DANICA PATRICK's Unfair Advantage On Pit Road

Danica Patrick, for all the hype that she generates, despite her middle-of-the-road performance, has a serious advantage in NASCAR, and that's when she tries to start shit after a race.

During all the practices and events leading up the Daytona 500, Danica Patrick and Denny Hamlin had a few on-track incidents. But after the Duel where Denny tapped her out in a corner, wrecking her, well, she had something to say to Mr. Hamlin.

She charged right up through the crowd on pit road, and double fist grabbed Hamlin's firesuit and started yelling at him, inquiring as to why he wrecked her.

All the while, her boss Tony Stewart, was in the background muttering something about seeing the replay first.

TELL ME: How many other drivers do you whink would be allowed to charge through the crowd towards another driver? How many drivers would be allowed to grab someone's firesuit, fist clutching their material, and yell at them?

How many drivers would have shrugged their shoulders and with arms outstretched and palms up, trying to "talk their way" through this disagreement?  Well, now we can say at least one.

(I am not saying physical contact is the way to resolve arguments, but that's never really been the way in sports when tempers flare, particularly in NASCAR.)


But this incident showed an interesting example of what the industry of auto racing has to face... the fairer gender trying to be taken seriously, trying not to take crap from other drivers, all while having a mediocre NASCAR career.

I'm not looking to knock the fairer gender. I think anyone should and can have the opportunity to kick anyone's ass on the track. Regardless of gender, race, etc, etc...

But NASCAR had a tough call to make and that was to let this particular driver rush through the pit road post-race crowd and ALLOW her to grab another contender and yell at them.

Had that been Kevin Harvick or most any other driver, all crews and officials would have piled in between the two drivers. But not this time.

And Patrick knows she can get away it. I've seen her get in someone's face over in the IndyCar side of things.  There her target just shrugged her off and walked away while she tried to get in his face. She kept trying to get in his face, but I think he didn't want to deck her and kept walking.

And if any one driver decides to treat her like one of the other drivers and grab and shove her back, it's a lose-lose situation for them. The general TV and print-press audience will lambast the guy while long-time viewers and fans will get it. It is drivers airing it out.

But the damage with the general public will be perceived and that driver, his team and the sport will probably end up being lambasted.

I feel sorry for the first guy who dares shove back.  Meanwhile, Patrick will continue to attack with impunity until THAT day. But it's a crazy, hairline situation.

Is this the era of learning to talk it out in NASCAR?

Maybe... but probably not. If she were a driver with a good track record, things might even be taken more seriously. But at this time, I think she is only being tolerated.

But she brings attention and money to the sport, and that makes her one of the golden children of the sport.

I'd love to see her get better... much better on the track, but face it, I think she's on the Juan Pablo Montoya track, sans blowing up a track dryer.

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