Despite only winning one race in IndyCar so far and having been soundly beaten by her team mates, Patrick is still an interesting driver for many teams because of the marketability of the young lady. Being one only a few female drivers, and not afraid to speak her mind, Patrick brings a lot of interest wherever she goes. The photographs published in Sports Illustrated recently do little to discourage attention.

However, Danica is very aware of what a move from one discipline to another may do to her career, and while she is performing okay in IndyCar, a move to Formula One could very easily be disastrous as it could be spectacular. Patrick is concerned of making the move only to find the car she is in is hopelessly off the pace, leading to criticism and possible embarrassment.

I don’t believe that it’s very productive to lead people on if it’s not something that I’m interested in because you’re really opening yourself up then.

What if you go and do it and it doesn’t go ideally or perfect and you don’t set the world on fire? Then all of a sudden all you did was just open yourself up to criticism.

So I would think about it and I would check the schedule, and we’ll cross that bridge if it ever comes. Danica Patrick.

Danica Patrick’s contract with her current emplyer, Andretti Green Racing, ends at the close of the 2009 season, meaning that at the moment, Danica is free to move for 2010, the proposed entry year for USF1. It is probably likely that Patrick will test a USF1 car when one has been built, but thinking about the competitiveness of all previous new teams in Formula One, Danica may very well decide not to join (if a drive is offered). At least, not in the team’s first season anyway.

Original article by BlogF1.

Danica Patrick Hesitant Over Any Possible Move To Formula One

Currently, Danica drives for Andretti Green Racing in the IRL IndyCar Series and started competing at this level in 2005. That year Patrick won the Rookie of the Year prize as well as the Most Popular Driver award (which we really should have in F1 just for comedy value). Danica scored 325 points and finished twelfth overall. Since then, Patrick has continued to improve both in results and the continued winning of the Popular Driver award. Currently, Danica sits in fifth in the 2008 championship. The Motegi round of the championship in Japan saw Patrick win for the first time, and now there is talk of the young star testing for HondaF1, the link being that Honda currently supply engines to Andretti Green.

Every driver would love to drive a Formula One car at some point in their life, so yeah, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a real, proper test. Danica Patrick.

Patrick went on to say that she had been recently asked to demonstrate a Formula One car in America, but refused because the organisers would be making her in to a show that would be embarrassing for her. But Patrick clearly wishes for a serious test, and given her ascent in IRL, perhaps the young racer deserves one.

Honda have denied any discussions with Patrick have taken place, but also said that they would be more than happy to offer Patrick a chance to test one of their Formula One machines. Katherine Legge was, I believe, the last lady to test a Formula One car, that being a Minardi back in 2005. However, the last female driver to attempt qualification for a race in F1 was Giovanna Amati, who competed in 1992. Unfortunately, it was with Brabham and the Italian driver didn’t really get anywhere with it. Skip forward 15 years though, and Formula One could be about to see its sixth woman to compete in the sport. I’m not going to hold my breath, but I might keep my fingers crossed.

Original article by BlogF1.

Could Danica Patrick Be Formula One’s Next Female Racer?