It’s official: Danica Patrick will be driving full-time in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series in 2012, with a few forays into Sprint Cup.
“We can finally put the rumors to rest—I am going full-time NASCAR with Go Daddy next year,” Danica announced at a press conference at sponsor Go Daddy.com’s Scottsdale headquarters.
“I am going to race a full Nationwide schedule and limited Sprint Cup schedule in my GoDaddy.com Chevrolet next season.”
Danica will drive for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team JR Motorsports in Nationwide, and with friend Tony Stewart’s Stewart-Hass Racing in Cup.
The announcement only confirms what has widely believed for over a year, and confirmed by leaks last week: The fastest GoDaddy Girl is leaving IndyCar and moving to the much more lucrative NASCAR arena.
Patrick has complained frequently that she didn’t like road courses, and vastly preferred oval tracks. Her results in Nationwide so far outshine her achievements in IndyCar.
It seems the 29-year-old Wisconsin native is making the right move at the right time. She plainly enjoys racing in NASCAR more than IndyCar, and with the new generation of IndyCars coming along, she would have to learn to drive a new car anyway.
“We can finally put the rumors to rest—I am going full-time NASCAR with Go Daddy next year,” Danica announced at a press conference at sponsor Go Daddy.com’s Scottsdale headquarters.
“I am going to race a full Nationwide schedule and limited Sprint Cup schedule in my GoDaddy.com Chevrolet next season.”
Danica will drive for Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s team JR Motorsports in Nationwide, and with friend Tony Stewart’s Stewart-Hass Racing in Cup.
The announcement only confirms what has widely believed for over a year, and confirmed by leaks last week: The fastest GoDaddy Girl is leaving IndyCar and moving to the much more lucrative NASCAR arena.
Patrick has complained frequently that she didn’t like road courses, and vastly preferred oval tracks. Her results in Nationwide so far outshine her achievements in IndyCar.
It seems the 29-year-old Wisconsin native is making the right move at the right time. She plainly enjoys racing in NASCAR more than IndyCar, and with the new generation of IndyCars coming along, she would have to learn to drive a new car anyway.
Patrick opted not to exercise her option to drive for one more year with IndyCar’s Andretti Autosport. She won her first race, and the first IndyCar race won by a woman, in the 7 Go Daddy Andretti Autsport Dallara at Motegi, Japan in 2008.
Patrick finished sixth overall that year, fifth the next year, and tenth in 2010. She is twelfth in the IndyCar standing now.
Despite the downward spiral, Patrick said in a press release she was appreciative of what AA provided:
“While I’m excited for what lies ahead in the coming year and beyond, I also have to thank Andretti Autosport for the opportunities they’ve given me over the past several seasons.
“I’ve grown a lot as a driver with Andretti Autosport and I’m thankful I was able to be a part of the organization.”
Patrick finished sixth overall that year, fifth the next year, and tenth in 2010. She is twelfth in the IndyCar standing now.
Despite the downward spiral, Patrick said in a press release she was appreciative of what AA provided:
“While I’m excited for what lies ahead in the coming year and beyond, I also have to thank Andretti Autosport for the opportunities they’ve given me over the past several seasons.
“I’ve grown a lot as a driver with Andretti Autosport and I’m thankful I was able to be a part of the organization.”
