For those who might not know ( or care ) Danica Patrick is a race car driver who is opting to race in several stock car races this year as well as keep her normal ride in the Izod Indy Car Open Wheel series. While her overall victories (1) don't match her popularity, she has been under the TV microscope as she makes her initial laps around Daytona International Speedway this week in the ARCA ("AA" if you will) and the NASCAR Nationwide ("AAA") Series.
SPEED TV, a division of FOX has been all over the story this week, and perhaps is a wee bit guilty of overkill in the coverage. I waited and hoped that ESPN would not subject her..and the rest of us..to their usual uber-hype of a particular racing subject.
That hope was dashed after her first Nationwide practice.
The main anchor..and I neither know, nor care who it was...invited to listen live to the conversation Ms Patrick was having with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. as she parked her car....however, as she took off her helmet, it was very apparant she wasnt talking and Mr Microphone had to jump in and admit that the conversation was taped. In addition to her crew in the garage as she exited the car, was ESPN analyst and former driver Rusty Wallace who was all google eyed and started yammering on to Ms Patrick, as she tried to walk away and actually communicate with her crew...but there was some ex NBA Star ..and ESPN NASCAR (?) anaylst Brad Daugherty who, with his nearly 7 foot frame, blocked her from going the other way...
Remind me again, what this ex NBA player is doing on an ESPN telecast, much less in the garage area. By the way, neither Wallace, who does own a Nationwide team led by a relative of his who couldnt stay out of the way of most drivers last year.... nor Daughtery had microphones and appered to be there....just to be there.
SPEED TV, a division of FOX has been all over the story this week, and perhaps is a wee bit guilty of overkill in the coverage. I waited and hoped that ESPN would not subject her..and the rest of us..to their usual uber-hype of a particular racing subject.
That hope was dashed after her first Nationwide practice.
The main anchor..and I neither know, nor care who it was...invited to listen live to the conversation Ms Patrick was having with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. as she parked her car....however, as she took off her helmet, it was very apparant she wasnt talking and Mr Microphone had to jump in and admit that the conversation was taped. In addition to her crew in the garage as she exited the car, was ESPN analyst and former driver Rusty Wallace who was all google eyed and started yammering on to Ms Patrick, as she tried to walk away and actually communicate with her crew...but there was some ex NBA Star ..and ESPN NASCAR (?) anaylst Brad Daugherty who, with his nearly 7 foot frame, blocked her from going the other way...
Remind me again, what this ex NBA player is doing on an ESPN telecast, much less in the garage area. By the way, neither Wallace, who does own a Nationwide team led by a relative of his who couldnt stay out of the way of most drivers last year.... nor Daughtery had microphones and appered to be there....just to be there.
