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F1 'less friendly' than American racing, says Patrick

ESPNF1 Staff
May 25, 2010 « HRT drivers hoping experience will tell in Turkey | »
Danica Patrick says F1 is less friendly than American racing © Getty Images
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IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick says it is unlikely she will ever drive in Formula One because the atmosphere is less friendly than in American racing.

"Something that's very important to me is having fun." Patrick recently told The Sunday Times. "I think the environment of F1 is a little bit less friendly than American racing. In F1, you just don't see the drivers hanging out. Drivers such as Takuma Sato, who came over after doing F1 for a while, says everyone's so nice here. And it's true - everyone is so calm, relaxed and friendly."

Patrick learned much of her single-seat racing trade in the UK having spent three years on British shores in Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford - achieving a second place in the 2000 Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch. It is not an experience she looks back upon with too much fondness.

"As soon I was old enough to race cars, I took it to the next level. I was told that I could learn more in a year in the UK than I could in five years in the United States. It felt much more old-school over there [in Britain], though. Women still cooked and cleaned. I feel the women's movement happened a little faster over here [in America].

"I remember I was the quickest one day in practice, and one of the team owners I drove for couldn't believe it. To the male drivers he was like, 'She's the quickest - what are you doing? Get out there, go!' as if it wasn't okay to be slower than me. He would tell his wife to fetch him beers."

But if recent performances are anything to go by, Patrick may soon be changing her mind. She was booed by the crowd after criticizing her car during Saturday's qualifying run that left her a career-worst 23rd on the grid for the Indy 500. She later said she had been shocked by the crowd's response.

"I'll never say never, but it would have to be a really unique opportunity for me to change what I'm doing. The schedule for this year and next year is [to] do both IndyCar and NASCAR and then decide if I want to do that again, or focus on one or the other. I always go with my gut."

Despite her disappointing qualifying performance for this weekend's Indy 500, Patrick still says it is her favourite race on the calendar.

"[Indy] is my favourite race of the year. I really like the ovals at Indy and Daytona - big drafting tracks where it's like a chess match. You have to be patient, pick your battles and stay in it to the end. I'm competitive at everything I do. You name it - cards, running or beating people off the line at a red light!"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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