It never ceases to amaze me the arrogance of athletes let alone celebritiess once they come to the fore and a part of the public domain . Upon her historical win at Motegi Japan in an IRL race Danica Patrick became an overnight sensation. Albeit that she'd had a modicum of success to a varying degree within the discipline of IRL.
Members tend to the innjured Charles 'Chuck' Buckman who was struck by Danica Patrick's vehicle upon her entering pit lane having just come off the track after testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Buckman suffered a concussion and severe contusions. He's being kept under close observation having been listed in stable condition. picture courtesy of ap/photos/ Tom Strickland .....
The sport's popularity has taken something of a major hit over the years once the split between it and the CART series took place. But since their re-emergence as a merged entity . It was felt that the open wheel discipline's profile would be again raised. And with Patrick's win at Motegi that was most definitely the case. And with IRL's most popular event on the calendar upon us . What took place today most certainly has placed the sport within the spotlight in an unenviable position.
Tony Kanaan leads teammate Danica Patrick whilst in practice at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, In. picture courtesy of ap/photos/ A J Mast .......
Upon ending a practice session Patrick in her Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda entered pit lane at a speed that one could attest would be far in exccess of what'd be expected under the conditions rendered. It culminated in an accident that could've been avoided had Patrick not been negligent in her responsibility as a driver. Her hitting pit chief mechanic Charles 'Chuck' Buckman the crew chief to Brazlian driver Mario Moraes of Dale Coyne Racing. Patrick's response if nothing else was scripted and showed very little remorse for an accident that could've been easily avoided had she not been so negligent.
Patrick leaves pit lane after having struck a Dale Coyne Racing employee prior. Practice sessions were taking place for the Indianapolis 500 which takes place on the 25th May. picture courtesy of ap/photos/ Tom Strickland.......
It can be said Patrick as the IRL's most popular driver can ill afford be seen as a pariah at this juncture. But her actions after this incident would indicate that she's of the belief that she can do no wrong in the eyes of the public or the hierarchy of IRL. Albeit that at times she's also been viewed as one the sport's most outspoken personalities. Even being critical of her peers in some instances. Her tempered remorse patently scripted to show emotion certainly doesn't show how calculating Patrick can be. But at the end of the day it'll be about what the fans think of her and not the hierarchy of IRL. As to what her teammates and the rest of her peers may well think of her is open to debate at this juncture.
Former Indianapolis 500 champion Mario Andretti and his son Michael Andretti owner of the Andretti Green Racing team. picture courtesy of ap/photo/ Tom Strickland .....
Patrick's ambition is no doubt to be the best driver and champion within the open wheel racing discipline in North America. Her popularity , ambition and talent is without question. But her temperament may well be the one thing that'll either assist her in fulfilling her ambition or deflating that ambition. That choice is up to her and her alone. But her temperament had better be curbed if she's to avoid another incident of this nature either on or off the track. The seriousness of this incident shouldn't be lost on her or any of the other competitors within the sport at this juncture. It could easily have been one of them but then they're not the ones who are now in the spotlight and said to be face of the sport as it looks to the future.
Two time Indy 500 winner Helio Catroneves signs autographs for fans at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The race itself will be held on the 25th of May at the famed track. picture courtesy of ap/photo/Darron Cummings ..........
As to what that'll portend for the sport one can only hope that it will be something that thrusts it to the heights where it can be viewed with the same esteem held by its more popular rival NASCAR. Certainly now at this moment in time Patrick's actions may not make that a foregone conclusion. Image is everything as they say or it's nothing at all !
Most excellent post, al. This certainly won't win Danica any new fans. I've already seen message boards defending her reckless actions earlier today.
Some fans say they want her to be treated equally, yet the only reason these fans like her is because she's a woman. If the driver was named Daniel Patrick, and had the same record, would they still defend her every move?
hanahan Had Patrick been a male my response would still have been the same. She was negligent in her actions on entering the pit lane. And her act of contrition was even less than convincing. There wasn't even an apology forthcoming from either her or her team. Which is even more astonishing considering the plight and fate of the victim at this juncture . It leads me to believe that she's even more pious and calculating than even I could ever have envisaged !
Had Danica been a male my response would have been this also.
If I were the driver who hit a pit person standing around talkin to one of my pit persons in a place where either could be hit I would ask both of them what they hell were they thinking? And if MY pit person was caught slacking off again while I was coming into the pits I'd ask that he be fired.
As I said, I'm notta big racin' fan but as I remember, AJ Foyt never was one fer curttaillin' temperament...
'Course....he wuzza dude...classic red-neck, butta dude...lol
I never heard of AJ Foyt so I asked my dad if he was really mean. Here is the condensed version of what he said.
AJ Foyt was so mean that if he had of been coming into the pits and one of his crew members had been standing there chatting with another car's crew members Foyt would have gunned it and ran over them both and billed the other team for doing their dirty work for them.
'Nique Patrick's lack of contrition speaks to the sort of person that she is. She hasn't apologized for the incident. She was at fault completely . Buckman was actually in his own team's racing pit lane and hadn't gone over into another team's lane at the time. What is even more astonishing is the fact that we've yet to even have an apology from the Andretti Green Racing team.
Had the victim been killed one wonders if there'd be an apology at all ?
slshusker
It oughtn't to have mattered where Buckman was at the time within reason. The fact of the matter was that Patrick was negligent.
Buckman was in a designate safety zone at the time and Patrick ploughed into the him. Her less than contrite was at best laughable. It says much as to her lack of character and that of the Andretti Green Racing team. Who've yet to issue a formal apology at all.
Suffice to say her character and integrity comes into question.
SteveoinHTown
As pious , pompous and self opinionated as Patrick is. Even this is so beneath her that it's conceivable that she doesn't believe that she's at fault. The victim in this instance could very well been killed. Her negligence was proof of that and the lack of contrition on her part is even more astounding at this juncture !
I don't care if we're talking about the likes of Foyt or anyone else for that matter. But if you'd witness what had taken place even you would've been sickened by the incident. Her total lack of compassion and contrition is beyond understanding.
'Nique
Patrick is beginning to believe the hype that's surrounding and has become so condescending and outrageously self opinionated. To add further insult to injury she's now of the belief that she's the equal of her peers within the sport. When in reality nothing could be further from the truth. !
Rampant I don't know anything about her frame of mind. I don't follow open wheel racing at all except for the 500 like many people.
But could you give me a link to an article that says the guy was in his designated pit area because I could have sworn that the article I read said he was standing with his face turned away from her approach within the markings of her pit crew area talking to a member of her pit crew. I could be wrong but that was my understanding and if that was the case she has nothing to apologize for in my view.
Last edited by NiqueDodson on May 10th at 8:40 PM.
I am concerned about the officials patroling the pits. Should they have been cognicent of this issue warning the crew to get behind the wall and who was watching the drivers and cars to insure no speeding on pit road.
I can't believe the track officials were so lax in their duties.
This doesn't surprise me . The pits are a dangerous place to be at any time and lax of oficiating or awareness of people in the pit will ensure a catastrophy.
At least in NASCAR, there are penalties for going too fast on pit road any time and there is no casual walking around on the pit road any time except when the cars are stopped. .
'Nique
I don't know what might've been reported but it's clear to see that Buckman was within his rights as he conversed with crewmmates within the Dale Coyne Racing pit lanes. He was aware as to what was about to happen but couldn't avoid Patrick or her vehicle. Her speed made sure of that. But it was apparently clear for all to see that she was negligent. So far she's not apologized nor has her team. What's even more surprising is that the hierarchy have failed to address the incident.
It's astonishing as to the hypocrisy that goes on within the sport at present. ! The pompousity,the piety is unbelievable and shows us that's what meant to be taken seriously isn't in the eyes of the individuals. Patrick epitomizes that at this juncture and it's there for all to see.
photogr What to me is even more astonishing is the lack of action by the IRL. They're on appearance a witless and haphazard organization. They ought to be proactive in dealing with this issue. But they've stood aside and remained silent. To my mind that's totally abhorrent and reprehensible.
Tophatal, good post. Danica SHOULD be treated as an equal. Time to call a #### a ####. Time to call her out for her negligence, and you did a good job of that. Good point you brought up about her temperament. Unless she reins in her temper, it will be her downfall.
Tophatal are you aware that the hit crew member has taken total responsibility and stated that he has been racing for many years and knew better to stand where he was standing yakking. He got hit by the wing of her spoiler IN HER PIT. He takes sole and total responsibility. Maybe you should lighten up on Danica just a bit?
Nique Hit crew member has taken responsibility for the fact he was hit whilst being his own team pit lane ? That's the first I've heard of that ? And it's not about me being hard on Patrick. If she wants to be treated as an equal amongst her peers than she'd better be prepared to take responsibilty for her own actions. She came into the lane far too fast . And it ouhgt to be looked at not just by IRL but all of the teams involved within the field of IRL. How does it make it Buckman's fault if he's within his own pit lane ? At the time of the incident he wasn't anywhere within the region of the Andretti Green Racing pit lanes. He was in the Dale Coyne Racing lanes and not as being alleged. It's plain for all to see. This is nothing more than IRL wanting to be expedient as to not hurt the image of Patrick in the eyes of the public. Patrick tends to like to dish it out without being prepared to take responsibility for her own actions !
Nique
If you'd read the piece with any clarity you'd see that there's no sexism there. Patrick say she wants to be treated as an equal but she's yet to show any respec to her peers.
How is it the likes of Milka Dunno, Sarah Fisher can come into the realms of IRL compete with great competitiveness and not create the same sort of turmoil ? If you can answer me that then you'll see what I'm getting . Patrick not just by the way she carries herself has done the likes of Janet Guthrie a disservice. Guthrie and the likes of Shirley Muldowney set the stage for Patrick to follow that path.
Furthermore when it comes to women in auto sports be it on two or four wheels. Patrick has a long way to go before she even makes dent on what Peggy Llewellyn has achieved.
So if you're alluding to the fact that I'm being sexist. I'd suggest you look up the names mentioned and see what I'm talking about.
Before forming a conclusion have something to substantiate it with ! It helps to bolster the argument.
jon'
It says a lot for your sport when in the minds of many. The sport's two most popular drivers aren't exactly known for their exploits on the track.
Castroneves having won a reality show dance competition is now more widely known than ever . And prior to Patrick winning in Motegi Japan. All she was primarily known for were those all too revealing pics in Maxim and other mags of that ilk. Not that was a bad thing mind you.
But now that she's in the spotlight she's got to be able to roll with the blows and stop coming off as a whining brat some of the time. She knows that she was negligent and the facts bare this out. But then there are those out who feel her actions ought to be excused. Had the victim been killed one wonders what the feelings indeed would've been ?
This is excellent. I completely agree with your view of this incident. Top, isn't it true that a driver is supposed to be in complete control of his/her car on pit road at all times? Am I mistaken in that assumption? Again, thanks for an excellent, well thought out piece of writing.
volfan 69
That's something that people just don't seem to understand. Had Buckman been killed I might hasten to add that we may well still have had people still trying to defend Patrick's actions. I for one think that IRL shouuld investigate the incident and at the same time Andretti Green Racing should'v e issued an immediate apology . But all one hears are a number of people trying rally behind Patrick and her actions.
It's utterly nonesensical and insane to say the least !
Anyhow thanks for the support in this respect.
An avid martial artist and fan of Jet Li. Possessing a black belt in karate (2nd degree Black Belt) I'm of Caribbean parentage born in the UK and have lived in the US for the past 14 years. A lover of sports in particular Soccer, NFL, NBA and MLB.
Slowly getting use to NASCAR but I prefer F1 Practices martial arts, karate and wu shu kwan , muy thai -kick boxing) College grad BA in Int'l Fin and BA in Economics.
I've recently received my MBA here in the US
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