INDY CAR STARTS TONIGHT!!!!!!!!
That is all.
Am I the only one who gets annoyed when someone says (or insinuates) that Indy Car driver Danica Patrick doesn't deserve all the attention she gets?
Racing is entertainment. Entertainers -- both male and female --have always used every angle possible to promote their careers -- not only their talent, but also their looks and charm. Racers are no different.
And racing is incredibly expensive. The money a driver earns from prize winnings -- even a top-echelon driver -- barely makes a dent in what it costs to field a competitive car and crew.
A driver can't be successful without three things: (1) exceptional driving skill, (2) a competitive car, (3) a competitive crew.
All those logos on the car and racing suit represent the millions and millions in sponsor money required to pay for a competitive racing program.
How does a driver attract sponsors? By convincing prospective sponsors that he or she can draw attention to the sponsors' products. A driver does that in two ways: (1) by being competitive, and (2) by being popular with the fans.
So a driver not only has to have the talent, he or she also has to be a savvy businessperson.
Patrick has demonstrated a keen understanding of what it takes to succeed.
She has the skill. In her rookie season in Indy Car, she not only qualified for the Indy 500, she
led the race for 19 laps and finished 4th. Those are impressive accomplishments for any driver, regardless of gender.
She has been among the top third of drivers points-wise in every Indy Car season in which she has competed. Success in racing is not just about winning races, it's about consistently staying in the top echelon.
Patrick is ranked 7th out of 30 drivers so far this season. She is long past being a gender-based novelty. She is not just one of the top
women drivers, she is one of the top
drivers, period.
As a savvy businessperson, she has found ways to keep herself in the public eye and thus make herself an attractive property to market to sponsors.
She has done everything every other successful driver has done -- and has
had to do -- to find the resources to fund a successful racing career.
Banking on looks and charm is nothing new for professional athletes. Posing for beefcake/cheesecake shots is par for the course, so Patrick is no different from any other popular athlete in that respect.
It's all part of how a successful racer keeps his/her eyes on the prize.
