Patrick: 'The bottom line is winning does matter'

by Jason Whitlock

Updated: May 9, 2008, 5:24 PM EST 184 comments

Focus on Danica

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The open-wheel-racing feud is over. Tony George won a long, bloody and almost deadly war, forcing Champ Car to surrender to the wants of George's Indy Racing League. Now it's time for Danica Patrick to save open-wheel racing.

The stage couldn't be more set. She arrived in Indy for "the month of May" having secured her first victory, a historic triumph in the Japan 300 at Motegi three weeks ago. With that in mind, I sat down with Patrick 12 days ago at Kansas Speedway and chatted up my second-favorite driver of all-time (after Tom "The Gas Man" Sneva).

Question: I suspect 20 years from now when you're done with racing and maybe decide to write a memoir, there will be stories that shock even hardcore race fans. You're a strong, plain-spoken, attractive woman competing in an environment that's really the equivalent of football.

Danica Patrick: "Are there things going on that people just have no idea and stuff people would be like, 'Holy crap, that's a lot?' (There's a pause.) People probably have no idea how hard I worked after (winning). I didn't have a chance to eat. I ate my food while somebody was doing my hair. It's been so busy and I think that's one of the things people don't realize how much work it is to answer questions and do interviews. I put a lot into it. At the end of the day after a bunch of interviews, I'm really tired emotionally. I always want to give people a good interview. I want to give them honest answers. I'm not trying to beat around the bush about stuff. I put a lot of heart and soul into my interviews. I think there are always things that go on that are like, 'Are you kidding me?' Dynamics within teams. Dynamics just at home. There are always things, interesting things, that people don't know. They're things you should keep because it kind of adds to the interest. If your life is a total open book and everybody knows everything, then there's no mystery. What is there to wonder about? Heroes, people you look up to, like little kids look up to, they see you up here, and, to some degree, that's good. Kids need heroes and they don't need to know everything. They need examples. This world lacks a lot of that because our lives are so public these days."

Question: Hmm. So winning and all that comes along with victory complicate things? Does it make winning the next race more difficult?

Danica Patrick: "One thing I've learned over the years is I seem to perform under pressure. It's weird, but good I guess. Hopefully this will be no different. But I would never sacrifice performance for an extra day of on-camera activities or an extra day of travel. I always make sure the racing comes first. That's what really matters. That's what puts me on the map. That's what gets people interested and that's what keeps people talking. It's when I do well in the car."

"This is the first time I've had teammates believe in me and try and help," Danica Patrick says. (Darrell Ingham / Getty Images)

Question: Two years ago you jumped ship from Rahal Letterman to Andretti Green. You indicated at the time that Rahal Letterman wasn't as committed to winning as you would've liked. In retrospect, you've been proven right. They're down to one car, and you've reached the victory circle thanks in large part to the fuel strategy of your team. It looks like vindication to me.

Danica Patrick: "There were a couple of strong people within Rahal Letterman. Unfortunately, we just didn't have the leadership that we needed, the funds we needed to go forward as a team and be really competitive. There were definitely various reasons for leaving. One of the great strengths of Andretti Green is just the team, everything is about the team. There are just so many engineers. People like Kyle Moyer (general manager of Andretti Green) who have been around for so long. These are people that just (want to win). I'm not saying they (Rahal Letterman) didn't want to win. But I'm saying Andretti Green really, really wants to win and will do everything to get there."

Question: What's the best thing about being a member of Andretti Green?

Danica Patrick: "Teammates probably. Just having help from your teammates, support, having a couple of friends out there. I don't think we give each double wide car with the space everywhere. But we give each other the space to drive. And we respect each other. And we always come to the end of the year and it's all about the team winning races and the team winning championships. It's nice. I never felt like I had that kind of relationship before with teammates anywhere — from go-karting on. This is the first time I've had teammates believe in me and try and help.

Question: Do you think you would've won in Japan if you were still with Rahal Letterman?

Danica Patrick: Umm (long pause, four seconds). Well, I think that's obviously a difficult question. But I will say we were in a position in 2005 (at Motegi). We were faster in '05. I legitimately had a couple of chances to win. We were on the pole quite a few times. Our race car suffered but we were on track to do something very similar in '05. I ended up finishing fourth (at Motegi). There was a caution that came out at the end. I was just turning my fuel back up to go pass as many cars as possible and people were going to start running out of fuel. But again there was a caution. Could've happened in '05, but do I think if I was with Rahal Letterman this year, then I think Ryan Hunter-Reay is a good driver and I think if they would've had, you know, they, you know, he didn't, he didn't win. So."

Question: How do you feel about the people saying your victory was won in the pits and not on the track?

Danica Patrick: "Totally expected. Totally expected. The people who don't believe I can drive two weeks ago, don't believe I can drive now. I really don't think that is going to change much. Either people believed in my results and me and what I did or they didn't. I don't think that win changed a lot. The bottom line is winning does matter, and it does matter more to some people. So those people probably were slightly convinced. I can't convince everybody."

Question: How about with your peers, the competitors and peers you deal with on pit road, how have they responded to your victory?

Danica Patrick: "Glad. The response from the people in pit lane and other drivers, owners and everything has been so very positive. And I'm so grateful for that. We as owners and drivers know each other on such a different level than the fans know us really. We know how we act with each other on the track and off the track and who's nice and who's not. We see each other so much. We really get to know each other on a different level."

Question: Have you heard from Bobby Rahal? Has he congratulated you?

Danica Patrick: "I haven't seen Bob. But I just came from my motor home and my husband, Paul, walked in and said, 'Everybody is really happy for you, Danica.' He said, 'Bobby Rahal gave me a big hug.' I said, 'That's really rice.' It's not like we don't like each other. We just don't talk anymore really. We say, 'Hi,' in passing. It's obviously not the relationship you have when he's your owner. I think that was very nice to have happened."

Question: Are you surprised Bobby Rahal hasn't personally congratulated you? You guys have a pretty long history.

Danica Patrick: "In saying that, yeah, maybe. Then again, after Graham (Rahal) won I didn't call Bob. I don't think there's any point in saying anything negative. We are what we are as friends because of what has happened."

Question: Who is the coolest person you've heard from since winning the Japan 300?

Danica Patrick: "Hillary Clinton . . . I don't really want to say exactly what she was asking about, but she sent me . . . "

Question: A letter asking for a campaign contribution?

Danica Patrick: "No, she was not asking for campaign money. I'm not picking and choosing a side in the campaign world. But she sent me a very nice letter. She just recognizes the moment. She recognizes that she's in a similar boat. And I stop and think about that. Did I ever think I would be alive when a female would be president? I don't know. I really don't know. I always thought it would be possible. To be in the moment of it, it's a big deal."

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