Posted on 02/17/2013 12:43:17 PM PST by Libloather
Danica Patrick backed up her fast practice speeds during NASCAR Sprint Cup Daytona 500 qualifying on Sunday, taking the pole position for the race.
Patrick was the eighth to go out in the session and knocked teammate and Stewart-Haas Racing team co-owner Tony Stewart out of the pole position. Patrick's qualifying lap of 196.434 mph eclipsed the 195.925 mph lap of Stewart.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.foxsports.com ...
The title alone is open to all sorts of comments...
Id give her pole position.
According to the fellas on Fox she’s the first female to sit on the pole.
The Pole is a good spot for her.
Good for Her
I love me some Danica. But I’d prefer Ana Ivanovic... I think they may have been separated at birth.
Are they limiting the cars to under 200 mph now?
I remember pole position runs around the 204-206 marks in the past.
I don’t keep up with it very well...but it seems that they are constantly coming up with new rules to slow down the cars. It makes it a bit safer, I suppose.
I believe Daytona is a restrictor plate track. sd
The Daytona 500 is one of the restrictor plate races.
C’mon folks ,you can do better.
Poll at ESPN says she won’t finish in the Top 20...LOL!
No doubt the first on the pole. Were guy’s throwing dollar bills as she crossed the checkered?
I find the lack of pictures disturbing.
Guess she isn’t lesbian, because you would think the NOW gang would be so happy for her, to accomplish such a great thing.
I agree, We are 17 posts into this thread and still no pictures?!?!
Nascar is way over regulated these days. Glorified spec racing with a ton of stupid rules. It’s very close to WWE.
They’ve reduced the plate opening reducing horsepower and the vehicles are redesigned with a smaller rear spoiler.
did they limit the engines so she has a chance to win?
Welcome to affirmative action racing
Thank you. lol

Here is a picture of the pole sitter.
They’ve reduced the plate opening reducing horsepower and the vehicles are redesigned with a smaller rear spoiler.
It’s hard to believe that the “SC” in NASCAR actually stood for “stock car” once long ago.
No wonder she has the pole. Really streamlined.
Very nice!!!
All three Stewart-Haas Racing cars are pretty fast.
Welcome to affirmative action racing
Wouldn't surprise me.
Why is she still allowed in NASCAR after she admitted to hitting other cars, trying to make them crash, on purpose??
because she’s a female I bet
Usually, I’m picky.
Now, all I can say is “pick me”...(Dream on, fat whiskered one!)
I know of a pole available for sitting 24/7 for her....
She did an interview last year about three quarters of the way through the season, and was asked to comment about meeting her gols for her first full time year. She commented “Well, I haven’t had a pole yet, that’s something we need to work on.” I laughed about that for two days. I really do wish her well, tho, she’s very talented and much better looking than Kyle Busch.
There is 500 miles between starting at the pole and being first to finish.
My bet is she will finish in the pack if at all..
Thank you!
Patrick has historically ran fast qualifying laps; it’s the side-by-side racing that (I believe) scares her. I can’t imagine what it’ll feel like for her out front, even for a lap or two. I’d look for her to relinquish that top position quickly, and drop back to 20 or so quickly.
I doubt racing scares her. I'd guess the physical load drains her. That sort of thing can slow reaction time appreciably.
You are wrong, sir. I have watched her side by side wheel in wheel at Homestead and was skeptical until I saw her doing 30 second laps with the rest of the guys. You can’t “rub” in Indy cars so she had some gettin’ used to with the fendered cars. Big change going from an 1800 pound missile to a 3500 pound brick. Although doing it at roughly the same speeds.
Have you ever been on the Daytona Track tour? We took it once....that is ONE REALLY HUGE BANK...it was scary to look at...can’t imagine driving it with a bunch of other cars...
She ran side-by-side at 220+ mph in open cockpit cars. Why would she be scared at under 200 mph in an enclosed racecar?
She has better form than Pres__ent Obama...
I dunno... because the closed cars are heavier? And in some cases driven by guys who will TRY to hit you?
And side-by-side running in IndyCar mostly happens on ovals, although in those cars there’s a lot more chance of going airborne if they lock wheels. She spent very little time running side-by-side with anyone in IndyCar on road courses, unless she was being lapped. I was actually a bit surprised that she had such a hard time with road courses given that they were all she ran on in her Toyota Atlantic days...
A first lap pile-up is more likely.
Is a restrictor plate akin to a chastity belt??
As the 43 cars start the race, closer to the front is where I would want to be. I think that within the first 10-15 laps, a wreck that takes out 10+ cars will happen. I don’t think she’ll win the race - but I hope she does well and finishes top 10. Her, and Dale Jr. - NASCAR needs these two to do well and be relevant this season.
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