Danica Patrick’s future
Danica Patrick, one of the rookies of this season, continues to draw the attention of many people. Her contract next season would give her a permit to start her second season in the nationwide series. However, the contract furthermore won’t allow her to take part in the IRL beyond the next season.
Danica’s team has no doubts in their attentions to maintain Danica as a full-time Sprint Cup Series driver by the year 2012. After this season, the Sprint Cup and the IRL will be the only events in her schedule.
This year’s schedule for the Sprint Cup was somewhat manageable for the rookie driver. If it remains the same as it did this season, it will give Danica opportunities to race more than once in a few days time.
Considering the above factor in mind it seems very difficult if the schedule for next season is hectic as Danica is still new and in her first season. Hence the news of some changes in how the Sprint Cup would be run adds up to her disadvantage next year.
There have also been speculations about the number of races a full time Sprint Cup driver can race in. These changes are been speculated without any relation to Danica though. Yet it raises some important questions regarding the future of the rookie driver.
Everybody is awaiting the changes that are going to take place. There are a few important questions that still need answers. These questions will only be answered when the final word is heard from the authorities.
Everybody is curious to learn whether if the regular nationwide series drivers won’t be allowed to race in the Sprint Cup; will the Sprint Cup regular’s be allowed to take part in the nationwide series?
The rookie driver has taken part in the events this season to gain experience and learn about the tracks. The same should be expected from her next season as she is relatively new to this business. Although, it is very unusual to become a full time driver before having several Sprint Cup races but Danica doesn’t have much of a choice.
Danica’s current IRL events offer her a very tight schedule. This makes it even harder for her to enter a Sprint Cup event.
The current schedule if remains, will offer the rookie driver many opportunities to take apart in other different events on the same weekend.
It is however possible for the new driver to manage her schedule in such a way that she grabs every opportunity to race. She can chose to race in the Sprint Cup on Friday or Saturday and IRL on Saturday and vice versa. This puts up good opportunities ahead of the still learning rookie driver.
There are drivers who have tried to race in IRL and NASCAR events on the same weekend. This however has proven to be unsuccessful.
Danica classifies all these possibilities as opportunities. Danica is ready to take any of these opportunities as long as she is able to manage them without burdening herself.
The ideal choices for Danica on a double race duty that she should consider are Dayton, Charlotte and Michigan. The first being the best option for her. However, tracks like Bristol, Richmond and Darlington should not be considered for the double duty.
There will be a time in the rookie driver’s career when she takes part in race on shorter tracks. This short track racing career may start next year or the coming years. Furthermore she has to cope with this stress too. Dealing with them now however may result in her achieving success in the future.
All of this stress along with the decisions she has to make would have been easier if she was not a full time IRL driver. The future of this rookie driver will however be made sure once the authorities issue the notice of the new regulations.
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