Future of Female Race Car Driving.

[therealisticlady]

As you know Danica Patrick was not the first female race car driver to compete in the Indy 500 but the youngest.

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) -- In the gritty, testosterone-fueled world of car racing it's all Danica, all the time.

At 23 Danica Patrick is not only the sole woman racing in Sunday's Indianapolis 500, she's the second-youngest driver on the circuit.

Oh, and another thing: She's fast.

Only the fourth woman to race in the big event in its 89-year history, Patrick outran every male driver in Friday's final practice at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

"If she wins, it could mean so much" to the Indy Racing League, said Tony Kanaan, the polewinner and reigning league champion. "That's a lot of weight for a little girl to carry on her back."

It seems, so far, that the 5-foot-2, 100-pound "girl" in question is up to the task. She possesses a tremendous amount of grit, determination and focus, often firing steely glances at the phalanx of reporters and fans that follows her everywhere she goes.

Each time she pulled into the pits during rookie orientation, fans cheered -- an honor few rookies have received. The former high-school cheerleader helped seal her popularity with bikini-clad photos in a men's magazine and a foray into broadcasting.

Even Patrick seems a little stunned by the level of attention.

"I was told that if I did well, this kind of thing would happen," Patrick said Friday. "But (my picture on) the top fold of the USA Today -- twice? I never expected that."

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I think this is really interesting as a woman. I am glad that she placed at least 4th in Sunday's race and actually pretty proud that she represented all women in this race.

The problem I have is that black people are not represented in this sport at all. My ex husband was part of a motorcycle race crew who I believe to this day holds the fastest record for a bike on a straight track with no wheelie bar. The reason why they no longer race is sponsership. They could find no business anywhere with the type of money they needed to help finance them that would actually consider sponsering a black race team. Some of the guys that you see on TV making it big we actually had dinner with, visited on a regular basis, and actually made part of our family when we were on the road.

The few blacks that have made it in this business were actually sell outs, married to white women, and had no claims to their black heritage when they won. One racer actually denied he was black at all.

Do you think in the future there will be popular race car drivers? More importantly do you think that a black woman will ever break into this field?

[JamieC]

That's kinda cool. I admire people who taked the plunge ya know?? Wish I could do something like that. I'm just wondering why those seats are so small and the steering wheel is literally poking ya in the chest!!

That's got to be a little uncomfortable for both men and women.

[Lonewolf]

I'm proud of her. She did a lot of good for her sport and garnered a lot of attention for it. I mean, who really cared about auto racing before she did it? I sure as hell didn't. It's the same thing with the Williams sisters and tennis. I never watch it unless they're playing.

[JamieC]

That's true Lonewolf. I didn't really care about tennis either until they started playing. I've always liked racing though. They do a lot of NasCar racing here in Sin City.

[saraphen]

Originally Posted by therealisticlady

More importantly do you think that a black woman will ever break into this field?

Let me check on that, but I believe there was one. If not, there will be.

And you folks just starting to pay attention to tennis with the Williams Sisters, have you forgotten Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe?

[DBlack]

She did good, but she nearly killed herself and a slew of other drivers, losing control of her car earlier in the race. What was cool is that they had a camera in the car, showing the car spining out of control, and she brought it back around perfectly; some action movie type ish.

Then later she made an even bigger blunder by refusing to pit stop for feul. her engine was severely hindered in performance due to this mistake, and she could have easily finished alot worse as she was losing ground quickly.

All in all, she's got skills though, gotta give it up!

[Lonewolf]

Originally Posted by saraphen

Let me check on that, but I believe there was one. If not, there will be.

And you folks just starting to pay attention to tennis with the Williams Sisters, have you forgotten Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe?

Actually, I was barely alive when they were playing. All I was watcing were cartoons back then. :D

[jimihaze]

There is black female racing I forget her name but she races a different type of car I think she is from New york. I still did not watch the race. there is also a young black guy that races moterbikes his name is bubba.