Danica Patrick in F1?

I don't know if the media just caught on to his original comments or if he's made additoinal comments about her, but the headlines are everywhere that she's his "dream" driver.

Either way, if he's being anything other than politically and media friendly about the topic as to not start some gender bias war, then his team is doomed already. She can't possible be considered as an F1 driver in any capacity in any realistic view.

 

She's also not Nascar or Indycar caliber.

 

Let's go back even further. She never won in Atlantics either. One pole and a few podiums. Again, why does she keep getting top rides?

 

Just look at her, then look at her pit crew?
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Yeah, so? You still gotta do the business which she doesn't. She should just be an actress or something.

 

I love how she complains about being sexualized and not viewed purely as a driver like the other men....yet does sexy photoshoots to promote her looks. The irony.

That just pisses me off. I don't care about gender or race. You can't cry out for equality yet invoke your uniqueness when it suits you or gives you an advantage. I don't care if the next f1 driver is female or not. I just expect them to be held to the same standard. Ask Ryan Newman if it works that way in NASCAR. The coverage she gets is just ridiculous. Most people couldn't name the usual back markers.

 

Looking toward the future, Danica has only slightly more chance of starting a F1 race than Michael Andretti ... and he would kick her ass.

 

Definitely. I have a feeling that michael Andretti on a road course would kick her ass right now at age 50 plus. Even though he did some bonehead things from time to time if he had a good car he could win on any track.

 

Not so sure about that. Michael's edge might be dulled a bit from managing rather than driving. That and he probably weighs more than twice as much as Danica.

 

Good points, but my money would still be on Michael

 

Has he actually said this?

As far as Danica goes, that was just the media trying to goad some BS out of Haas. I watched the interview with NBC Sports and it was clear that while he did not want to slag off Patrick (who drives for him in Sprint Cup), there is no way in hell he is considering her for the seat. He gave a nice "PC" answer that made headlines...complimented her skills, etc. but his body language suggested he has no intentions of putting her in a F1 car.

 

Both Haas and Patrick stand to benefit from all the "what if" talk. He gets media attention for his team building effort and she gets to extend her fifteen minutes of fame. I think they both know that if things actually come to fruition it would not make sense for either of them for her to drive the car.

 

Yep. From Autosport;

+1 usual media baiting. I think they both know better..... But as noted, "any publicity is good publicity" - Who knows, may even get more sponsors to express interest - Once they're on the hook, reeling 'em in gets a *little* easier.

Incidentally, the article starts by saying he's got no interest in buying an existing operation.

Cheers,
Ian
Haas: Building F1 team from scratch better than buying existing one - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

 

The history with north Americans in Formula 1 over the last 20 years or so, is that they can't get used to the cornering speeds. Michael Andretti really struggled with this.Only Mario Andretti in a technically superior lotus and Jacques Villeneuve have had success. And Jacques was not good in the rain. The European born drivers rang rings around him as soon as it got a little bit wet.

If you look at Nigel man sells experience in cart in 1993 and 1994, after the season was over he drove a couple of races for Williams at the end of the season. They felt like he was out of shape and his. Neck muscles were not strong enough. F1 is on a whole 'nother level.

 

How do you arrive at that conclusion? Michael Andretti struggled with making boneheaded moves, his fitness was never in question that I can recall. You forget that Mansell won the last race of year not just "ran a couple of races". He wasn't out of shape, he was just getting older. Williams went with Coulthard instead.

 

I had to check the date of the article to make sure it wasn't left over April 1st. Yep too old & name one successful IRL driver that transferred to F1. She's better off starting her driving school or continue with her ad campaign.