"I don't think that's an accurate description of me": When Danica Patrick took a clear stand on her flawed NASCAR ‘reputation’

Danica Patrick once talked about her reputation in NASCAR and whether the reputation that has been built around her was entirely fair. In the interview, Patrick explained how the limited exposure of her life as a driver to the public has led to what she felt was an incomplete and flawed description of her character.

Patrick is a former professional race car driver. Born in 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin, she began karting at age 10 and went on to win the World Karting Association Grand National Championship three times. Patrick dropped out of high school to pursue a career in racing and moved to the United Kingdom to take part in the Formula Vauxhall and Formula Ford.

She made history in 2008 by becoming the first woman to win an IndyCar race at the Indy Japan 300 and later became the first woman to get a pole position at the Daytona 500 in 2013. Over the course of her career, she has set multiple records which include becoming the first woman to lead laps in the Daytona 500 and the highest finish by a woman in the race which was position 8 in 2013. Patrick retired from racing in 2017

The focus of the discussion comes from an interview by Jeff Gluck for USA TODAY Sports on September 15, 2016 who asked her:

“What do you think your reputation is – and is that reputation accurate?”

Danica Patrick answered the question by saying that a reputation is observed by others, and even if it was something negative, it wouldn’t be told to her. So, the question was better placed for other people.

After this, she also went on to talk about how it may be accurate to some degree but it does not go on to define the person she is all in all. Since people only get to see her at the racetrack or in an interview after a qualifying session or a race, they see only a very small glimpse of her as a person in similar situations.

To this, she also added that after a race, the situation may be tense, focused, frustrated, or one of excitement. Also while referring to herself along with other drivers she talked about how coming away from each race they think about what could have been better. Patrick concluded:

“So I don’t think that’s an accurate description of what I’m really like in general.”

After retiring from full-time racing in 2017, Danica Patrick launched the Pretty Intense podcast, which is about personal growth and spirituality. She also launched her brand Somnium Wine, a vineyard in California, and the Warrior by Danica Patrick which is a line of athleisure wear.

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“Achievable across the board” - Danica Patrick’s response to Carmen Jorda's comments about women in F1 racing

Formula One: Canadian Grand Prix, Danica Patrick - Source: Imagn

In March 2018, the former F1 development driver Carmen Jorda said that physical strength is a barrier for women in Formula 1 (via ESPN):

“The challenge that we women have in Formula Two and Formula One is a physical issue and I think in Formula E, we won't have it. It's not for me to decide what's good for women or not in the sport. But in my experience, I can say Formula One -- not all the other championships, karting, Formula Three, GT, I think women are capable of good results in all those series -- in Formula One and Formula Two there is a barrier that is a physical issue.”

In response to this, Danica Patrick said (via FTW):

“I think that the natural stature of a man versus a woman is probably what’s deceiving because men are naturally – stature wise, strength, muscle mass – they are stronger. When you take the peak strength of a man or a woman in the world, they’re going to be different.”

“But in racing, we’re not dealing with peak strength. We’re dealing with endurance. We’re dealing with strength but mostly endurance of that, so that’s not necessary. The level of strength that you need is achievable across the board, so obviously that’s just not true. And much of (success), too, comes from being relaxed behind the wheel and getting the car to handle for you, and then things also get a lot easier.”

Patrick worked as a pundit for NASCAR, Formula 1, and Netflix’s Drive to Survive.