Contrary to earlier reports, it seems Honda will not now give IndyCar's first lady Danica Patrick a try-out in one of its RA108 Formula 1 cars following the end of the 2008 world championship campaign.
Because she sucks. Sorry, I have no problem with more women in motorsport. But signing on a woman just for the sake of having one is dumb.
Posted by Matt - Unregistered (61 days ago)
2 people agree.3 people disagree.
yea..you would think they would falling over themselves to gain some interest in their cars...always laugh at a radio advert I hear...."technology inspired by Hondas V-tec F1 engine" yea cause that will make me get down the Honda showroom....
you're definitely right about Danica being eye candy but she'll never cut it on the F1 grid
Posted by sennaforever (61 days ago)
Last Edited 61 days ago
6 people agree.2 people disagree.
agree w/matt. she hasn't done anything to deserve that seat. honda should focus on making a better car than pr buzz.
Posted by windo - Unregistered (61 days ago)
8 people agree.3 people disagree.
If she wants a move across the pond she should ditch the big bucks to go to europe and race in lower formulas classes, then we will see if she is cut for F1.
Posted by AMG - Unregistered (61 days ago)
7 people agree.1 people disagree.
If she was "dead set" on a move into F1, surely GP2 would have been a better proving ground than the IRL....
Be good to see her in F1 if she can cut it, she's certainly better looking than Honda's current line up! :P
Posted by the big ginge - Unregistered (61 days ago)
3 people agree.1 people disagree.
AMG - check out Danica's bio. She's already spent time in Europe racing in the lower series.
Posted by Max - Unregistered (61 days ago)
3 people agree.1 people disagree.
I doubt that after those years spend living the easy life in IRL at topteams she'll be quick enough, if she ever was quick enough in the first place that is.
Let's face it, if you're in IRL at Penske AGR or in the past RLR, you just have to keep up a little with the front and make sure you don't lose a lap. You can be significantly slower than the leaders and still win by "strategy" (ie - luck).
I love to watch the Indy 500 or Danica in general, but as far as racing goes, the last decades have shown over and over that even the very best in IRL often don't have what it takes in F1 (Save 1 Pablo, and he was winning in F3000 before his US succes).
Posted by JJ - Unregistered (61 days ago)
3 people agree.1 people disagree.
Wud be interesting to see her in F1, but there are more deserving drivers in IRL to have the opportunity. Remember Justin Wilson struggled in F1 and is generally much faster than Danica round road/street courses. There are no ovals in F1.
Max - I meant something like GP2 or Renault WS, not Formula Ford or Formula Vauxhaul. I meant she must prove herself in a feeder series.
Posted by AMG - Unregistered (61 days ago)
3 people agree.9 people disagree.
FreQ wrote: "Wud be interesting to see her in F1, but there are more deserving drivers in IRL to have the opportunity. Remember Justin Wilson struggled in F1 "
You mean the Justin Wilson who qualified behind Milka Duno at the final race of the season ?
Wilson finished 11th in points this season while Danica finished 6th.
Danica makes Justin Wilson look like a hack !
Wilson deserves a seat in F1 ? Get real ! He has already proven himself to be a flunky.
Posted by redteam - Unregistered (61 days ago)
1 people agree.1 people disagree.
Totally Off topic - but this actually gives indication how things are in Honda F1 team All that Nick Wants in Money from his Japanese backers. But essentially the team is Brit, run by the Brits and Run for the Brits.
A Test wouldn't have hurt anyone, James Rossitier and Conway got tests at honda didn't they. Honda even got Rossiter race seat in ALMS in Honda/Acura powered car. It comes to honor word given to Danica they Flip-Flop. Its high time the Tokyo based bosses of the team, review the situation and take approach like Carlos Ghosn of Renault. a) Find sponsors b) Show performance, We will fund based on performance.
Well lets just see if she gets a run out in A1GP and then we can see if she can manage a real circuit any more (her IRL results at proper circuits would suggest not!).
As for making JW look like a hack... 4 years to win a race and JW does it in his first season... must say something ?
Posted by Al - Unregistered (60 days ago)
3 people agree.
I don't think Danica Patrick is good enough for F1, but she definately does not 'suck' as some people are saying. She is a match for many of the IRL drivers, but we've seen how well the top US open wheel drivers do in other series, and it usually isn't pretty.
Posted by otta****** - Unregistered (60 days ago)
1 people agree.2 people disagree.
Al wrote: "As for making JW look like a hack... 4 years to win a race and JW does it in his first season... must say something ?"
Yeah it says you don't know much about Wilson's background.
Wilson started driving in a major open wheel series in 2003 when he drove for Minardi and then Jaguar. He then spen the next 4 years driving in CCWS before entering ICS. Danica entered a Major Open Wheel Series in 2005.
The fact of the matter is Wilson was in his 6th year of racing while Danica was in her 4th.
Posted by redteam - Unregistered (60 days ago)
1 people agree.1 people disagree.
with all this talk about wilson, whatever happened to those who were encouraged, several years ago, to take shares in justins career, by brundle (i think). are these still active? did ayone make money? did anyone lose money? can anyone enlighten me?
Good grief redteam, shouldn't you be on indycar's website giving them wonderful reasons for why that Danica isn't getting a shot in a Honda F1 car? You did so well with the reason for her not doing the AMLs.
On the Justin vs Danica arguement:
Justin has 5 wins in the past 4 years and has finished the season 2nd (twice) and 3rd (once) in the ChampCar championship. He was the highest ranked driver with no oval experience in Indycar this year. Also he managed a 8th place finish at the US GP with Jaguar in 03.
Danica has a win in the past 4 years, her highest rank finsh in the championship is 6th (this year).
So I'm afraid Justin edges her out...
Posted by Jeff Arch - Unregistered (60 days ago)
1 people agree.1 people disagree.
As a die-hard IRL fan I'd say Danica was an OK race car driver, better on ovals than road courses which I think suggests that the AGR's engineering is doing a bit more for her results than she is (general wisdom is that although its tricky to win on an oval, its not too difficult to be top-ten in a well-engneered car). Question for F1 teams is, would what she brought to F1 (MASSIVE increase in exposure worldwide) be worth having a so-so driver in one of their cars? Honda clearly think not.
Posted by piercarlogassolini - Unregistered (60 days ago)
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