Rick Dupuis Photography wrote:
I have said it before and I'll say it again, the two drivers who qualified 1-2 should not have to race in the duels. Those races are to set the field and in this case Patrick and Gordon are in so why should they risk their good cars? And since the top 35 rule doesn't exist this year, there are a lot of big-name drivers who need to finish well to get in. A ghood wreck in either duel could mean guys like Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth don't get in. So there will be some desperation. There will be wrecks and it wouldn't be fair if the only two who are set have to go to back up cars because of the duels. But everyone knows the rules I guess. If I were either of those two, as soon as the green flag dropped in the duel, I'd get down on the apron and let them all go and have at it.

I'm glad she got her pole out of the way early. Good for her.

I predict she will punch someone this year and I am betting it will be Kyle Busch.

Is there one driver out there that doesn't want to punch him?

Naughty Ties wrote:
Winning the pole is one thing, winning the race is another. I hope she does well and makes at least a top 5 finish or she's going to go the way of Anna Kornikova...a pretty face with limited talent. I hope Danica proves me wrong.

Anna Kournikova is another that I have photographed many times.  You are right about Anna never pulling the big singles win BUT have you ever looked up her Doubles Record?  She was fantastic.  She left the game too soon because of health problems.  She has done a lot of charity work and is very sweet.  I have photos of her on my website from charity tennis matches I was hired to photograph.  It sucks she never won the big one.

Danica on the other hand, not sweet at all, even though she was always courteous to me.  I have seen her totally blow up in the pits of Indy Car.  It would be huge for NASCAR if she can pull off a win or top 5 finish even.  She had a lot of top 10 and top 5 finishes in Indy Car.  She is a conservative racer that has been able to frequently avoid trouble on the track.  Since she has the pole it will be interesting to see what happens.

DGCasey wrote:
She hasn't really done anything yet.  Being the fastest on the track when you're all by yourself, on a track where you never lift your right foot off the floor, it comes down to the car and how well it was set up.  Now she really will accomplish something if she can be the fastest after two hundred laps with 42 nutjobs chasing her.

Not done anything? Really? she went out 8th. Every good driver and good team went out after her. Not one was faster. Not Jeff Gordon, or Tony Stewart or Jimmie Johnson. If it was no big deal, one of them would have done it.

Tim Little Photography wrote:
All in all Danica has a lot to be proud of. She lead a lap or two at the Indy 500. She won the Indy Car race in Japan. Her transition to NASCAR has been ugly but I think the new car is going to be a good fit for her. I'm hopeful she has a great season.

It's been ugly because everyone in charge of this transition keeps telling her to ride around and get laps.
I think she has the temperament and the skills to do well in Cup. But they need to let her race. Mistakes will be made. There's no one out there who hasn't made a dumb move at some point and she is tough enough to take the heat when she does. She won't learn anything by driving around at the back of the field with the start and park guys. She needs to race with Johnson and Gordon and Busch. Let her race the car and see what happens.

Rick Dupuis Photography wrote:

It's been ugly because everyone in charge of this transition keeps telling her to ride around and get laps.
I think she has the temperament and the skills to do well in Cup. But they need to let her race. Mistakes will be made. There's no one out there who hasn't made a dumb move at some point and she is tough enough to take the heat when she does. She won't learn anything by driving around at the back of the field with the start and park guys. She needs to race with Johnson and Gordon and Busch. Let her race the car and see what happens.

Well said.

Rick Dupuis Photography wrote:

Not done anything? Really? she went out 8th. Every good driver and good team went out after her. Not one was faster. Not Jeff Gordon, or Tony Stewart or Jimmie Johnson. If it was no big deal, one of them would have done it.

Winning the pole isn't as impressive as her win at Indy Japan.

Frank Lewis Photography wrote:
Danica Patrick drove a good race today. She stayed in the top ten for most of the race and led some laps. A real good showing for a rookie driver. I believe she will have a win this season.

Yes, she did!  She came in 8th place!  Not bad, although she was in 3rd on the last lap.  So 4 of those good old boys must have caught her off guard when the wreck happened behind them.  No yellow flag, you just keep going until you cross the finish line on the last lap in NASCAR unlike INDY car where you finish in the position you are in at the time.  I think that Danica is only going to get better from here.

OwenImages wrote:
From 3rd to 8th in half a lap!  Geeeeez!

That was disappointing, but it's a tough call on when, or if, to make the move into the low groove.

OwenImages wrote:
From 3rd to 8th in half a lap!  Geeeeez!

She actually did nothing wrong, Jr. should have been her dance partner but left her for his team.    Under the circumstances she did well, only losing a few spots under the circumstances wasn't bad at all.  Restrictor plate racing needs to be changed somehow to make it a driver competition not a team stragity game.

First race as a full time competitor in the series, three records set, not a bad days work for anyone!!!

RacerXPhoto wrote:
8th is about typical DP finish
Most over hyped over rated driver of all time

*snork* 8th as a "typical" finish would be a dream career for most any driver.

I'd say she did damned well - got schooled a bit on pit techniques - Did her time - didn't crash out stupidly.

Damned good job.

And I'm still quite sure, somebody's gonna get punched before the year is over.

Vintagevista wrote:

*snork* 8th as a "typical" finish would be a dream career for most any driver.

I'd say she did damned well - got schooled a bit on pit techniques - Did her time - didn't crash out stupidly.

Damned good job.

Clearly you are not a racer !!!\
Racers/champions dream of winning
Never satisfied with 8th

RacerXPhoto wrote:
Clearly you are not a racer !!!\
Racers/champions dream of winning
Never satisfied with 8th

I love to win, cannot stand losing.

That said.....gimme an Indy or NASCAR career where I averaged 8th spot over the course? I'll take it.

Now excuse me, I have to get back to the 4 woman in my Olympic size pool.

Small Fruit Pits wrote:

I love to win, cannot stand losing.

Thats my point I dont think any racer would be happy with a Career of
1 win
0 championships

Brooklyn Bridge Images wrote:

Thats my point I dont think any racer would be happy with a Career of
1 win
0 championships

These guys might

All Time Races run - but never had a win

Driver,          Races Run
1)  JD McDuffie, 653
2)  Buddy Arrington, 563
3)  Neil Castles, 501
4)  Jimmy Means, 455
5)  Cecil Gordon, 449
6)  Dave Blaney 431*
7)  G.C. Spencer, 416
8)  Frank Warren, 398
9)  Henley Gray, 374
10) Rick Mast, 364
11) Kenny Wallace, 344
12) Ed Negre, 337
13) Hut Stricklin, 328
14) Jabe Thomas 322
15) John Sears 318
16) Roy Tyner 311
17) Ted Musgrave 305
18) Dick Trickle 303
19) Bill Champion 289
20) Mike Skinner 286
21) Richard Childress 285

RacerXPhoto wrote:
8th is about typical DP finish
Most over hyped over rated driver of all time

Most drivers would love to finish 8th.