During Indianapolis 500 2005, Danica Patrick was the fastest driver in practice and came within seven laps of winning the race. But this time she has had a much tougher time and struggled for speed in practice with plenty of track time lost to rain.

When asked whether she was more relaxed this year, Danica said, “Absolutely,” further added, “I’m much more relaxed, and I’m obviously more confident that we have a better race car. … It is a much more comfortable situation than being scared to hold my foot down for a whole corner. Because I was,” though, “We have had a hard month.”

Danica Patrick, smiles as she walks past photographers after posing on board the flight deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space museum, New York, with other members of the starting field for the 90th Indianapolis 500

Danica PatrickYes, I think everybody deserves a pedicure every week, all girls do, it’s important, it’s good for you. I think whether it’s a pedicure or a nap, or a trip to the mall or whether it’s a massage, I think you should take a little bit of time for yourself and I think it’s a healthy thing to do.

You can fit that into your schedule?

Danica PatrickI have 30 minutes every now and again, so it only takes 30, 45 minutes to do it, between getting there and getting home, so I think I make time for it. I don’t let it get in the way though, my husband wouldn’t be too happy if he got home and I wasn’t there and he’s been gone at work all day, I try and make sure I do it when he’s not there.

Tell me about your book.

Danica PatrickIt comes out May 2. It’s just a book about my life. It’s an autobiography … it was a lot of work actually, it took a lot of time, but it is a book about my life from the time I started racing basically all the way up to the start of this current year now, and it talks about the things I went through, where I lived, what happened, what made me who I am today … It kind of summarizes and makes little lessons at the end of the chapters It is a feel good book, but it is a bit of a roller coaster, just when you think things are going good, it goes bad and good and bad … I thought it was a good and important thing for the people to know my life wasn’t all just sugar and spice. It was hard at times. Everybody should know for something you want, something that’s really good, you’re going to have to work hard, and it doesn’t just come easy. You can’t just sit around waiting, you do have to push and things will eventually come your way if you want it bad enough.

Is it overwhelming to think at 23, almost 24, that you have an autobiography already?

Danica PatrickIt is kind of funny, because I always thought, maybe I’d have a book at the end of my career, I’ll write a book that everyone would definitely learn some things about me, but it happened a lot earlier. People are still going to learn about me, there’s things actually my husband read, he didn’t know. It was an opportunity that came about and it made sense and I thought it would be good for the younger kind of fans. The younger fans are a large percentage of my fan base. I thought it was an interesting thing to do. It did end up being more work than I thought it was going to be, but I didn’t sacrifice anything, because it was a story about my life about things people have never heard before. Stories I’ve never told before, and so when it came to that, it was important that I put everything into it … It’s really interesting you’ll learn a lot about me, a lot about who I am today, why I’m hard or why I’m tough.”

How did you become so self-confident? Were you always like that or did that come from going away at 16 and living in England?

Danica PatrickIt did. Every time I came home from England, because I moved there when I was 16, my parents always commented on me being different every time I came home. Whether it was more mature or more tough, it was always just I was a different person, by the time I was done there, I came home and I was really kind of cold and I had less emotions. It was hard over there, I was not treated the best, and I didn’t have the best of friends, that was hard. I was alone for three years, at a time when people are molded. You know, you’re 16 to 19 years old, those are important years. I was there alone and it was hard, so I think a lot of my characteristics came from those years, but I wouldn’t change anything about my life where I’ve been, what I’ve done.

Are you having fun?

Danica PatrickRight now, sure (she laughs, gesturing at the pedicure). In my life, yeah. Sometimes I wonder what made me so lucky to be where I’m at, what I did to deserve it. I have a really wonderful husband, I have a wonderful career, I’ve had success already, in such a difficult series, the IRL. I’m just really fortunate, really lucky, really blessed to be where I am today. You just count those blessings and never stop trying, it can go away in an instant.

Any idea what you’d be doing if you weren’t a racecar driver?

Danica PatrickI have no idea because I’ve never had to think about it. I started racing when I was 10 years old, and I from the time I started racing, I started thinking I wanted to go to college for engineering. That way I could work on my race car and know how to change it and make it go faster. And that was from time I was 10 … The first thing I wanted to be was a veterinarian, but then I decided that was not good because I had to put needles in dogs, and sometimes you had to put them to sleep, and I decided that was going to be the end of my veterinarian job. Then I wanted to be a secretary, because I thought it was really cool. I just loved the thought of dressing up and answering the phone and putting it down on a schedule and I don’t know, I thought it was kind of fun. And then I wanted to be a singer, but that ended soon, because I didn’t really like my teacher. And after that I wanted to be racecar driver.

What kind of advice do you have for young girls who are thinking they want to be drivers?

Danica PatrickI think they need to try it out and have fun with it, and see if it is what they want to do, if they love it and are willing to do anything, they can probably get there.

Do you ever foresee a time when it won’t be a novelty for women to be racing?

Danica PatrickI think it’s getting better right now. It’s getting better, but at the same time I am still the only girl, so I am a novelty.

Are you surprised at the level of interest in you?

Danica PatrickIt was a bigger deal probably at Indy than what I knew because I was right in the middle of it, because I was the one driving the car, not watching TV every day and seeing everything that was going on outside. It was a bigger story than I could have imagined in the grand scheme of the year for all sports due to the story that it was. I’m not surprised, I mean sponsors need something cool and something new and something fresh and different that people are going to pay attention to, recognize the product that I’m standing and endorsing. And it makes sense, I’m very different, but again you have to take advantage of them when they’re there, because they’re not always there.

You do a lot of exercise.

Danica PatrickEvery day I can. I mostly run and lift weights, it’s important for me to have endurance and strength, so that’s kind of what I focus on. When I have time I do yoga, because I really like it. It’s relaxing but yet at the same time, you gain a little bit of flexibility. Which is important. I think you know along with strength, I need flexibility too. I think people that are flexible recover a little bit quicker from a crash or something like that. It’s amazing how much your body stretches and goes in a new direction or a little bit further than it should, liked your neck or your arm or something, but if you’re flexible you can handle it a little bit more. But when you’re not flexible you get injured a little bit more.

Do you consider yourself an athlete?

Danica PatrickOh absolutely. We’re in the car for anywhere from two and a half to four hours, and we’re sweating and we’re working and we’re mentally and physically working and so, we’re definitely athletes and it looks really easy. And everybody equates it to driving their road car, but it’s absolutely different than that. There’s no power steering in the car. You are pushing yourself to your limit the whole time and if you come to the race, you’ll see, all the drivers are very fit, they’re ripped. You can’t get away with not being fit.

Do you have any pre-race rituals?

Danica PatrickNo, I just pretty much make sure I have a good breakfast, and sit down and relax just a little bit. I think that’s important for me to feel rejuvenated for the day and rested.

What do you do in your free time?

Danica PatrickMy husband I, we love to cook, we take a lot of time and make meals and we watch reality TV. It’s really simple watching, it doesn’t really take a lot of brain power. It’s good. It kind of lets me relax.

Do you have a specialty you cook?

Danica PatrickWe cook pretty healthy. It’s probably my fault, vegetables. He can get away with eating anything, when you can eat anything, you don’t have to learn what you have to eat to be healthy or be slimmer. We cook a lot of fish and chicken and vegetables, stuff like that. I eat a little more variety now that I know him. If I feel like it, I’ll have a piece of pizza or wild rice.

Do you have any particular indulgences?

Danica PatrickWhat is my indulgence? Gosh, you know, if I have a piece of pizza, that’s pretty much an indulgence.

I read you like to travel. Are there any places you particularly like to go?

Danica PatrickI just like to see new things. Islands, that’s my favorite kind of travel, is vacations and islands that’s the best for me. It’s neat to see different cultures. We race in Japan and my husband went with me to Japan and we had an awesome time in Japan. We had so much fun, and we just like the culture, we just like to see new stuff and new areas and new places.

Favorite food?

Danica Patrick I like chocolate, and I like cottage cheese, I like pineapple [together] that’s really good.

What do you eat for breakfast?

Danica PatrickI usually eat oatmeal and egg whites.

Favorite TV shows?

Danica PatrickReality junkie and Desperate Housewives. I watch Desperate Housewives, The office, that’s reality, and House, that’s a good show, too. But then I like the Bachelor, and The Apprentice and America’s Next Top Model. Those are the main ones.

Do you TIVO them?

Danica Patrick You have to TIVO those - they’re on at the same time some of those.

What’s in your iPod?

Danica PatrickI love Alanis Morissette, she’s my favorite. I listen to her more than anything. I like all the chart music. I like Maroon 5, I listen to Alicia keys a little bit now. It’s all chart music, I don’t know.

What’s your personal car?

Danica Patrick645 BMW and an Acura MBX.

Three words that best describe you?

Danica PatrickDetermined. Focused. Driven. They all kind of fall in the same category, I think they spill into many areas. If you’re determined, you’re determined to do anything. If you’re focused, you’ll be able to get your grocery shopping done really fast, it doesn’t matter what it is.

What, if anything, scares you?

Danica PatrickFailing. Not being with my husband ….. if one day he was gone, that’s very sad. I get to see him a lot. He comes to all the races.

Is there anything you’re not good at?

Danica PatrickI took tumbling when I was a kid because I was a cheerleader and I wasn’t very good at tumbling. And I’m not very good at video games because I never play them. Every time I try I’m not very good, I don’t try very often because if I’m not good at it, I just don’t do it.

Do you drive your personal car fast?

Danica PatrickI do. I drive fast, but I don’t drive ridiculously fast. I just like to drive. I don’t like to follow. If somebody wants to do 90-95 on the highway, I’ll let them pass me, but I’m not very good at following somebody doing 82 miles an hour, I’ll go 85 just because I can’t quite follow.

Have you been pulled over?

Danica PatrickI’ve been pulled over a lot. I don’t get pulled over as much, because now they have cameras that just take my picture. But I do get pulled over. I’ve been pulled over probably a dozen times or so.

How do you manage all your commitments now?

Danica PatrickIt’s funny actually, we were gong through the schedule last night with my parents and the guy who does PR for the team, and it’s so busy I seriously cannot do any more. I cannot put one more day in the schedule between now and June or July. I really just don’t have much time. It’s ridiculous between the travel and racing, it’s so compact this year, between obligations for certain things, committed to, it just don’t leave much time for anything else.

Are there endorsement opportunities you’ve turned down?

Danica PatrickOh yes, certain things I’ve turned down, they don’t excite me, they don’t make sense, they’re not enough money. There are various reasons, why I’ve turned some of them down, some of them just wouldn’t want to do, it wouldn’t be my style. I do the ones that make sense. The ones that excite me, the ones I think would be funny, the ones that would get me good publicity along with the endorsement deal that it is, it would also have a good marketing campaign, because that keeps your name out there. Because you’re not racing all year long, not always in the front, not always qualifying on the pole, not always winning races. But with the endorsements it does keep you out there, keeps people excited about you and keeps a large fan base.

Is that why you agreed to deals with brands like Secret and Hostess?

Danica PatrickI’ve used Secret since I was a girl. A little girl? I am still a girl, as you can clearly see. So you know they’re a huge great brand. I was more than happy to endorse their product. And Hostess, I have a large fan base of kids and I’ve got voicemails left on my phone, from my nieces, ‘Danica we saw you in the grocery store. Hi Aunt Danica. OK, bye.’ That’s the kid fan base and I have a lot of them. It was a good idea, good thing to do. Everywhere there’s a Hostess stand, I’m right there. I walk by the grocery store and grab my milk, I look over to the left I’m like, ‘Geez, there I am.’

The reaction from the other drivers has varied. There was that incident where they didn’t want to be at an autograph session, because you had your own line.

Danica PatrickI think that has to do a lot with the teams and I have no control over the autograph sessions and everything like that, but it’s got to be hard, because they’re really was a lot of attention on me, an overwhelming amount of attention, in comparison to some of the other guys. I don’t know how I would have handled it, so I can’t be the one to critique the way they handled it. I thought they all handled it pretty good.

Do you think you intimidate them?

Danica PatrickI know I did when I was a little kid, I used to walk by and they’d be like ‘oh my gosh, that’s a girl walking by, that’s a girl,’ but that was when we were young and we were 10 years old, and boys are still boys and they don’t quite have egos yet and aren’t quite so scared of girls.

Do you consider yourself a sex symbol?

Danica PatrickObviously not today (laughs at her shorts and T-shirt). They can make you up however they want to. I think most people don’t look exactly the same in photos as in real life, but I definitely have a contrast to myself, I like to look pretty and I like to look sexy and I like to look like a girl and I like to have my makeup done and my hair and my toes painted, and it’s good, it’s all fun and but then I’m very tough at the track, so I think that contrast is kind of cool. It’s attractive to sponsors and I’m able to show a little bit of personality.

Did you hesitate before agreeing to the FHM shoot?

Danica PatrickNo, man, I was all over it. Unfortunately it was like my first ever real photo shoot, so I didn’t really know exactly how to pose or what to do, but I had fun and I didn’t know what it was going to be all about. All I knew it was a 20-page speed section in their magazine. I didn’t know if I was going to have one photo and be in my race suit, of if I was going to be dressed like I was, but it was dressed like I was. But it was fun, I don’t regret it, I never second-guessed it. The thing I needed to do was create some attention and make people want me as their driver. I knew as soon as I was able to drive, if I could drive for them, that I would show them I could do it. I just needed to get there. Whether I got there because I could market a product and draw sponsors or not, it didn’t really matter to me, that’s all part of the game, so I didn’t care.

Would you do it now?

Danica PatrickNo, I wouldn’t do it now. I’m so fortunate to be able to pick what kind of media I want to do, what direction I want it to go. I don’t need to do things that don’t appeal to all of my fans. You have your whole career to do things afterward or later on that you want. I’ve done some of that, I’ve had fun with it and it worked. I’d love to be in like Vogue or Glamour or Cosmopolitan, now I think those would be cool. I’ve always wanted to do a really pretty photo shoot, something where I was kind of high fashion, as opposed to like half-dressed.

Is there a place where you draw the line? Playboy was interested and you said No.

Danica PatrickAnd FHM was interested again and Maxim was too and some of them wanted covers. It’s just not what I’m doing right now and I said No. I don’t regret that either.

Do you have to be careful so you aren’t viewed in a certain way?

Danica PatrickYes, you do. I don’t really care how I’m viewed. I would only do things I’d want to do. Nobody can force me to take my clothes off for a picture. Only if I feel comfortable enough to do something will I do it. I have a lot of younger fans. I think if a mother won’t buy a certain T-shirt for their daughter because of what it says or what it looks like or they won’t buy a magazine, then you have to kind of second guess it a little bit. So long as you can appeal to the masses, you should.

You don’t want to be viewed in the same way as Anna Kournikova is?

Danica PatrickIt’s just because she didn’t win a major tournament, I don’t think, and she was overwhelmingly prettier than probably what she was talented. That doesn’t mean she wasn’t talented, it just means she was really pretty. She’s a beautiful girl, so I feel bad that she was critiqued so badly, I feel bad that somebody would walk away from her career, thinking she was a horrible tennis player … Would I want my career to end with someone saying, ‘oh she was just pretty and that was it?’ No, because, again, I don’t think that’s true, not even if I stopped today.

The comparison, though, is about winning a race.

Danica PatrickSure. I’d love to. You can never tell when, but the facts would still say that even if I won a race in the average amount of time a normal driver wins their first race, that still puts me into next year. Thirty three races is what it takes a normal driver to win their first race and at the end of this year, I think we’ll be at like 32 or 31, or something. It still puts me into next year. So it’s like you know lots of great things happened really fast and that’s why people talk about winning and I’m flattered that they have.

How did you feel about the criticism that you have an advantage because you weigh less than the other drivers?

Danica PatrickI didn’t really care. I thought it was kind of funny. And if I had that big of an advantage you’d have thought I’d won, right? There are so many other things that come in to play when the race happens, as far as pit stops, lap traffic and all kinds of things that weight will not be a factor.

Are you worried about a sophomore slump?

Danica PatrickYeah, I’m worried about any slump, I don’t want to have a decline in performance. But I’ve been saying this frequently, you never can tell, when maybe you’ll just have an off year. Maybe the team won’t have it together quite as well maybe you’ll be struggling with the car all year, maybe all these things will happen and you just can’t control that kind of stuff. It might not be me being a worse driver, I might be a better driver, but if everything doesn’t fall into place then you can be the best driver in the world and you won’t be in the front.

How did you end up in the IRL or did the IRL find you?

Danica PatrickThe team I drive for, they were a Champ Car team and then they got into IRL and you know it’s kind of where the sponsors want to go. If the sponsors want to go to a certain series, you have to go where that money is, because I don’t know about you, but I don’t have 7 or 8 million dollars to fund my own car wherever I want it. You’ve got to go where the money is.

There’s been talk of your moving to NASCAR or Formula 1. Do those interest you?

Danica PatrickIt might happen one day, but it might not. I think I have to go where the fun is for me. I’ve lived in England and I’ve traveled into Europe and stuff, and I don’t know it’s just right now I’m not excited about Europe very much, so therefore I’m happy where I am in the states. I have my family and my friends and NASCAR is just so many races. You race almost every single weekend, it seems like … that you don’t have a life. My husband still works a little bit, by no means would I want to be away from him that much. It’s all about what makes you happy in your life. And your life is way too short to just work. And so what if you make a lot of money at the end of it, if you can’t do anything with it. Or if you didn’t have a good life because you were just working the whole time, what was the point?

But do you feel like you’re always sort of fighting this uphill battle because NASCAR is so well known?

Danica PatrickWell, you are fighting an uphill battle, but you know we’re just a different kind of racing a little bit. We have a slightly different fan base, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t be big, too, because about 10 years ago, it was. Everybody knew Indy/Champ Car. It was one series, now there’s two and it caused confusion, and people lost interest, but you know if they’re excited about racing the statistics would say they’re excited about all racing. So we’ve just got to let people know where we’re at, and that way they can come watch.

Tell me something people don’t know about you, you think would surprise them.

Danica PatrickI can’t do that. I’ve got a book coming out in May. No honestly it’s what we’re doing right now, people might not know I’m a girlie girl, or that I like to dress up. I like doing that kind of stuff. They might not know that because all they see is my race face and they wouldn’t know when I get home I like to cook for my husband and I like to go out to nice fancy dinners or I like to stay in and cook with my husband or I like to go get massages or pedicures and maybe they wouldn’t know that. Maybe they wouldn’t know I like to wear skirts more than I like to wear jeans.

Danica, Rahal Letterman driver further said about the invitaion made by Rusty Wallace, “If it’s up to me, and he’s leaving it open, I’d love to run this race. I think it’s one of those races that you just need to stay consistent. Even with what I was doing out there, I was able to still not drop too far off in lap times with traffic. As soon as I pick up my speed on the track, hopefully that’ll stay consistent with traffic. I want to do the race, so if he lets me, I’m in.”

Danica Patrick is now part of the team Rusty Wallace, Boris Said and Allan McNish.

Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 28-29, consists 3.56-mile road course that incorporates much of the Daytona International Speedway oval.

2005 Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year Danica Patrick tested the No. 2 Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford, in afternoon and evening of Thursday with recently-retired NASCAR star Rusty Wallace.

Danica Ptrick was invited to join the team and compete in the 44th annual twice-around-the clock event by the 1989 NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace, who has officially announced his participation in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The team will also include American road racing stalwart Boris Said, and Scottish sports car ace Allan McNish.

“We’re running the Rolex 24 for sure,” Rusty Wallace said. “We’re going to get ( Danica Patrick) in the car and get her some time, and see if she likes driving the car. It’s kind of up to her if she wants to be the fourth driver in the car. She’s got the invitation, there’s no doubt about that, but we feel like we’re going to have a good, winning team, and we feel like we’re organized.”

It is to be noted that both Danica Patirck and Rusty Wallace has never competed in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. But both drivers have had a long-standing interest in participating on the 3.56-mile road course that incorporates much of the Daytona International Speedway oval.

Danica Patrick won the Female Athlete of the year 2005 award from United States Sports Academy and USA Today. Roger Federer was the winner of Outstanding Athlete of the Year award. US Open Tennis Champion Kim Clijsters and LPGA Champion Annika Sorenstom was second & third respectively to Danica in the poll conducted for the award.

Danica Patrick weds Paul Hospentha, a physical therapist and who was her personal trainer. The marriage took place in Scottsdale, Arizona on Saturday .

Rahal Team spokesman Brent Maurer said Danica Patrick has asked Rahal Letterman Racing to release virtually no information about the marriage. Maurer could only confirm Tuesday that Patrick was married and that car owner Bobby Rahal was there.

Danica Patrick made history in the 2005 Indy 500 by finishing fourth - the highest for a woman driver. At one point of the race she was in first place, but a fuel conservation confusion led to a late race pitstop, which cost the victory for Danica Patrick.

While seeking treatment for a hip injury from yoga session helped Danica met Hospenthal.

Q: How did you feel about your finish today with regards to yourself and your car?

Danica Patrick: Good. I think that were close which is important, and to always be in the hunt. I wanted to try and get pole so that I could ensure a front row tomorrow. Usually if you are close one day you will stay close the next.

Q: This isnt your first time in Vancouver.

Danica Patrick: I came here two years ago for Barber Dodge. I really like Vancouver; I like the track a lot. I was disappointed last year when it wasnt on the schedule.

Q: Whats your favorite race track of the events youve been to?

Danica Patrick: It depends on the city too. I mean this one was a great one two years ago. I really do like it. I like Toronto too because thats got a really good feel to it. Montreal is a great one too. I like all the Canadian races to be honest.

AS: Along side your racing career, Ive watched you on the TV show Zero-60. How do you manage to find the time to do everything?

Danica Patrick: This (racing) is my only job. Other than the 12 race weekends and the test days, I devote all my time to TV and you know. What else am I going to do, sit on my butt?!

Q: In your off time, what are your favorite things to do?

Danica Patrick: I like to travel a lot, I like to go shopping, I like to get manicures and massages.

Q: Other than Barber Dodge which youve been in, and go-karting, and now youre in Toyota Atlantic, are there any other racing series that you would like to pursue?

Danica Patrick: My line has kind of been to become successful open-wheel race car driver whatever that may be. Whether thats Cart, whether thats IRL, whether thats Formula 1, I dont know. Thats my goal.

Q: I read somewhere that you do a 26-pose, 90 minute in extreme heat type of yoga in preparation for racing.

Danica Patrick: Its called Bikram, its pretty popular and its a lot of fun. I dont do it as much as I used to because I moved back home to Illinois. I used to do it everyday in Ohio.

Q: So whats hotter, the race car or the yoga?

Danica Patrick: The yoga!

Q: Whats the hottest you have ever been in a race car?

Danica Patrick: I was in a race car that had a closed top. It was a Ferrari 550 Marinello that I raced in Road Atlanta and I think it got up to 160 or 180 (degrees Fahrenheit).

Q: What is your favorite street car?

Danica Patrick: Ive always said I loved the 360 Ferrari. Im sure it will change by the time I can afford one!

Q: What kind of car do you own right now?

Danica Patrick: I dont own a car but I have a Mercedes, an SLK 230.

Q: Have you always known you wanted to race cars, or was it something that just fell into your lap?

Danica Patrick: It is something that evolved since I was 10-years-old to where it is now. I couldnt say that at the beginning that I was going to make a career out of it. Low and behold here I am and I would drop anything for it. Its all about finding what youre good at and what you love to do.

Q: Do you have any free time to spend here in Vancouver, or in any race city with your tight schedule of practices and qualifying, and press conferences?

Danica Patrick: Sometimes I do, and sometimes I dont. Luckily enough this weekend I have the nights to myself so I can go out to dinner with my family.

“To a certain extent a little bit surprised,” Danica Patrick says. “I think I am more surprised about the young kids and everything like that. The things that we have done have been good things, especially for a rookie. I have gone for pole. In two of the races we almost had pole, qualified third last time out and we’ve led a couple of races. Considering all that and considering the increase in ratings for the race, it is fairly justifiable. It is the story that everything is playing. It has fed off other things and has grown a lot but I guess I am little surprised.”

So what about the future?

“I have to say that I am very happy where I am.” Danica Patrick says. “I am happy driving IRL right now. I think it’s a great championship with an incredible amount of talent in it and I love the States. I like being around my family and friends. I would never say no to anything. I would never say no to F1; I would never say no to NASCAR. I just wouldn’t do that to myself because you have to be open to all opportunites. But everything would be weighed up but right now I am happy where I am.”

Are there any Formula 1 teams that you would like to drive for?

“You would have to know you are running for a top team,” Danica Patrick says. “Just like I am running for a top team in IRL. I am only happy when things are going well and I have to look after my own happiness!”

Danica Patrick went to Europe as a teenager and it is fair to say that she did not do that because she wanted to be a star in the IRL.

“No, that is very true,” Danica Patrick admits. “When I went to England to race and the three years I was there I was dead set on racing in Formula 1. I followed it, I knew everything about it. I was out of touch with Indycars but as time wore on I knew that there were different ways to be happy and to be successful and to get to where you wanted to be and I have to say that I am glad I am here. I love being here. I have so much fun. It’s home.”

And it is where she nearly won the 500.

“We almost had it,” Danica Patrick says. “It was a close race. We were playing with fuel strategy a little bit. We almost had it. It was a very good month for myself, for the team, for the sponsors, for the series. So many things were elevated and so many people were watching. A lot of stir was made and that was beneficial for everybody.”

Danica Patrick is, of course, as a girl not only being successful in top level racing but actually starting out wanting to do it. How did that begin?

“You know I played with Barbies a lot,” Danica Patrick says. “When I started racing at 10 years old I didn’t watch a lot of racing. I remember I was wathcing the Indy 500 every year on TV but I was a very normal kid. I did a lot of sports when I was younger. I did cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, band, choir, you name it, I tried it. It wasn’t until a year or two into my career that I really started understanding and knowing the fact that that there was racing outside of my little go kart track near my house and so I followed more. I watched more Indycar racing. I don’t think I was able to get up or stay up to watch F1 when I was a kid.”

Is there a time schedule for her career?

“I have no schedule,” Danica Patrick says. “Like I said I am very pleased where I am at. Opportunities will arise when they do and I will deal with them when they come. I really cannot say that there is a timeline on anything. When you are sucessful things take care of themselves. People want you and then you are able to make the decision that makes you the happiest.”

What do you think about Ferrari?

“It is a car that I cannot buy right now,” Danica Patrick laughs. “No, I probably could. It is one of those teams that you look at and think seriously about what you do with your life if they called. They are a very competitive team, a top team and it is one of the teams you would not doubt try their hardest and you cannot get them to call you, you cannot pay them to call you. It only happens off of merit and I think its a huge compliment as well.”

What about other F1 teams?

“I think that when you get called by anyone in F1 you think twice,” Danica Patrick says. “Because obviously it is F1. It is regarded as the highest level of racing with the best drivers in the world. I would definitely say I am racing against some pretty darned good drivers in Indycar and people that came from England and Europe and places like that. But you would think twice for anyone!”

So has anyone from F1 called you?

“Has anyone?” Danica Patrick muses. ” Not me. No. Not directly, I don’t think anyone has called actually. I have to say I don’t know.”

After the highs of Indianapolis, it was tougher in Texas. Was that tougher than the 500?

“Texas was tougher,” Danica Patrick says. “You know when your car is not great and things are not going your way exactly, the racing is harder, the car is harder to drive, you are mentally draining out and everything else. It’s easy to drive a good car, it really is. At Indianapolis I had a great car and we worked hard all month to get a great car. Texas was OK. We still qualified in the front but the race car was not great. We race two abreast, three abreast, at Texas. It is very much side by side racing all the way around. My car was oversteering at the top when I was going around the top of people and underneath on the bottom with the pack of traffic I had understeer, so it was not happy anywhere and so once I finally figured it out, which takes time because I am new and that was really only the second side by side racing I have done in my life, so considering I was a rookie I think that just figuring it out in general and staying on the lead lap and racing hard is all you can really ask in a situation like that. I came away from it with experience and that is the important thing and that is what I am going for all year. More experience, more experience, learn as much as you can, finish every lap.”

For Formula 1, however, the key issue will be how Danica Patrick does on the road courses.

“We had our St Petersburg race,” Danica Patrick says, “and that was OK. We again played the fuel strategy a bit and we were running up the front and Buddy Rice my team mate was behind me when we were doing that and we made a mistake and went back out but there was a problem with the pit limiter and then the gears went out so we had to change a gear stack. He finished fifth or sixth or something like that. We would have finished in the top five or six I am sure. But that did not happen and you learn and again I finished all but five laps because that is what it took to change the gears and we will see how it goes at Sears Points and Watkins Glen. They are definitely going to be much higher grip, much faster tracks, much more demanding for the drivers physically and so we will see how it goes. I wouldn’t say we have had the strongest cars on the road courses. The road course and short ovals have been something we have been a little bit off the pace on in comparison to some of the other teams, so we will just have to work even harder.”

We’re joined by Danica Patrick. Danica Patrick leads the Bombardier Rookie-of-the-Year standings, ranks 12th overall in points, has two poles, including this past weekend at Kentucky, and two fourth-place finishes this season, including the Indianapolis 500.

Danica Patrick, give us some thoughts on Pikes Peak , another facility you don’t have any experience at. What are your thoughts as you head there?

DANICA PATRICK: You know, I’m anxious to have a good weekend; I don’t really care where it’s at. I think we’ve been improving in the car at the short ovals. Hopefully that can carry on over and have a good race.

Q. Expectations are extremely high after your finish at Indy. Are they higher than a rookie should have to shoulder? Do you find you are driving closer to the edge because of those expectations?

DANICA PATRICK: I don’t feel like — I haven’t in all this felt like I had to do anything. I think in feeling like that, I don’t let the expectation or the anticipation or all the articles written get to me. I don’t feel like I have to do anything. So, you know, it’s probably what keeps me sane.

What was the second part of your question? Do I feel like I’m driving harder?

Q. Yes.

DANICA PATRICK: No. I would drive this hard whether there was a bunch of people looking or none.

Q. Looking ahead a week, you drove Infineon one time, is that correct?

DANICA PATRICK: Uh-huh.

Q. This year?

DANICA PATRICK: No, last year.

Q. Infineon, the road racing course.

DANICA PATRICK: I’ve never raced there.

Q. You never have?

DANICA PATRICK: No.

Q. With Scottsdale kind of your adopted hometown, it become official, PIR next year is not hosting a race.

DANICA PATRICK: In all honesty, we didn’t have the best race there. If they took something like Indy off the schedule or Motegi, the last weekend - where were we? They’re all blending into one. Kentucky . Then I’d be disappointed. We didn’t have the best race there, so putting more big ovals on the schedule is probably more ideal for our situation. You know, you never like to see a hometown race go. It’s always nice to have one that you can drive to as opposed to fly.

You know, I would imagine that the reason for it coming off the schedule is a good reason, and it will be replaced by a great event.

Q. Are you looking forward to racing at Infineon? You do have a road racing background. It should be a little easier for you than learning some of the new ovals.

DANICA PATRICK: Am I looking forward to a road course, is that what you’re asking?

Q. Yes.

DANICA PATRICK: Well, I mean, it’s always fun to go do something different. I obviously love road racing. But I still am going to be very, very much a rookie. I mean, these guys have raced in big cars far more than I have, you know, with past Champ Car drivers, past guys that have been doing, you know, Formula One stuff, Indy Lights, all that kind of stuff. Atlantic is a very sort of slow, under-powered car. It doesn’t really — it’s not really very equal to an IndyCar.

Q. Would you like to see more road courses in the IRL series?

DANICA PATRICK: Yes. I mean, I’d love to see a couple more, definitely. I like street racing. Street racing is definitely fun. It would be nice to get downtown, a couple cities. Experiencing that within the last couple years was a lot of fun. I do hope that there are a few more on the schedule for sure.

Q. You tested at Infineon?

DANICA PATRICK: Yes

Q. What did you like about the course and what didn’t you like about it?

DANICA PATRICK: You know, I thought it was — it was just good to get to a road course. It was fun. You know, I mean, any road course is fun. I think it’s a rhythm track. If you can get the rhythm down there, it would be good.

I didn’t like — our car has so much grip there, it’s incredible how much grip and how many Gs we’re probably pulling in all those corners. It’s very physical. It’s kind of during the long duration of the race going to be difficult for everyone. I don’t think it should be a weight-lifting competition.

Q. Do you prepare physically different for the road course? Are you doing a different kind of workout?

DANICA PATRICK: I’m just lifting harder, more. Being very consistent with it. That’s all I can do.

Q. At what age did you know that you had a natural ability to drive?

DANICA PATRICK: I guess probably from the start. I don’t know. I was winning races within my first year of racing. I think, you know, something that has driven me all the time is the yearning to prove myself over and over again. Be confident you’re good enough, but always feel you need to earn your keep where you’re at. I think it just grows over time. I don’t think there’s ever a distinctive moment where I said, “I belong.” As soon as you get there, you still have to do the job.

I think you have to continue to prove yourself all the time.

Q. You mentioned for your situation you’d like to see more of the bigger ovals. What is your comfort level going into a mile track like Pikes Peak ?

DANICA PATRICK: Depends on how the car’s going to be. If the car’s good, it’s a lot of fun. It’s much more straightforward. If the car is going to be difficult, if it’s going to be a struggle, then it’s not as exciting. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.

Q. It’s not a case of the length of the track as much as how the car’s performing?

DANICA PATRICK: Right. When the car is fast, it’s actually really very easy, believe it or not. When the car is bad, that’s when you earn your money.

Q. You’re 12th in the points race. Do you see being able to improve on that in the season?

DANICA PATRICK: I sure hope so. That’s the goal.

Q. Do you feel pretty comfortable with where you are?

DANICA PATRICK: Do I feel comfortable with where I’m at?

Q. Being able to launch forward.

DANICA PATRICK: I’m hoping to. Every single race we go out there, we are always trying to win the race. I mean, every single one. That’s what you’re going into it hoping for and trying to do.

Am I happy and comfortable with being 12th? No. I mean, obviously I want to be higher than that. Everybody has their good runs and bad runs in the duration of the championship. I’ve had a bad run. I’ve basically kind of DNF’d three races.

Q. Time for a change?

DANICA PATRICK: I sure as heck hope so.

Q. Could you describe your association with Bobby Rahal as far as utilizing his experience to improve your own racing, maybe give us a sample.

DANICA PATRICK: He’s a knowledgeable guy from the standpoint of business, on-track stuff. I use him as much as I can to keep excelling and keep learning.

Q. Looks like all the questions we have this afternoon for you, Danica. Thanks for taking the time to join us. Good luck this weekend.
DANICA PATRICK: Thank you.

This interview of Danica Patrick was during Indy 500 2005

MODERATOR: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining us at a wet and rainy Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the fourth from last practice day before the 89th running of the Indianapolis 500. We’re joined today by the fastest rookie in the field, Danica Patrick. Danica Patrick will start on the inside of the second row after recording a four-lap qualifying average 227.004 mph on Pole Day last Sunday.

Danica Patrick drives the Rahal Letterman Racing Argent Pioneer No. 16 Panoz/Honda/Firestone.

Danica Patrick, let’s go ahead and get started. Thank you for joining us today.

DANICA PATRICK: Thank you very much.

Q. We talked a bit off line before starting the call, but tell us about your life these last seven days.

DANICA PATRICK: They’ve been interesting. There’s definitely been a lot of fan response and media response. Most obvious to me is the fans. I was actually walking back from pit lane during the day yesterday, and there was a group of about 15 little kids that looked like they were skipping school and screaming for me to come over. As soon as I walked across, they screamed even louder. I just think it’s really flattering, and I think it’s what the sport needs.

Q. Now that qualifying is over, do you sense you have a good enough grasp of all the variables that will go on in the race itself? You had a great performance in Japan . Do you allow yourself to think of winning this race? With all the variables and your preparation for them, what kind of a shot do you give yourself to actually win this race?

DANICA PATRICK: Well, you know, I think I have a great chance of winning this race. I think we have been very fast all month so far. I probably need, you know, as much time as I can on the track in race situations and conditions due to the fact that I am a rookie. The timing of passing cars around here is a little bit different because we’re going so much faster. Doing that stuff is important. It’s raining today, and I’m not sure if we’re going to get on the track. Yesterday we did a little bit, and tomorrow we’ll do a lot of bit. We’ll fine tune it on Carb Day.

Q. Your old friend coming up through the ranks Tomas Scheckter had a great start here as a rookie. Leading the race a lot, got up behind someone, got the wind of his front wing, took him out of the race. Do you have a whole list of things not to do once the race starts?

DANICA PATRICK: I think that I trust my instincts a lot. I trust what I’ve learned and my ability. And I think that, you know, you have to have intuition as to what’s going to happen and how quick you’re catching your car, and how your car reacts within traffic, and a lot of traffic at that, because with more cars it changes even more.

Hopefully by the point of a quarter way through the race, I’ll have a good idea what the car does from full tank to empty and new tires to old tires.

Q. Some background information from you. When and where did you develop an interest in racing? Were your parents racers?

DANICA PATRICK: My father used to race snowmobiles, midgets, motorcross. My mom and dad met at a snowmobile race on a blind date and were married not that long after and had me not that long after. So, you know, this is very much a racing family.

My sister, who is two years younger than me, Brooke, she wanted to race go-karts. I just didn’t want to get left out.

Q. Another big step was you going to Europe . How hard was it to convince your parents at age 16 you could go off to Europe and do that thing?

DANICA PATRICK: Well, I don’t think it was hard for anyone to accept me going to England because it’s what needed to happen. By all means, it was sad. There were times that were tough just, you know, on the soul, not being close to your family and friends.

I remember my mom and dad when I was leaving at the airport, and my sister was there, and they were starting to get choked up. My dad said, “I couldn’t imagine if you were not going and not having this opportunity.” So that kind of overrides the sadness and, you know, they just wished me luck and safety and said, “Go get ‘em.”

Q. It’s tough for anybody over there. Was it tougher on you? What is it like racing over there?

DANICA PATRICK: Well, I think the racing in Europe and especially in the lower formulas over there is very concentrated and definitely England is the most concentrated area. Everybody that’s great from every country comes. So when you’re having a good day, sure, you can have a great day and be in the front. When you’re having a bad day, you’re kind of like 15 spots or more back.

It was just a deep field of talent. But it was a great learning — place to learn. We had a lot of track time. I didn’t learn a whole lot about the cars. That was one of the things. I think they told me to go drive whatever I had. They kind of took the fastest guy and used his setup. I was forced to drive it. I didn’t learn a lot about the cars, but I learned a lot about life, and I learned a lot about how to drive a car that wasn’t perfect for me fast. I grew up very quickly over there.

Q. Toughen you up?

DANICA PATRICK: Definitely. I came back every six months from England back to the States. My parents kept telling me I was different every time, I’d matured or I’d changed. It’s the inevitable when you’re gone for that long, and you’re forced into such different situations. It was a toughening-up process, I promise you.

Q. A lot of drivers and owners said after you qualified that this is good for the sport, you’re good for the sport. What exactly does that mean to you?

DANICA PATRICK: Well, I think it’s one of those things that I’ve been conscious of and I know is there because I’m so different. And it’s not that there hasn’t been a female that’s come through before, but one that’s truly competitive and truly race savvy and goes out there, qualifies and races well, and does it consistently.

It was great to come off of Motegi a few weeks ago in Japan with a front-row start and a fourth-place finish because people know it’s not just the team has good cars here at Indy, they know that my teammates and my engineer and I are all meshing and we’re really working together well.

Q. Have you found any of the extra attention paid to you to be distracting at all from doing your job?

DANICA PATRICK: I think that — I actually think that it’s good. I think that it keeps me hungry, it keeps me fiery, and I almost don’t want it to go down because then maybe I’m not doing as well as I had been. So I think that it’s good when there’s a lot of attention, and it sure helps when the fans are cheering for you, you want to be a good entertainer for them, and you want to do what they came to see, and that’s go fast.

I actually think it’s all a big help. As far as taking time away from me being in the race car, that’s something that the PR department, people take care of so that I’m not run dry, and I can’t do my job. So there’s only so much I can do. I promise you, I’m doing it all. (laughter).

Q. Long before you got to Indy, you were comfortable on national television, in magazines. Since this last weekend, I hear like the world is coming to your doorstep. Are you surprised at this attention?

DANICA PATRICK: I think that I kind of have known — I’ve been told for a long time that I just need to even do OK. I just need to be in the front, not first even, you know, just do well, and the attention will come, the fans and the media will come. This is something that the sport can feed off of a little bit.

Going fastest and ‘could have, should have, would have,’ having a pole, is big news. It should be big news for any driver, I think. I think anybody that’s running up front in the month of the Indy 500 should have media exposure. But it’s definitely magnified due to the fact that I’m a rookie, due to the fact that I drive for Bobby Rahal and David Letterman, and have the past Indy 500 winner on the team, and now another one with Kenny Brack.

I think I understand why it’s here. I just hope that I have — I hope I give you guys more stories to write.

Q. When a woman comes in the Indy 500, there becomes such a hype about it. In your mind, are there any genetic differences between women and men that could cause, let’s say, for a male to be a better race car driver than a woman?

DANICA PATRICK: Or a female driver to be a better race car driver than a man?

Q. Yes.

DANICA PATRICK: Sorry, I had to throw that in there (laughter).

I do not know. I don’t think there’s any differences that would be prevalent in the car that would make a difference. You know, I think, if anything, the toughest part for a female to do is just the actual fact that you’re a female, not whether you have better reflexes, worse or anything like that, but just to have a team that backs you, a team that really believes in you, because it just really hasn’t happened. There’s not been one really that consistently, and I always say that because there have been women that have gone fast and have done really well, but consistently been fast and raced in the front, there hasn’t really been one.

You know, I think that’s the toughest part, is getting them behind you. Then after that, you know, as I’ve heard Lyn St. James say before, “The car does not know the difference.”

Q. If you get that consistency, most likely the attention and the novelty will wear off. Will that be a good thing?

DANICA PATRICK: Well, I think that will be a good thing, as long as it’s worn off and the stories are still being written. I think there are many records and many historical things to be written down and wrote about. And once, and hopefully once I’ve done all those kinds of things, then they’ll just be writing about the second championship or the second 500 or the second pole. That’s what I hope for.

Again, for any driver, that’s a huge accomplishment to be doing things over and over again.

Q. I was talking to Janet Guthrie last week, and she said it wasn’t quite so pleasant, some of her experiences earlier. You’re talking about some of the positives and advantages of being the only woman. Are there any disadvantages? Have you had any negative experiences so far? How conscious are you of the trailblazers like Janet who went before and maybe opened some of these doors for you?

DANICA PATRICK: I really would like to say if there’s one great thing I think that’s happened over the years is that women are being accepted into a man’s world in all different areas, whether it’s nursing or flying a plane or driving a race car. I think it’s much more accepting, and people are actually excited for it and they like to see something new and something fresh and something they’ve never seen before.

So that’s probably the difference that wasn’t — that there wasn’t when people like Janet Guthrie and Lyn St. James were around. Probably for Lyn it was around, but for Janet, being the very first, yeah, they would have experienced things like, ‘Why aren’t you cooking,’ stuff like that.

I have tons of support, I will say. I have a lot of fans out there. I have a lot of people cheering for me, literally, all the time. I don’t think I had those kinds of things. But I’m also one of those people that feeds off of negativity a little bit. If they don’t think I should be fast because maybe I’m driving for a good team, forget you, I’m going to go out there and prove to you time and time again that I belong here, that I will race up front, and that I’m a great driver, not just only driving for a great team. Everything has to come together.

If a great driver was driving for a team that wasn’t so great, things wouldn’t be good all the time. Maybe occasionally. But you really have to have the entire package. And I think at Rahal Letterman and with my engineer Ray (Leto) and my teammates Buddy (Rice) and Vitor (Meira), I think we have the formula that’s needed to go forward and go faster.

Q. What has been the hardest part of this experience so far at Indy? What has been the best part?
DANICA PATRICK: The hardest, uhm, was accepting fourth in qualifying. It really was (laughter). I had run fastest on Thursday, second on Friday, fastest in the morning with the fastest speed of the month the Sunday morning of qualifying. Having the fastest speed in qualifying, too, but just not overall. For me, I feel like it was in my hand and it slipped out.

But, you know, I mean, I think that what happened in Turn 1 of almost losing it and hitting the wall, the fact that I caught it might have just done me some good in earning respect from everybody else and seeing that, ‘She’s got a tough car to drive, but she’s still driving it fast.’ I think it might have actually turned into a positive.

But qualifying fourth, really, as silly as that sounds, has been the hardest point of this month.

I think the best part of the month, it was probably rookie orientation where every single time I came into the pits and was practicing faster than everybody, the crowd was cheering so loud. That was the start of it all.

Q. Are you a student of the game and have you studied tapes of previous Indy 500s? What’s the best thing you think you’ve learned that will help you on race day?

DANICA PATRICK: I think that everything that I’ve learned in the previous races are what is going to help me the most. I am going to review some tapes. I’m going to talk to Buddy, I’m going to talk to Bobby (Rahal), I’m going to talk to Kenny (Brack), I’m going to talk to the guys that have won this thing before, and I’m going to get their perspective.

For the most part, you know, they’re all going to tell me that you just need to be smart out there. There is something I lack, which is why it’s going to be a hard race, you need experience. You need to have some — you need to know what the car is going to do, you need to be able to set up traffic, you need to not lose too much time when overtaking. I think that’s something that you learn and perfect over time. It’s the big challenge of the day for me come the 29th. Experience is really I think what helps the most.

I’m going to be facing a tough situation, but I have no doubts that I can do it. I usually race better than I qualify. Let’s hope that that happens here.

Q. In talking to other drivers about the difference between qualifying, practicing and actual race day is the visual perspective with all those people there that weren’t there before.

DANICA PATRICK: That’s what I’ve been hearing.

Q. How can you prepare for that?

DANICA PATRICK: Keep your eyes on the road (laughter). I think your peripheral vision is something that I would imagine a lot of drivers have very good peripheral vision, and they’re able to sort of take in everything from their whole field of vision and not just what’s right in front of them. That’s probably why we’re all distracted by all the people around when race day comes around.

But I’m just going — it’s one of those things that I’m only going to be able to know when I experience it and be able to understand when I experience it. I’ll have to see what happens come race day. But I’m pretty sure everybody gets over that. I’ll take notice of it my first two laps around under yellow before we go green, and hopefully that will be good.

Q. With all the attention you have been receiving, have you gotten any backlash or jealousy or whatnot from any of the other drivers? How much do you even interact with drivers outside of your own team?

DANICA PATRICK: You know, there’s not a whole lot. There’s not a whole whole lot of interaction, especially being the new guy on the block, and I don’t really know everyone really well. They all have their own groups of friends around here.

Slowly but surely I think it’s actually kind of getting better. I think as the days roll on and as the weeks and races come on and I do well, I think that the respect from the other drivers is what is helping the most. I think that that is what — that’s all they need, is to respect you. I don’t think there’s any hard feelings at all.

As far as how I’m handled — how the media has been, if it’s been migrating more to me or taking away from other people, I don’t know how they feel. I would hope they’re doing as much as they can for them, for their sponsors, for their series. That’s what I’m doing.

All I want is to have one great big race all the time, everywhere we go. I hope that the number of cars grows. I hope that the crowds grow, the viewers watching TV grows. That is what is important for the sport. That in turn helps the teams, too, because all of a sudden the series is big and more people and more people all the time are watching it. The sponsors for other people’s cars are going, ‘The ratings are there. This many people come to the races.’ Then it’s more attractive for other teams and other sponsors. I’m kind of hoping that it rolls on and it’s positive for everyone and not just me.

Q. Before the month, did some of your teammates talk to you about how big the hoopla and whatnot would be around Indianapolis , qualifying and such? Has it matched that? Is it more than you expected? How has that been for you?

DANICA PATRICK: I think that “the hoopla,” as you call it, is a little bit more than normal, especially with me, due to the fact that we’ve been doing really well and things have been going good for us. I think that they’re getting — I know that the media and PR for Team Rahal and for IRL has had a lot of interest in me is all I know. I don’t know about other drivers, but I know there’s been a lot of really big media contacting us about doing things.

You know, I think that it’s probably a little bit more than normal, but not more than it was 10 years ago when it was all one big happy family. It’s just starting to come back from the split. I think that’s a really, really positive thing. I think that we need to just keep going from there.

Q. Your team situation, when you see what happened to Buddy, then you have Kenny come in, what is it like within the team? I know you’re getting all this focus, but with Bobby’s direction, what’s going on there, how have you handled that?

DANICA PATRICK: You know, it’s really a shame that Buddy crashed. I think in racing you can have really big and really small crashes. What happens to the driver’s body is always different. You can have a small one and die from it even. It’s just a matter of how you hit, what you hit.

I commend the Indy Racing League on all their efforts to making the series safer. I know that Buddy hit the SAFER barrier which means that it absorbs some more of the energy of the crash because there’s foam behind the wall. I know that I hit the SAFER barrier at Homestead , and it was very, very big hits. I wouldn’t like to think of what would happen if that wasn’t there. So I think that it’s too bad that he’s out of the race.

With Kenny back in, it’s brave, it’s brave. He almost died, too. That’s tough. He has a little girl and a wife. It’s something you have to think about. But this is also what he was born to do, and it’s something he wants to do. I think that it’s understood by him and his wife.

I think that it’s great the fact that the seat that Buddy took was Kenny’s. He obviously went out and had a great year last year. So I think that it’s only right and only appropriate that Kenny take the seat of Buddy when he can’t run.

I think that it all happened in a great way. I’m sure he’ll do fine. But, yeah, there’s a lot of risks out there. We all take them because this is what we’re here to do.

Q. Has David Letterman asked you for any driving tips so far?

DANICA PATRICK: I don’t talk to him very much. I really only talk to him when I’m here at Indy and he comes for the race. He’s so great. He’s so great with the fans, so great here at the track. He really is very observant. He’s very into racing. He kind of sits there quiet actually and just observes what’s going on, tries to lay low around us. I think that’s really cool. He’s definitely a guy who loves racing. He’s a great guy.

MODERATOR: Even though there’s rain coming down here at Indianapolis , we know you have a lot to do here, so thank you for joining us and good luck next weekend.

DANICA PATRICK: Thank you.