Danica Patrick

By Tom Weir, USA TODAY
GLADEVILLE, Tenn. — For nine laps, Danica Patrick was eyeballing history as she led Saturday's Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Superspeedway.
Danica Patrick led for nine laps but finished seventh in the Firestone Indy 200.
By Billy Kingsley, The Tennessean

The Indy Racing League's two top performers this year were out of the race — points leader Dan Wheldon with mechanical problems, Tony Kanaan because of an out-of-control crash after his front-wheel suspension snapped.

"I thought, 'Maybe.' You always think 'maybe,' " Patrick said of heading the field for laps 123-131.

And with dark clouds gathering on the Tennessee horizon, another thought crossed her mind.

"I thought, 'You know what, it's a cheap way to win, but what if it rains?' "

But in the end there wasn't enough racing luck for Patrick to become the first woman to roll into victory lane in a major race and only the second true rookie since the IRL started in 1996 to win a race.

Patrick, the most obsessed-about rookie in auto racing history, finished seventh in her ninth race. She was 3.3646 seconds behind winner Dario Franchitti, who, as the husband of actress Ashley Judd, is familiar with being overshadowed by a woman.

Patrick left taking solace only in surviving on a night when just 13 in a field of 23 finished.

"So much of the battle in these races is just finishing," Patrick said. "Definitely, from my point of view, I need the experience. I need to finish the race. ... By taking big gambles I could put myself out of the race. All of a sudden I've only done half a race, and what have I learned?"

The learning curve is toughest on the 23-year-old when the curves come up fastest. The tight traffic on a one-mile track like Nashville Superspeedway isn't where Patrick is expected to get her breakthrough victory.

The race that catapulted Patrick into national prominence was her fourth-place finish at the May 29 Indianapolis 500, on a 2.5-mile oval.

Her best remaining opportunities to get a win in her 17-race rookie season are expected to be July 31 on Michigan International Speedway's 2-mile oval, Sept. 11 on Chicagoland Speedway's 1.5-mile track or Oct. 16 on the California Speedway's 2-mile layout.

But despite not yet winning, Patrick remains the personality attracting the most attention for IRL races.

IRL spokesman John Griffin said that since the barrage of "Danica Mania" hit full stride leading up to the Indianapolis 500, television viewership of IRL races is up 49% from last year.

The Firestone Indy 200 didn't sell out last year but had a capacity crowd of about 30,000 Saturday, even with the prospect of a rainout.

"We experienced more attention with the media than at any other event we've had here in five years," said Nashville Superspeedway general manager Cliff Hawks. "With this event, we've had a taste of true star power."

By Billy Kingsley, The Tennessean
Miss Popularity: Danica Patrick-related merchandise outsells all other IRL drivers combined, according to IRL spokesman John Griffin.

'Clean' pickings even as a rookie

Patrick's race day began with an announcement that the first lady of auto racing had a new teammate — Mr. Clean.

As endorsements go, Patrick's deal to pitch Mr. Clean windshield detergent and PEAK antifreeze won't rock Madison Avenue. But how often has a woman been signed to peddle auto maintenance products that are aimed mainly at the shopping carts of men?

It's one more sign that Patrick, despite her rookie racing status, has ever-burgeoning credibility with both genders.

The primary benefactor remains the IRL, where Patrick ranks 11th in the points standings and has a comfortable 50-point margin on Ryan Briscoe in the rookie standings.

Griffin said it would "probably be a fair statement" to say Patrick's merchandise sales top those of all other IRL drivers combined. As for how IRL tracks are headlining Patrick as a coming attraction, Griffin pointed to the Kentucky Speedway, where the IRL races Aug. 14.

A year ago, said Griffin, the track purchased space on two billboards. This year, he said, it's 15, "all Danica-themed."

Such is the draw of Patrick. Sales of her memorabilia on eBay have ranged from a broken wing from her Indy 500 car that brought $42,650 for charity to a discarded Dasani water bottle that fetched $15, even though there was no proof Patrick had drained that particular bottle.

The Rahal Letterman Racing team's merchandise truck ran out of Patrick items three times alone in May.

And at the Nashville race, IRL organizers limited her autograph line at a one-hour, pre-race promotion to 400 fans, to avoid the disappointment that has hit end-of-the-line fans at other races.

IRL officials say Patrick is the only racer for whom they have capped fan access.

Dealing with pressure head-on

Patrick said she gets a lot of "Go girl" comments at such sessions, and "I hear so many times that it's a people's first race, or second or third."

"That's a huge compliment," she said. "I guess I'm generating enough attention nationwide to make people say, 'What's this story that I keep hearing about?' That might make them at least interested in coming to see the sport."

But with that attention comes the pressure and expectations for Patrick to get that historic first IRL victory by a woman.

"I don't feel like I have to do anything," Patrick said. "I'm not going to work any faster than I can. I'm doing the best I can as a rookie."

Since the IRL started in 1996, only one true rookie has won a race: Tomas Scheckter, in 2002 at Michigan International Speedway. Drivers such as Arie Luyendyk, Buddy Lazier and Al Unser Jr. have won in their first IRL season, but all were veterans of other top-level circuits.

Until this season Patrick's highest level of competition was the Toyota Atlantic series, in 2003-04.

Brent Mauer, spokesman for Patrick's Rahal Letterman Racing team, says his research shows that the 12 drivers who have won IRL races needed an average of 33 starts to get their first victory.

Wheldon, this year's IRL Series leader, won in his 20th start. Last year's IRL rookie of the year, Kosuke Matsuura, is still looking for his first victory after 25 IRL starts.

But that history doesn't figure to lessen the pressure and expectations for Patrick to deliver a victory. Since the Indy 500, news reports of IRL races typically lead with where Patrick finished and relegate the winner to afterthought status.

"I've always been the kind of person that can handle pressure and sometimes works better in it," Patrick said. "If something needs to be done, it gets done, most of the time. ... I think attention is an energy-building thing, and I think it makes you focus."

Other IRL drivers have done a marvelous job of hiding any envy about Danica Mania, although Saturday winner Franchitti did mildly backhand the craze when asked to assess Patrick's latest performance.

"I think there's a lot of drivers out there tonight who did a better job," said the Scotland-born Franchitti, who lives near Nashville.

"Personally, I'm looking at Patrick Carpentier finishing third out there tonight in a car that hasn't been competitive. I think that's one of the stories of the night."

But the attention is certain to keep coming for Patrick. Her crossover appeal was made additionally clear by a recent story in Glamour.

Coming up: A photo shoot for Allure; the Midwest regional cover of TV Guide; a feature story in Elle; and a place in a Spike TV program devoted to irresistible women.

Saying "I am a girl," Patrick's only complaint about all the media attention is that the magazines have run racing-gear photos and she's still waiting for a high-fashion shoot.

And what does "I am a girl" mean?

"Not much," Patrick said. "I don't think anything. I think it describes me, but I don't think it defines me. I don't think it says what I can and can't do."

Nicely said, but winning her first is still what will verify that statement, and validate all the Danica Mania.