Go Daddy and Danica

Have you guys seen these videos Go Daddy is showing with Danica? Now, I'm no prude or anything and I like a good looking hosed down babe in a wet bikini anytime...but why can't they use her racing instead of what she looks like?

http://videos.godaddy.com/godaddy_media.aspx?ci=17599&isc=gdbb1586

This is not your typical bash Danica thread so please don't go there.

It's not about Danica. It's about sponsorships and how far things have deteriorated to get money to race.

It's also about the sport of Auto racing being made some kind of a joke because there's a good looking babe involved. And, if Danica gained a few pounds, would she lose her sponsorship even if she was successful?

And, let's say interest level in Danica falls off. So, will Go Daddy ask her to do a topless ad to keep her sponsorship? Maybe they suggest she get a boob job?

Somehow, I find it disturbing...

 

Like 'Hooters' restaurants......

 

to quote Lyn St. James: "In order to be a successful racing driver, one need not race cars".

 

dude, where have you been. sex sells.

(also, i think the ad is pretty tame. even her SI spread was better.)

I'm not sure it really reflects on auto racing one way or another.

 

Yah but does that mean only good looking girls can race because they can make sexy commercials and get sponsorship? Take a look at some male drivers. A lot of them are not what you would call model material.

I think the relationship between Danica and Go Daddy is a slippery slope.

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. A male driver with Danica's CV would not be racing at the level that she is right now. The only reason she is where she is, is because she is so marketable. Sex sells, and she is actually quite good in the commercials. If they put a driver. that is perhaps, not so easy on the eyes, it's because he's a winner.

 

fixed it for ya

 

Lol, thanks!

 

She's beginning to look like Demi Moore.

 

Are you bothered by the shirtless Marco in the Gilette Fusion razor ad, "winning at every level"? While not as outwardly sexy, they are clearly trying to make that connection. It is likely a less successful ad based of the target market, but attemting to sell the boy gets girl concept.
http://www.in.com/videos/watchvideo-gillette-fusion-marco-andretti-3250191.html

 

The Go Daddy ads are so played out at this point, they've become embarrassing. Forget Danica for a minute--even when they use "models" in the ads, those girls look like 3rd-shift Reno cocktail waitresses. The harder they try to whore up Danica, the worse she looks. Ironically, at Daytona she was part of a group of drivers racing for a charity (I can't remember which) and in her video plug she was wearing jeans and a white polo. No f'ed up hair, no trashy makeup. And she looked really good because it was natural. But the Go Daddy ads only emphasize the sad state of the IRL and lowest common denominator to which the teams will resort for money. Seriously, at this point Danica should own her image enough to have better control over the content of those ads. What do you think her husband thinks?

 

Why do you think Duno is still driving? Backup in case Danica gets played out.

I was glad to see Simona do well in the road courses ... it's embarrassing for the female drivers to always be at the back.

Even in the '70s, you'd never take a female rallye driver lightly.

Yes, it does seem Indycar is trying to build an awkward bridge between open wheel racing and the antebellum NASCAR market.

Indycar is in a weird market postion: They're trying to attract the redneck audience, but they're sponsored by a yuppie-wannabe label.


But godaddy advertising has been an embarrassment even before they included Danica.
Thinking that nerds who set up domains are all going to be "comic book man" from the Simpsons is a bit cliche.

(I got my godaddy domain -- based on value for price -- long before the ads shifted. Recently, I noticed that the service wasn't what it used to be, and figured that Danica was just using too many sets of tires. )

 

Agreed the taste (or lack thereof) isn't portraying Danica
or anyone involved in a good light.

But, as tasteless as things seem now, let's wait and see how
low things go when Danica gets into NASCAR where the
number one rule of marketing, "overexposure cheapens
the product", was thrown out a couple of decades ago.

And, is it not the case that Danica's husband is also her
personal PR agent? As such, he's the one going out and
making the deals and has final approval over matters
commercial.

RM

 

no truer words...

 

Duno is racing because her old man pays for it, simple as that - if you got the money and you can qualify, you race - on any level

 

I've always felt Danica, properly managed, could have had her pick of blue chip sponsors. But perhaps she just prefers cheap and sleazy.

She's been the perfect creature for the Tony George era of US open wheel racing, and may represent where GrandAm would like to go as well.

Edit:

"This is not your typical bash Danica thread so please don't go there."

Where else is there to go?

 

It's not about her driving abilities. It's about using her sex appeal (actually, emphasizing and even exaggerating it) to get sponsorship money. 10 years ago these ads would be considered soft porn. Is that a good thing for the sport? I don't think so.

 

I'm sorry if this is in bad taste but I really couldn't resist.
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

No, it's not in bad taste. She's an actress and a model, not an athlete. She makes her living from what she looks like. Danica is supposed to be making a living from her driving skills.

If she looked like Rosie O'Donald, she'd not be in that pool promoting it (or at least doing a very good job of it).

My point is, racing drivers should be getting sponsorships on what the do on the track, not what they look like in a wet bikini.

 

I agree with you, I just thought it was funny.

 

what about all the Olympians who have done spreads (ahem) in SI Swimsuit issues, Playboy, etc etc?

US Olympians earn money largely through corporate sponsorship, just like racers....

 

Danica Patrick reminds me of Gretchen "Redneck Woman" Wilson and vice versa

 

I would agree the Swimsuit thing is also a slippery slope. But, they can STILL RACE without it.

Earning money is not the issue. I have no issue in using one's body to make a buck.

However, doing soft porn commercials to be able to get in a race car is a very different thing.

 

It's always been that way, but let's say Danica were to Q and finish LAST at every race, do you think she would be racing very long? No. If it was good looks that got you the money and into racing, let me tell you, we would see Supermodels racing, if not a lot more gorgeous women.
Sarah Fisher can blow the doors off Danica in equal equipment - something Sarah has not had.

 

So what? Go Daddy is trying to grab your attention. They have obviously been successful since you and others are posting about it. Looks like you prove their advertisign approach worked 100%.

Just met a guy that said he went to a Hooters and was waited on by a pregnant Hooters girl. Personally, Hooters food sucks. I see no redemming value to the chain.

This coming from a guy that always talks down about women in motorsports. I don't get why you are so hard on the idea. Educate me on your thought process. But then, my mind is made up that anyone, regardless of sex, age, nationality or social class can compete with one another in this world.

Notice how they do NOT use Marco's real voice? At least Danica uses her looks, personality, reputation and voice. Does Marco? Nope. So why aren't you all complaining about his commercials? Oh that's right...because he's male. You forget to mention his racing career and personality sucks. Double standard.