Danica Patrick Hints At Possible Indy 500 Return

Danica Patrick has insisted that a race winning car is imperative if the female star is to make a return to the Indianapolis 500, a race where she made her name in IndyCar racing during her debut season back in 2005. The 30-year-old female driver left the IZOD IndyCar Series at the end of last season, to pursue a career in NASCAR.

Danica Patrick’s one and only IndyCar victory in 2008

Arguably one of the most famous female sport stars in America, Danica Patrick’s shining moment in motor sport came in 2008 when she became the first female driver to win an IndyCar race at the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi. Since making the full-time switch to NASCAR, Danica Patrick has been hinting at a possible return to the Indianapolis 500.

“The Indy 500 next year, I would love to do it,” enthused Danica Patrick. “I’ve said that all along; I love the track, I love the race. I feel like it was always one of my strongest races of the year in IndyCar, so I feel like that’s something I would like to do, and maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t. But I can tell you the only way it’s going to happen is if it’s with someone I really feel I can have a shot to go out there and win.”

Danica Patrick enjoyed a highly successful IndyCar record at the brickyard, finishing within the top ten in all but one of her seven Indy 500 appearances. She also led the race on several occasions, most notably in 2005 during her debut season with the Rahal Letterman team. Danica Patrick would therefore only return if she had the opportunity to equal or even better her previous results at the legendary race, which is the crown-jewel of the IZOD IndyCar Series.

“It’s unfair to the history I’ve had and to my memory to do anything less than that,” continued Danica Patrick, explaining her desire to battle for victory. “I wouldn’t want to wreck anything I’ve experienced here with something to take away from that. So if we do it, it’ll be with a shot to be able to win. On top of that, there’s a whole lot of logistical issues to iron out. But first and foremost, a good car.”

Danica Patrick failed to make a return to the Indy 500 this season, due to commitments with the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the NASCAR calendar for both tiers of the sport consisting of over 30 rounds, Danica Patrick will be lucky to one day fit in the Indianapolis 500 around her exceedingly busy NASCAR schedule. She currently sits 9th in the Nationwide Series, with 443 points scored.

Picture(s) Copyright © Getty Images for NASCAR & AP Photo

Female F1 Drivers’ Within A Decade Says Christian Horner

Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, is confident that female drivers’ will enter Formula 1 within a decade. With other forms of motor sport, most notably America’s IndyCar, fielding a strong female contingent it’s naturally only a matter of time before F1 sees its first female driver since Italy’s Giovanna Amati in 1992.

In America, the IndyCar and the now defunct ChampCar World Series Championship played host to many female drivers’. Ranging from previous race winner Danica Patrick to the likes of Milka Duno, female drivers’ have become the norm in American motor sport. 

However, in Formula 1 female drivers’ have remained a rarity. Only five females have raced in F1, and only one of them scored any points in Lella Lombardi who finished 6th in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix for March-Ford. With statistics such as this, it’s hard to imagine how successful female drivers’ have become in America in comparison to the worlds highest tier of motor sport.

With Danica Patrick now competing in the Nascar Nationwide Series, IndyCar still has two females set to race in the coming 2012 season in British driver Katherine Legge and Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro. 

With up and coming female drivers’ in the UK such as Alice Powell, who became the Formula Renault BARC Champion last year, climbing their way up the motor sport ladder, Christian Horner is right in believing female drivers’ will soon be racing in Formula 1 once again.

For the first time ever, the GP3 Series will have a female driver contesting the season in 2012. Italian driver Vicky Piria is set to race for Trident Racing, and is one of many female drivers’ aiming for success European motor sport.

As Christian Horner rightfully said in an interview with MSN Sport, the sport cannot remain the preserve of men for much longer. Whether females will be as successful as the likes of Danica Patrick in IndyCar when they finally break into Formula 1, time will tell.

Picture Copyright © LAT Photographic  

Dixon Holds Off Power To Win Final Japanese Indy

2003 & 2008 IndyCar World Series Champion, Scott Dixon, has held off Aussie Will Power in the final ever Japanese Indy to be held. The race was initially supposed to be held on the Twin Ring Motegi Oval, however had to take place on the street circuit that runs adjacent to the oval as it was damaged during the Earthquake earlier in the year.

The race started under controversial circumstances when the majority of the field failed to get side-by-side for the green flag, however the race was started and into Turn 1 Brazilian Penske driver, Helio Castroneves lost out as he had to take evading action and spun into the deep gravel trap. Unfortunately the track was very difficult to pass on, but that didn’t stop Ryan Briscoe who literally barged his way past rookie Charlie Kimball on Lap 7, and the two nearly came together as Kimball had to give way after an immense start getting to as high a 4th place on the opening lap!

As the laps came and went, the fight at the front between Dixon and Power ebbed and flowed as the rest of the field fought between themselves until eventually on Lap 20 rookie driver Joao Paulo De Oliveira in his first ever IndyCar race took out local hero Takuma Sato. The fans were understandably furious and a few laps later De Oliveira eventually retired due to fuel pump issues, which in turn brought out the first caution of the race. Luckily for the majority of the field, they had pitted before the caution was called, this included leaders of the race Dixon and Power. Dixon was just able to get out of the pits ahead of Power, as the two nearly came to blows whilst exiting the pit lane.

On Lap 25 the caution was brought to an end when the green flag came out and straight away another caution was needed as Franchitti got all heated heading into Turn 1 and touched Ryan Briscoe who in turn touched Graham Rahal who spun, forcing Charlie Kimball to take avoiding action through the gravel trap. Surprisingly team owner, Chip Ganassi, was openly furious with Franchitti who had practically taken out three Ganassi owned cars (Franchitti, Rahal and Kimball) however all cars were undamaged and able to continue. This did force, however, Franchitti, Briscoe and Rahal to all pit for checkups, and even forced Franchitti to change his front wing, loosing him valuable ground on the track. Eventually, IZOD IndyCar officials saw it right to penalize Franchitti for causing an avoidable incident and forced him to be moved to the back of the pack, which is where he was anyway. This move by the officials sparked controversy in pit road as it was believed as he was already at the back of the pack and this sort of penalty wasn’t actually a valid penalty, however on Lap 29 the green flag flew as the drivers got back up to racing speeds without any more news about Franchitti.

On Lap 43 the second round of pits stops started to begin, when Oriol Servia, James Jakes and Dario Franchitti all pitted at once, and Jakes lost out immensely when his pit stop was very slow and he rejoined the track behind Franchitti and in 23rd place after coming into the pits from 4th! A lap later Will Power pitted for the option red tyres and a lap later leader Dixon pitted for the option reds also, and rejoined just in front of Power.

For the next few laps a train of cars started to emerge in the middle of the pack, and it all came to a head when, on Lap 58, ChampCar Super Star Sebastien Bourdais collided with Ryan Hunter-Reay, and unfortunately Hunter-Reay beached the car in the gravel forcing a 3rd Full Course Caution. Amazingly Bourdais escaped receiving a penalty, which goes to show the inconsistency of IndyCar officials as Franchitti pulled off the same maneuver and got penalized! Luckily for Hunter-Reay he was restarted by officials and was able to trundle back to the pits for an inspection by the team before rejoining at the back of the field.

With 4 Laps to go it all looked like we were ready to go green, that was until the cars failed to get side-by-side for the restart, and some cars even got 3 abreast heading into Turn 1. This caused the officials to wave them through for 1 more lap under caution. The next time round was a different story as the majority of the field were able to get side-by-side and the green flag flew, and the carnage ensued as the cars piled into Turn 1 when both Lotus cars of Takuma Sato and EJ Viso came together and Ryan Briscoe ran wide onto the gravel and then into Turn 3 Vitor Meira beached his A.J. Foyt Enterprises car in the gravel.

However all this was luckily kept under local cautions and Scott Dixon was able to come home unhindered in the closing laps to take his 27th career victory with now-World Championship leader Will Power coming home 2nd and Marco Andretti coming home 3rd. Dario Franchitti was able to savor 9th after his shenanigans earlier in the race.

This now poses us with an enticing spectacle with only two races to go and them all being raced on Ovals! Dario Franchitti has so far been the king of the ovals, and he needs to be to be able to beat the unstoppable Will Power!

Will Power Dominates Inaugural Baltimore Indy!

Will Power secured his 6th IndyCar win this season today after dominating the inaugural Baltimore Indy Grand Prix. He came home a whole ten seconds ahead of Oriol Servia and Tony Kanaan who finished a stunning 3rd from 27th on the grid after his huge shunt in the morning warm-up session.

At the drop of the green flag, Power came under instant pressure from 2nd place man Graham Rahal who took the lead heading down into Turn 1. Then down into Turn 3 Power re-passed Rahal and shot off into the lead.

The first retirement wasn’t until Lap 10 when Frenchman Sebastien Bourdais pitted after reporting being stuck in 3rd gear. This pit stop then lead to a retirement.

Behind the leaders Mike Conway had started a long trail of faster cars behind him, and it wasn’t long before the faster cars found their way past the Englishman. First it was Chip Ganassi driver Scott Dixon, then the Swiss Miss Simona De Silvestro found her way past along with James Jakes and Vitor Meira shortly after.

It was Lap 12 when the first proper pit stops started when Scott Dixon and Tony Kanaan both pitted. This then started the midfield off with lots of pit stops and passing going on within the next 9 laps. Danica Patrick looked to be struggling after being passed by Takuma Sato down into Turn 3, and 3 Laps later getting passed by Kanaan into Turn 1 also.

On Lap 20 Will Power had started to catch up on the back markers thus allowing Rahal to catch right up on to the rear of him. Then on Lap 21 both Rahal and Power pitted relinquishing the lead to championship leader Dario Franchitti, who pitted a lap later handing down the lead to Ryan Briscoe. It was at this moment that Will Power missed the kink after Turn 12 which is rather reminiscent of Turns 10 and 11 at the Singapore Grand Prix. It was an easy mistake to do, but one that could prove costly if he gains any time. On Lap 24 the last of the top drivers pitted as in Ryan Hunter-Reay who handed the lead back to Will Power.

On Lap 29 the whole reason for Mike Conway’s slow pace is revealed as the car was apparently bottoming out so much so that heat was being unable to be worked into the tyres, therefore making the car handle badly. Whilst at the front it was discovered that Will Power gained roughly 3 seconds on the lap when he cut the kink and he is therefore ordered by IndyCar officials to slow down by 3 seconds, allowing Graham Rahal to close right up again. The exciting prospect of seeing Power and Rahal racing neck and neck is thwarted on Lap 32 by the first Full Caution of the race caused when Tomas Scheckter went straight on at Turn 9. He didn’t make any contact with the barrier although with the car stalled, the field have to line up behind the Safety Car. Unfortunately for Scott Dixon he passed Simona De Silvestro under yellow flags and had to relinquish the position back to her or risk receiving a penalty. During this caution Kanaan and Castroneves (both starting at the back) took the opportunity to pit, hoping the gamble to pay off.

Then on Lap 38 the Safety Car pulled in and the green flag fell as the cars got back to racing speeds, only for Briscoe to make light contact with Hunter-Reay heading into Turn 3. Light contact it might’ve been, but Hunter-Reay is spun right round, and due to the narrow nature of the circuit, caused a major pile-up as 12 cars all ground to a halt as the track was blocked! Scott Dixon limped back to the pits with both rear tyres deflated due to contact and Hinchcliffe followed suit with what looked like rear suspension troubles. And if that wasn’t enough mayhem for a couple of laps, Marco Andretti limped back to the pits with an oil leak and spilt oil all over the track in the run down to the pit entrance and the pit lane itself. Taking advantage of this 2nd caution, and taking extra caution whilst entering the pits, 9 drivers pitted including Oriol Servia and Danica Patrick. Just before the green flag is unfurled after this lengthy caution, IndyCar officials penalized Ryan Briscoe for causing the whole Turn 3 shenanigans, who served the penalty just after the restart and heading down into Turn 1 on the restart Rahal cut right across the front of championship leader Dario Franchitti and made minor contact making Franchitti fight for control.

Will Power now had to make up a lot of ground before he pitted for his 2nd and final scheduled pit stop or he would get leap frogged by the Spaniard of Oriol Servia, who pitted during the caution and is hoping to reap the rewards for the gamble he took and steal the win from under Power’s nose. But eight superb qualifying-style laps secured Power enough time to pit and rejoin the track in the lead, unlike Rahal, Franchitti and De Silvestro who all rejoined behind Servia and Kanaan who reaped at least some reward for pitting early.

After pitting and keeping the lead, Power now pulled out a stunning 10 second gap to Servia! And although Sato and Viso both lost it on the last lap no more cautions came out and Will Power romped home with an impressive and dominating display of driving!

Next up is the Japanese Indy at the Twin Ring Motegi which this year will take place on the circuit unlike the previous years which have all taken place on the oval.

Official Classification:

1. (1) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

2. (14) Oriol Servia, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

3. (27) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

4. (4) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

5. (9) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

6. (23) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

7. (19) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

8. (6) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

9. (12) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

10. (2) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

11. (18) Martin Plowman, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

12. (10) Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

13. (24) Sebastian Saavedra, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

14. (3) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

15. (8) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

16. (20) Ana Beatriz, Dallara-Honda, 75, Running

17. (28) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 74, Running

18. (26) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 73, Running

19. (17) JR Hildebrand, Dallara-Honda, 73, Contact

20. (25) Ed Carpenter, Dallara-Honda, 73, Running

21. (16) Charlie Kimball, Dallara-Honda, 73, Running

22. (22) Tomas Scheckter, Dallara-Honda, 71, Running

23. (7) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 64, Mechanical

24. (15) James Hinchcliffe, Dallara-Honda, 54, Handling

25. (21) Marco Andretti Dallara-Honda, 40, Mechanical

26. (13) Giorgio Pantano, Dallara-Honda, 39, Contact

27. (11) James Jakes, Dallara-Honda, 37, Contact

28. (5) Sebastien Bourdais, Dallara-Honda, 9, Electrical

 

Kanaan Has Lucky Escape

Tony Kanaan was a lucky driver this morning during the Warm-Up Session for todays Baltimore IndyCar Race after his car flew over the top of Helio Castroneves on the run down to Turn 1.

The Brazilian driver, racing in his 124th race, “lost” his brakes heading into Turn 1 as the car was following Helio Castroneves in his Penske. The car then made contact with Castroneves’s rear right wheel and literally flew over the side-pod of his car before then touching the wall and burying the car in the tyre barriers in the run off area. In sporting fashion Castroneves jumped out of his stricken Penske and ran over to make sure Kanaan was ok.

Both drivers were uninjured but were pretty shaken up after such a large incident in only the morning warm-up session. Fingers crossed we don’t see anymore of these type of accidents during the race.

Tony Kanaan was heard afterwards saying he was “lucky that Helio was there; he saved my life. I lost my brakes and was heading straight to the wall!” Both cars are promised to be fixed and ready for this race, the first around the streets of Baltimore. The race will run a distance of 75 laps/153.000 miles and Australia’s Will Power has won Pole-Position for the race with American Graham Rahal 2nd and Ryan Briscoe 3rd. It was a women dominated warm-up session in the end with Swiss Miss Simona de Silvestro and Danica Patrick taking the top two places respectively, although how will the race shape up?

Find out at 19:30 B.S.T on Sky Sports 4 and 14:00 E.T on Versus.