IndyCar Series at Kentucky: Danica Patrick vs. Sarah Fisher

[JohnBM01]

For the first time, it will be Danica Patrick currently with Rahal-Letterman Racing vs. Sarah Fisher who has a one-race deal with Dreyer-Reinbold(?). I have always said that the only thing she (Danica) hasn't done was finish higher than Sarah Fisher. Danica's best is 4th, Sarah's best is 2nd. The race will be on August 13th. So I'm wondering who do you think will perform better next weekend?

 

[m.piedgros]

Depending on how good Sarah's team and car is, she has it locked. I don't mean to hate on Danica I just doubt her abilities. She is 90 lbs in a series with no minimum driver with car weight and she isn't blowing everyone's doors off. Of course, with cars that way what... 1400 lbs, the difference between 90 and 160 extra pounds is nothing.

m.piedgros

 

[=V8 Power=]

I would say Danica. Although she is definitley not the best driver out there, I think she has more skill than Sarah could ever have.

 

[Thundercat]

I have my tent planted firmly in the Sarah Fisher camp! Don't know what type of machine Sarah will be racing in, but Sarah has to be allowed to compete--not only with Danica, but also with Andretti, Kannan, Castroneves, Hornish and all the other guys on the track. She can't just go out there and get schooled by 19 other drivers in better machines. Not to mention the fact that she's been away from Indy cars for how many years now? The last I saw of Sarah was during a cold, cloudy Indy where she and Lyn St. James took each other out of the race, early. She literally feel off the radar screen--well, er, my radar screen. I thought she moved out west to sell farming quipment with her uncle.
But I'm glad she's back in an Indy car.
I'm glad she's racing and I'd like to see her in the Indianapolis 500 next year.
Right now, I hope she places ahead of Danica in Kentucky.

 

[JohnBM01]

Yeah, but she hasn't seen much IndyCar contention in a while. Do you think that Sarah Fisher can still put up a solid fight even a few years since leaving Indy Car?

 

[Thundercat]

I honestly believe that if Sarah Fisher isn't given hand-me-down equipment, I think she can compete with anyone: Kannan, Castroneves Wheldon--and even Patrick! Beyond Kentucky, I hope to see Fisher race in next year's Indy. Patrick will br racing for Andretti-Green next year; the money and power of that team is staggering. Penske is king, but I don't see her racing for them anytime soon.
Getting back to the point, Sarah Fisher is a racer. She's got more overall IRL experience than Patrick--experience in backmarker machines. She has higher finishes than Patrick . . . and despite being away from Indy cars, I feel she's good enough to adapt quickly to the machine.
Did I answer your question or just ramble?

 

[RACECAR]

Looks like Patrick tops Fisher, courtesy of her Top ten finish in 8th and Fisher's finish in 12th. so:

Patrick: 1
Fisher: 0

what an upset given the stats on both drivers.

 

[m.piedgros]

That point is under review. The considerably younger, smaller and more prepared Danica beats Sarah by four positions and you give Danica the point? Frade-note pal. All things considered, I don't know how their cars matched up by the way, I'd call it at worst a draw.

m.piedgros

 

[JohnBM01]

Danica and Sarah filled Row 6. D. Patrick started 11th and S. Fisher started 12th. You could say that Fisher has an advantage by having a fresher car as D. Patrick had a warmup incident where Vitor Meira had a collision with Danica heading onto pit road. So it's time to see which sister of speed got it done at Kentucky. But first, let's investigate the possibilities here:

A.) If Danica does better...
...then she'll show to have been a better racer while having respect for Sarah Fisher.

B.) If Sarah does better...
...then she will have had an impressive one-off deal.

C.) If Danica wins...
...then it would be an impressive win as she will have done one position better than Sarah Fisher's highest finish of second.

D.) If Sarah wins...
...then this young lady has REALLY shown her strength and may go back to a full-season deal. Could be a tour de force in the series.

NFL Hall of Famer Anthony Muñoz appropriately said it- ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! Two girls up against 17 guys. I tend to think that this could be a big weekend for Danica since I know how many people love ripping Danica whenever she isn't winning or doesn't finish. It is a great racing weekend for the IndyCar Series as well as for American motorsports in general. Think about it- you have two competitive ladies racing their hearts out over a male-dominated field. Fisher was falling back in the early going. At around Lap 29 of 200, Danica was 12th and Sarah was 17th. Pretty nice run even for someone with a little IndyCar rust. Both Patrick and Fisher would be off the pace a bit around Lap 80. The halfway point Lap 102 seen Danica in 12th and Sarah in 15th, both on the lead lap. Danica had her head rest fly out of the car to provide a little discomfort while driving. Got it repaired since then. Danica's stayed on the pace being three seconds behind the leader in about 12th after the Kosuke Matsurra caution. Sarah was about five seconds back. When the checkered flag flew, here's the final results by the two ladies:

Danica Patrick - 8th Place
Sarah Fisher - 1 Place

FINAL ANALYSIS:
Both drivers had a very nice race. Sarah Fisher hasn't had the successful comeback she wanted, but still remained a solid talent. I have absolutely nothing against Lady Sarah. It just wasn't her race. As for Danica Patrick, she had herself a great race. She didn't make the Top Five at any point of the race, but she has done very well. My fear for Danica at Sonoma is that Danica hasn't had such a good run on road courses in the IndyCar Series. She was the victim of Eddie Cheever Jr.'s tomfoolery at Watkins Glen earlier this year. She would finish an impressive 8th afterwards at The Glen. Great job by Danica. And actually, great job by both D. Patrick and S. Fisher.