Danica Patrick won’t change her personality or back down from anyone just because she’s entering a new series, she said Thursday.
Danica On Payback: ‘I Have Fenders Now’
“If somebody does something to me that I don’t like, you have to expect that you get something in return,” she said. “And I have fenders now, so that’s pretty exciting.”
She flashed a smile as reporters chuckled, but added, “I plan to respect everybody from the start and if they give me reason to not respect them, then I won’t.”
Patrick acknowledged she’s a fiery competitor at times (as evidenced by some of her high-profile clashes with IndyCar drivers) and said she’s learned how to conduct herself more graciously off the track in the last couple years.
But she said, “I will always be me. I will always be emotional. I will always have somewhat of a temper. And that’s because I care. It means a lot to me, it means everything to me.”
Patrick’s motivation for running NASCAR has been somewhat of a question since she announced her decision to join JR Motorsports to run a dozen races in the Nationwide Series.
Some wondered whether she was just doing it for money and attention or to build her brand. She was asked directly about those reasons on Thursday, and gave her clearest answer yet.
"No, I’m here because I want to race in NASCAR right now," she said. "Let’s face it, the opportunity and idea to race in NASCAR has come up many different times and I never did it. This time, I went, ‘Wow, I think the racing looks really fun.’ I’ve really found that I like oval racing and we’re doing less and less of that in IndyCar.
"It’s been very challenging to pass in the last year or two [in the IRL], due to the fact that everybody is identical out there. I’m really excited to get out there and have some passing and overtaking."
And for the fans who are lukewarm or downright negative about her foray into stock-car racing?
“I’m sure that exists. There are always people that cheer against you in some way. And that’s fine, I’ve felt that before,” she said. “I try and just look at myself, look at my team and I don’t really let other people’s opinions affect the way I feel.”
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