It looks like Danica’s NASCAR Nationwide debut will come at Auto Club Speedway in California rather than at Daytona where she will make her stock car debut in an ARCA car.
Patrick acknowledged that the Nationwide race at Daytona would be a high-pressure and high stakes gamble for her NASCAR debut.
"The race is basically a Cup race, some 30 odd drivers in Cup run in it," she said at a press conference at her JR Motorsports headquarter. "So, is that the right time for me to start or not? You only get one grand opening, so I've heard. We want it to be the right opportunity.
Kelley Earnhardt, co-owner of JR Motorsports and sister of Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that her schedule for now will be in February before the IndyCar season starts with a possibility of 13 races this year including California and Las Vegas.
Last week she jumped into a JRM stock car at Walt Disney World and commented about her first foray for the new team "I really enjoyed the car in Orlando. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed how the car responded to driver input."
Tony Eury, Jr. her crew chief and also a co-owner of the team, said the issue was of “lingo” with Danica using open wheel terminology like oversteer and understeer instead of loose and tight. She responded I was just rattling off my normal way of describing it. We ran through a bunch of things. I just want to be comfortable I want to focus on certain things.”
Tony Eury Sr. said he was impressed that she spent 4 and one-half hours in the car at Orlando, and that her speed was comparable to other drivers. “Our intention is to win the ARCA race in Daytona.” And he added a good run might open the door for her to move up her NASCAR debut to the Nationwide race in Daytona one week before her announced plans.
Still she’s in no hurry for the transition from IndyCars to the twice as heavy stock cars.
“I don’t think there’s any way to know how much time it will take.”
Patrick acknowledged her main focus is to win the Indy 500, she will only race in stock cars when there is no conflict.
"I still love IndyCar, and I still want to win the Indy 500 — I really want to," she said. "I had a feeling years ago that I'm going to win this race, and I still think I will."
photo:GoDaddy.com
Patrick acknowledged that the Nationwide race at Daytona would be a high-pressure and high stakes gamble for her NASCAR debut.
"The race is basically a Cup race, some 30 odd drivers in Cup run in it," she said at a press conference at her JR Motorsports headquarter. "So, is that the right time for me to start or not? You only get one grand opening, so I've heard. We want it to be the right opportunity.
Kelley Earnhardt, co-owner of JR Motorsports and sister of Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced that her schedule for now will be in February before the IndyCar season starts with a possibility of 13 races this year including California and Las Vegas.
Last week she jumped into a JRM stock car at Walt Disney World and commented about her first foray for the new team "I really enjoyed the car in Orlando. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed how the car responded to driver input."
Tony Eury, Jr. her crew chief and also a co-owner of the team, said the issue was of “lingo” with Danica using open wheel terminology like oversteer and understeer instead of loose and tight. She responded I was just rattling off my normal way of describing it. We ran through a bunch of things. I just want to be comfortable I want to focus on certain things.”
Tony Eury Sr. said he was impressed that she spent 4 and one-half hours in the car at Orlando, and that her speed was comparable to other drivers. “Our intention is to win the ARCA race in Daytona.” And he added a good run might open the door for her to move up her NASCAR debut to the Nationwide race in Daytona one week before her announced plans.
Still she’s in no hurry for the transition from IndyCars to the twice as heavy stock cars.
“I don’t think there’s any way to know how much time it will take.”
Patrick acknowledged her main focus is to win the Indy 500, she will only race in stock cars when there is no conflict.
"I still love IndyCar, and I still want to win the Indy 500 — I really want to," she said. "I had a feeling years ago that I'm going to win this race, and I still think I will."
photo:GoDaddy.com