Some say that Danica Patrick is the first female driver to have a legitimate shot at winning the Indianapolis 500, as she qualified fourth in the starting grid.
However, her chances have severely diminished when the Indy Racing League announced that all current and future female drivers must compete in races in minivans.
The IRL rookie is still determined to win the race.
"It's just another obstacle to overcome," Patrick said in an interview Friday. "But my mom drove a minivan to and from the store, and she did just fine."
Patrick, who drives for Indy legend Bobby Rahal, drove a Honda this year and will keep the tradition by driving the 2005 Honda Odyssey.
"It's not like the cars I drove this year, but it's still a Honda and I opted for the
DVD player just in case the race gets red flagged," Patrick said.
The Odyssey is a solid choice. It won Money Magazine's 2005 Minivan of the Year award and is among the best in fuel economy in its class.
"And we go through a lot of gas," she said. "That's good for the environment."
Her biggest handicap will be the speed. As Indy cars can reach speeds well over 200 mph, the Odyssey will struggle to drive much past 100 mph without it rolling over.
Rahal Racing is also appealing a new rule set forth by the IRL that all race tracks must be located near an Old Navy or a Bed Bath & Beyond.
"Then we run the risk of Danica driving off the track and going shopping for a while, putting us several laps behind the pace," Rahal said in a statement.
Patrick knew she would finish well because, as she put it, "cut back on applying make-up during the straightaways."
She added, "Most guys think we have to wear lipstick while we drive. The truth is we don't have to, but it helps. That's what pit stops are for. They're changing the tires and I'm making sure my mascara is distributed evenly. That's the definition of teamwork."
Auto racing has always been difficult for woman drivers, usually because they forget to use their blinker. However, African Americans have not been able to race well in circuits, not only because most major motor sports series don't allow beat up Cadillacs with broken side mirrors, but they also prohibit teams from installing extravagant sound systems.
The best news for Rahal Racing is that the IRL shot down a new proposal saying that all female drivers have to race in string bikinis while being lathered in car wash soap.
Article comments
1 - Me Flags
DDUUMMBB
2 - Robert
that's just toooooo funny, just fell off my seat
3 - Bennett
And racist, sexist, stupid, and juvinile.
Not to mention poor taste. If you had stopped after the first couple of paragraphs, okay. But the crap you went into is unecessary.
Not worthy of blogcritics. IMO.
4 - Temple Stark
Woah now. Satire here folks. Not only that it was written as satire, unlike some who have tried to pass off their thoughts as such.
Besides he said "the best news ... "
On the satire scale - a 7.
Racist?
5 - Bennett
Could just be me Temple.
I'm fine with the concept of the post. Kinda amusing actually.
But I find this type of comment:
"However, African Americans have not been able to race well in circuits, not only because most major motor sports series don't allow beat up Cadillacs with broken side mirrors, but they also prohibit teams from installing extravagant sound systems."
to be racism hiding behind the title of satire.
Again, it's probably just me.
6 - Temple Stark
Oh - actually I didn't read that part.
A little less funny. 5.5 on the Satire scale.
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Racism? That's pretty harsh.
8 - fangio
I've been a serious motorsports fan since 1961 and also race cars.
This is sexist, racist and ignorant..
9 - fangio
I've been a serious motorsports fan since 1961 and also race in GT-1
This is sexist, racist and ignorant..
10 - Duane
I haven't been a serious motorsports fan since 1961, and I have no idea what a GT-1 is. It started off sounding like something from The Onion. You, funny like. But I think that adding the African American part will get you accused of racism, and it's going to be hard for you to shirk that. If you wanted to go that route, you should have spread the negative stereotyping around a bit more. Like, say,
The IRL has reiterated their stance concerning their refusal to accept entries from rednecks, citing the dangers of decreased visibility associated with the presence of smoking pickup trucks with Confederate flags in the back window. An unnamed source close to the IRL has stated that the organization is also wary of the likelihood of increased road hazards arising from the redneck's habit of tossing empty Coors cans and chicken bones out the window while driving.
Etc.
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
Duane, you're right, and I could have gone either way.
12 - Bennett
Mr. Sussman,
Your orginal concept, that this first woman driver in the Indy 500 would be required to drive a minivan is questionable, but under the umbrella of Satire it could have worked. I'm not exactly sure how, but that's your business. To stereotype African Americans as you did is racist. Why stop there? Why not say that Jews can't enter because their noses won't fit into the crash helmets, or Irish people because of the DWI issues...
All this is just the opinions of a boy who grew up in Oakland with friends of all skin shades and ethnic backgrounds.
Cheers!
13 - Matthew T. Sussman
Without turning this into a threadjack as a debate about the legitimacy of stereotypes, I said what I said and I appreciate the feedback.
Having said that I should clarify that Danica Patrick is not the first female to race in the Indy 500. Janet Guthrie did it first in 1977, followed by Lyn St. James (9 times) and Sarah Fisher (5 times). I wish her the best of luck but I've heard that she is still a longshot despite having the best chance so far by a woman.
14 - Mark
Why stop there? Why not say that Jews can't enter because their noses won't fit into the crash helmets.
That's hilarious! You're all a bunch of weenie sissies. Stereotypes are great!
15 - SFC SKI
Maybe the "Satire" posts shold be posted in a different color, with flashing lights and sirens.
16 - HW Saxton
I thought this was really funny until
that whole bit about black folks with
beat up Caddies and oversized sound
systems. That was blatantly racist man.
I thought the mini van part WAS funny,
because I had to borrow my sister in
laws mini van the other day and I hated
driving that piece of shit,complete with
it's "My Kid Is An Honor Student" bumper
sticker. Maybe if ya woulda skewered all
races. Then maybe it might of worked.
If you didn't know you were playing into
stereotypes you're not too bright and
if you knew you were and did it anyway
well,that's even stupider. And if you
can write something as reasonably funny
as that I fail to believe you did not
know what you were doing.It's a no win
situation for ya amigo and it just was
not funny. Like the finding of a worm
3/4 through the apple.
17 - Temple Stark
this was funny. please let those that do satire reasonably well continue. make your point but don't beat him over the head.
Bill Maher - just to choose the best example - says some pretty downright offensive things every now and then - but it is comedy and done for effect. if its all Andrew Dice Clay it gets real old real quick but this was funny.
18 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
hm, i gotta agree on the racism thing. that hit me upside the teeth, teeth already knocked in a tad with the sexist nature of it all. i think if you use stereotypes to make some kind of point, then fair play. if they're used for the purposes of a cheap laugh, well, i dunno that that counts much as "satire". wheres the "satire"? who knows?
19 - Matthew T. Sussman
Temple, thanks for the defense.
I wrote biting humor at a college newspaper for four years. Suffice to say, I got my share of hate mail and negative feedback, and I always take into consideration those that disagree with me, no matter the level of fervor.
I just disagree with 'em is all. :-)
And as a fair disclaimer, minority stereotypes are not a staple of my humor. Doesn't mean I won't do it.