....
Fan from the start
I was watching the first year she ran in the IRL, just waiting for her to get her first win. I am so glad it's finally happened.
drivers from the past.....don't forget Lynn Saint James..... and more recently Sarah Fisher. Sarah ran Indy last year, but is not racing this year.
drivers right now......besides Danica, there is one other woman racing IRL.... Milka Duno.
Just thought I would share.
I disagree
The other women you listed are actually talented drivers while Danica isn't. I have really tried to like her, even tried to understand why people like her and usually the people like her just because of her looks. I think some of the driver you listed deserve more praise and recognition in the press than this non talented driver does I still don't think she's a great driver that's why I believe this will be her only win. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt that she will win another one. . Then she will all but disappear from public eye because people will get sick of her. It has nothing to do with a woman but people keep talking about this one win when her team won it for her and she will get even more arrogant. It's happened to a lot of top athletes and I don't think she will be any different. Also, whenever I hear someone say" I'll start watching racing cause she won" bothers me. If you just start to watch racing because of one driver, not even the best driver in the series at all, you 're missing a good portion of enjoying the sport right there.
Well....
In a way I'm with you. I mean I understand being a fan of something and then having some label-maker come along and have other people like the same thing as you... However, calling Danika an untalented driver is ridiculous. Even though I don't watch any racing myself, the fact that she won a race clearly indicates that she is at least somewhat talented.
If this is her only win, so what? If she brought some amount of greater attention to racing then maybe that's enough. I mean, why would you complain? If she doesn't win another race and fades into the background at least the organization may still reap the benifits of having new fans.
On the other point you made, I know cockiness is common in many athletes, and it pisses me off too, but the fact is that it is a quality is present in many of today's top athletes, and that's what's relevant. Despite the fact that an athlete may have a swollen head, it doesn't mean their level of play is lessened in any way. I mean look at Kobe Bryant. He is one of the most self-centred athletes I've ever seen, yet he's undoubtedly at the top of his game. Many games/sports/events draw in viewers because of one person who is achieving something outstanding (this even relates to movies), and I honestly don't believe that that is a negative aspect in any way, shape or form.
If I'm wrong, let me know.
"I do not have many vitamins but I am 100% of the daily allowance of DELICIOUS!"
She didn't win the race technically...
She didn't win the race technically...
Assuming a bit regarding women...
who are celebrating Danica's win.
I have never gotten the impression that the general women's attitude regarding Danica's win is that before her no other women in racing existed.
Sure with time, a segment of the population forgets the previous generation and their struggles in any field of endeavor. There is a recent article here on the site about the pioneers in lesbian music. But liking and celebrating the current generation's achievements doesn't in any way insult the previous pioneers.
And I don't understand the harm in a win by an individual or team sparking the interest of the public in any sport. There was an increase among the ranks of girls playing such sports as soccer and basketball because of momumental wins. I have two wee girl neighbors who are always outside with a soccer ball or basketball whenever they get the chance. No one bats an eye and their dad is often out there with them. Such a sight never happened when I was growing up...yet they have no idea the females who came before them who had to deal with a lot of attitudes in order to one day make it no big deal for two little girls to have a soccer net and a basketball hoop.
I cannot wait for the day when it is no big deal when a woman wins an Indy car race...but until then, I will cheer Danica and any other female driver...whether they win or just show up and try their best.
Milka Duno shouldn't be
Milka Duno shouldn't be racing. She's not so good. Running 5-10 mph slower than the reast of the field.
And Sarah is racing this season. She started her own team, Sarah Fisher Racing, and will be racing at Indy and a couple other tracks with hopes to run all tracks in 2009.
Sarah has a chance of winning with her new team. At D&R last year Buddy Rice had the #1 car with the best mechanics and pit crew. Now Sarah can have the best whoever she wants for her car.
Congrats
I think i'm starting to intersted in racing but unfortunately i still find watching racing is quite boring because when you watch from tele it's just cars running around in circle.
But i do happy that in the future a racing sport won't only for men.
ur the best
Hey, congrats, i'm not a huge fan of racing, but Danica make look so hot.
I find it AMAZING
Some of us still manage to complain about the girl instead of going off at the stupid comments made by fuckhead Ecclestone and company. I don't really care why she's there, I'm just glad she is and I'm glad she won, because she's a woman. All races are won by teams, not just the drivers, so isn't that an obvious comment or should we only mention it when the winner's a girl? And how does giving her attention disminish in any way what other women have done? It's like, "other women haven't been given the same attention, so let's not give it to her either"..yay
Anyway, what I actually wanted to comment on was Mr. Ecclestone, who I trully believe is a
f*ing dickhead who should be dropped infront of Alonso's car and driven overstupid dumbass. I really hope he was dressed in brown like the s*** he is. There you go, off my chest.I have to ask again..
Why as a woman and feminist, do I have to like or support her. Sure every team helps a driver win but when it comes to fuel mileage, it's basically the team winning the race. I just don't think she deserves the attention and I have listed why many times so I won't repeat myself. It has nothing to do with her gender.I want to see more female race drivers out there. But not those who use their looks to get them there like she did. I really don't think she worked hard to get where she is compared to other female drivers out there. I feel that alot of drivers are overrated ,her included, just because of how they look
interesting that i just had this conversation...
...regarding women in the dj industry. i give you a paraphrased version of the reply i gave there, with the career changed.
i am no fan of women heavily marketing themselves on their sex appeal, trust me. it's one of my biggest pet peeves EVER (and pet peeves is a weak word for how i feel about it). but the automatic (and sexist) assumption that a woman who markets herself that way is talentless BECAUSE of that, or deserves no recognition for her accomplishments, i have a problem with as well.
keep in mind the reason women do this shit is because they are working in an industry set up by men and populated with male fans. and that industry and fanbase rewards them for doing shit like this, even as it derides them for playing the game. but while many talentless attention-seekers have used this marketing method in various industries, that does not automatically mean that everyone who does it has no talent. it just means they are taking advantage of a system that has paid off for some before them, even if i personally feel that route may garner success but sadly, little respect.
i think what she is doing is problematic (immeasurably so), but i refuse to demonize her using an equally problematic (and sexist) framework to reduce the choices women have to some messed up version of the madonna/whore either. you're expected to be either full of talent while you play down what you look like, or you are pretty and play the sex kitten to get attention; either way those avenues weren't set up by women. if there is anything i have learned from the feminist movement, it's that the whole point was to have MORE choices for women based on our own wants and desires, not to reduce our options only to reinforcing a strict definition of what's allowed and what's not.
do i think danica has played into a sexist idea of presenting women in racing? sure i do. am i willing to demonize her for it? nope. i would totally rather expend my energy shaking my fists at the patriarchizzle. ;)
DJ Shiva...
A Danica Fan!
Danica deserves praise
Danica deserves praise simply because she is a good driver.. sorry but the IRL sure as hell doesn't hand out Rookie of the Year honours based on appearance. The years she was racing for Rayhal Letterman were a write off because there is really no way a racer could do well on that team with the limited amount of funding. I hardly think shes overrated as she is clearly the best female driver to have ever raced in the Indy league. She was the first woman to ever lead in the Indy 500 ... and now she is the first woman to ever win an Indy Car Race... so it sort of baffles me as to how anyone can think she is overrated. If that doesnt make her deserving of high praise then I dont know what does. Now Danica has proved her worth and hopefully now people will be able to see beyond just the good looks (she also has a lovely personality as well).
Milka Duno on the other hand who also races in the IRL series is only there because she looks good. She is pretty much useless in a race car and I would be shocked if she ever wins anything in her career ... or even if her career lasts for more than 5 seasons. Apparently she also fancies herself an actor because shes in the new Speed Racer movie.. although I will giver her props for being a very very smart lady I just think with that much intelligence she could find something better to do than be a mediocre race car driver...
That's your opinion
And I'm allowed to disagree. No matter what anyone says I'll probably will never respect her as a driver or think she deserves praise. We all have different ideas and opinions and I see nothing wrong with that
And here's my opinion.
One simple question shygurl: When did you win your first IndyCar race, and how many more have you won since then?.....Ahh, thought so. Do you really believe ANYONE would be able to win such a race just by standing around and looking good? Go to the records and count all motorsport victories since the dawn of time which were achieved based on superior equipment, superior race strategy and superior team work, and compare them to the number of victories achieved through fancy, spectacular maneuvers on the track.
And why is it, every time an attractive woman achieves something she just got lucky, or she was able to do so because she had the help of a lot of people because she is attractive? And why is it, when an attractive woman works hard every day to achieve her dreams (and there's no denying Danica Patrick does so), in the end she does all of it just to titillate men? Sorry shygurl, but it is obvious from your comments that you don't have a problem with the race driver Danica Patrick, but with the woman Danica Patrick, just because she looks good. Sexsim from men is nothing new, old story. But I really hate it when women get catty towards other women just because they happen to be beautiful.
And why do you think other people posting in this thread are interested in motorsports just because of Danica? That's a very bold assumption. And the wording you are using sounds to me as if you think you personally own motorsports, and everyone who wants to be interested in it has to purchase a license from you first.
No, nobody forces you to like Danica. But no one forces me to like your opinion about her either. See? Works both ways.
this will teach a bunch of
this will teach a bunch of sexist pigs =)
http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com
Women Drivers
It's nothing new....
Four ladies in breeches and a truck, with a certain swagger. And big grins on their faces. Yep, like I said, it's nothing new....
Love Pussy xx
I agree with shygurl99. She
I agree with shygurl99. She obviously follows racing and is of the same opinion as me. Danica is an average driver who is unlikely to win again.
I have been following her career since her days in the Atlantic series. She showed promise finishing fairly high but never winning. It was then that she decided the best move for her career was to show her body. She started undressing for magazine spreads to show off her body. She decided the best way to advance her career was through sex appeal not racing. It worked. SHe landed a ride with the IRL became very famous for nothing but showing her body. She garnered the resentment of her fellow drivers who could see that the emperor had no clothes. Danica does not have the talent to back up the hype. Even with a weight advantage she could not win. Still she was famous for her sex appeal and got one of the top rides in the IRL with andretti green racing.
Everyone in her team is winning but not Danica. She could not win. So we find ourselves at last week's race where Danica was not competitve all day long. She was a lap down and in the IRL unlike every other series cars seem to get their lap back by being waved by on a yellow. She lead the last few laps because she was on a different fuel stragey than the other teams, shygurl99 is right her team got her this win. But it wasn't just that, even on this fuel stragey she was second to Helio Castroneves. He was on the same fuel stragey. He was leading when suddenly he slows down. Did he run out of fuel? NO, he let her by and then he finished the race without running out of fuel. He even said that he was told to let her by, he didn't realize she was going to lead then. He didn't even know she was on the lead lap but the team told him to let her by. This was an orchestrated setup to generate buzz for the indy 500. Danica was given this win and it was not earned in any sense of the word and everyone in racing knows this.
Is it good for women in racing? yes, to the general public the perception is oh a woman is as good as a man! In the racing circles? No, Danica's win will make it harder for other serious women drivers out there.
I will continue to support women in racing, especially those who are out there trying to earn it through merit and not by taking off their clothes. There are many women who have won in the top series, excluding Nascar. And if you are looking for women in racing, no one has more of them than the NHRA drag racing where women have won CHAMPIONSHIPS since the 70s. In fact, one woman is leading the points right now.
Danica can prove me wrong and become a champion, but she's still not the type of woman athlete I can support, one who put selling her body on top of athletic achievement.
Team Order?
The articles I read about the Motegi race didn't mention any team order. Castroneves was running out of fuel, and later on confirmed this in an interview. He decided to let Patrick pass, unaware of the fact that he would lose the lead in doing so. But he also confirmed that even if he would have realized it in this moment, he simply didn't have enough fuel left to fight for his position. Penske boss Tim Cindric said his team ordered Castroneves to not try to catch Patrick, knowing that if he did he wouldn't see the finish line. And a second place is a lot better than a DNS, right? The IRL inspectors later on confirmed that the fuel tank of Castroneves's Penske was completely empty. He was running on fumes during the last three laps. If you can read German, you can find the articles here and here.
This fuel poker is a part of IndyCar racing. You can of course debate if this is a "glorious" way to win a race, but it's a part of the game. Don't forget that Scott Dixon lost last year's championship to Dario Franchitti because he run out of fuel. Did people devalue Franchitti's achievement because he won the championship by better fuel management?
And for the "undressing" argument: How many female top athletes did not undress at a certain point in their career? I don't think there are many you can exclude from this "accusation".
I'm not an ardent follower of american motorsports, for, as a European, I'm more interested in european racing leagues. But I had a look at Danica's stats since she joined the IRL, and they look good. She will of course not become a female Michael Schumacher, but she definitely has potential. And as I saw, she qualified third in Kansas yesterday. Was this also a team order?
By your own admition you
By your own admition you admit to not having watched the IRL. Helio changed his story, this is what he said to live TV at the Long Beach grand prix, my team told me to let her go, I didn't realize she was going to be first. I am not saying team orders, I am saying league orders.
Kansas? No one can say that Danica can't qualify, her weight advantage has always helped her with that. She can pull together one lap, she just can't race for an entire race.
As far as other athletes taking off her clothes, I don't begrudge them anything if they have the athletic credentials to back it up. She had nothing to show for on the race track, her entire fame was built on being sexy. It's an entirely different matter to do so after an athletic achievement. You already have respect. You can't earn respect by taking off your clothes and getting a top ride because of it. It would have been different had she won something, gotten a top ride and then decided to do the magazines.
Weight Advantage
Right.
He was ordered by his team not to go into pursuit because they knew he didn't have enough fuel left. As far as I can tell that's a wise decision by his team. You want to make it look as if he was forced to let Patrick win. Sorry, but this sounds a bit like conspiracy theory to me. Do you have any proof to back that up despite "I saw it on TV"? Referencing some sources would be nice.
Her entire fame was built on being sexy? So how did she make it into the IRL then? By taking her clothes off? I don't think so. If she wouldn't have enough talent and perform good enough, she would never have gotten a cockpit in such a series. She's definitely not the "grid-girl-became-wannabe-race-driver" you're trying to paint her as here. Yes, maybe she used her attractiveness to push her popularity and with it her chances to get a good cockpit. So what? This woman was trying to get a chance in a male dominated business. If she used all weapons to her disposal for that, I won't blame her. In the long run, she can only convince people with her performance. We'll see if she can do or not. Personally I think she made a decent job so far.
Team Orders
You want to see team orders. Watch the Infineon race from 2006.
Marco Andretti is leading and there is no way that he can finish the race on fuel under green. Holy crap, his teammate, Bryan Herta spins, causing a yellow. His other teammate, Tony Kanaan, who is in second, pits on the last lap, which NO ONE does, and, oh my god, Marco's final teammate, Dario Franchitti, just so conveniently is in third, so when Tony pits, he is in second, pretty much securing the win for Marco.
After the race they checked his fuel, and he would have run out with about a lap left.
Sure.
My my, it's a serious
My my, it's a serious business this car racing, isn't it? So lets lighten the mood a little. Here's a picture of Bernie Ecclestone.
I don't know the name of the domestic appliance next to him.
Not Only But Also
domestic appliance?
Picture
Wonderful
I don't follow Car race but, this is a good one about someone who achieved what she wants and worked hard for it. that's something real and true.
as for her good looks...makes me wanna follow car race now! haha.
hot hot hot
congrats to Danica...
but I'm not much into this oval racing thing. I don't know if Danica is one of the better drivers there, I've never been a big fan of her. I agree with shygurl99. We'll see what she can achieve in the future. I wish there would be many good female drivers.
I hope there will be a competitive woman in Formula 1 some day. But I don't think that Danica could make it. Don't forget the other female drivers like in DTM Susie Stoddart and Katherine Legge. Legge did a test for a small F1 team back in 2005 I guess and besids her crash after ~3 laps she did good. Unfortunately she has a two year old car now in DTM but in the second race she was closer to her teampartner who is not the worst
aah, and Bernie is such a << put your favorite bad word here >> he really wants a woman in f1 so he should better keep his voice down
and thanks so much for mentioning JUTTA KLEINSCHMIDT - she is SO cool :)
Susie and Katherine.
I think Susie did a really good job last season, given the circumstances. But, sadly, she didn't make any points. So she's still stuck in a not really competitive car this season. But at least she got another chance and still has a cockpit. She's talented, tough and works hard, so I hope she'll be able to collect some points this season. She really deserves it.
Not sure about Legge so far. She has good credentials, but also still problems to adapt to the DTM. Of course, her car is too slow, and let's not forget the DTM is one of the most competitive and hardest touring car series in the world. I really hope she will be able to improve her performance over the season and not find the same fate Vanina Ickx had to face last year, who was simply not good enough.
I definitely wish both of them the best. Go girls! *waves a rainbow coloured Audi flag*
Susie...
she deserves some points, absolutely. She has a one year old car this season so she should be able to get some points...but as you said, there are so many great drivers with new cars, its really tough. also she was a bit *unlucky* in the first two races ;) she had a really good season last year. and I don't think that Mercedes will let her go in the next few years.
I'm pretty sure that Katherine will be doing a lot better than Vanina Ickx, I think DTM wasn't just the thing for her. Katherine had only a 0.3 seconds gap to her teammate Albers. That was pretty good.
I wish them both a great sesaon.
Ashley Force