Danica Patrick Won’t Run In 2013 Indy 500 [Report]
Danica Patrick may not run in the 2013 Indy 500, according to a report that says the NASCAR Nationwide driver will not even attempt to the race next year.
Patrick has reportedly decided to pass on next year’s Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, because she wants to concentrate on her career in NASCAR, reports Sports Illustrated.
When asked of her intentions, however, Danica simply stated, “There’s nothing I can say at this time.”
Patrick left the IndyCar series last year to race full-time for NASCAR. She skipped the 2012 500 in order to race in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day.
When announcing her schedule last January, however, the GoDaddy.com driver mentioned that she hopes to return to the infamous Indy race and has been working since then to put a deal together for a ride in the 2013 500.
But those plans were halted in the last month when Stewart-Haas Racing, Danica Patrick’s car owner, questioned her wisdom in wanting to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. The Detroit Free Press notes that Patrick recently stated of running both events:
“I’d like to do it. I think it would be a huge thing as far as to say something that I’ve done, and I think it would be something that if I did it, it would be because I had a chance to win. That’s great because it’s Indy. I’ve come close. It would be nice to finish that off. I always thought I’d win there. If I don’t, no regrets. I’ve had great races there. I’ve had a great track record.”
Patrick was the first woman to lead the Indy 500 when she finished in fourth in 2005. Since then, she has placed in the top ten in six of seven races, including a career-best third in 2009. As for whether Danica Patrick will return to the Indy 500 in 2013? Only time will tell.
