IndyCar Series' first female race-winner, Danica Patrick, to live out her F1 dream after Honda reveals a test will take place.
Honda has confirmed that Danica Patrick will get a test in one of its Formula One cars later this year, fuelling speculation that the American is also to be given a race chance in the top flight in the not-too-distant future.
Wisconsin-born Patrick currently sits sixth in the IndyCar Series point standings following her historic breakthrough victory at Motegi back in April, the first success by a female driver in the premier open-wheeled championship across the Pond.
The 26-year old Andretti Green Racing ace has hinted in interviews at her long-held desire to have an outing in an F1 car [see separate story - click here]. Now it seems that dream has come true.
Honda CEO Nick Fry has admitted to Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung that a test will indeed take place, and that it is likely to do so at either Barcelona or Jerez in Spain in November, following the end of the 2008 F1 campaign.
"We will put her into our car after the season at the latest and see how quick she is," the Briton said.
Honda's current driver Jenson Button had previously joked in an interview with men's lifestyle magazine FHM that 'a girl with big boobs would never be comfortable in the car, and the mechanics wouldn't concentrate. Can you imagine strapping her in? You wouldn't want to be on the circuit with them, would you?'.
The last woman to enter the top flight was Giovanna Amati, who attempted to qualify three times for Brabham back in 1992 before being replaced at the ailing British outfit by Damon Hill.
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Lame marketing by Honda (& the Japanese these days), no IRL racer deserves to get into F1, it's simply a different league. IRL is not serious racing, & the only reason she's been selected is because it's an attempt to bolster marketing efforts. Sad really.
who cares about gender? Putting all that aside and looking strictly at her performance in IRL, she is far over-rated. One win in three years? Please. And being a NASCAR fan, y'all overseas can have Kyle Busch. Let him draw the ire of the entire world. He's already accomplished that here in America.
she has proved she can drive so why not she can,t be worse than some of the rubbish we see in f1
If its the same stunt that Toyota is going to pull with Kyle Busch then its no big deal. But to actually consider her for a race ride is stupid. If they are going to consider her, she should have to be a test driver for a year like most every other driver did. They're are plenty of drivers who need to be out of F1 but thats doesn't justify jsut giving Danica a try because she wants one and has one a race. If that were the case then lets look at Scott Dixon, Sam Hornish, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff gordan, and such.
I am completely with AtomicArc on this....and I forgot earlier to include Nico Rosberg in my F1 stud list. He's yummy, too! hee hee Anyhow, point being that she is not of that caliber (and especially not with HONDA!) I'd rather have Scott Speed back (hey, there's another yummy!)
At least she has a pair of built-in air bags for when she shunts!
id much rather look at her all sweaty after a race then barrichello or button. give her a shot. its just a publicity stunt anyway.
Your missing the point, all F1 drivers have won consistently at some level of racing in order to be considered a candidate for an open seat. Whether they win once they are in F1 is irrelevant, because any true F1 fan knows only two or three teams have a legitimate shot at winning a Grand Prix (Ferrari, McClaren & BMW). Danica has not demonstrated the ability to win, much less do it consistently. It is not a slight on women in racing, it is just the truth on Danica Patrick and her overhyped racing career.
They're F1 racers who never win in F1. What makes them so special and qualified to stay in F1?
Why can't a woman go into a "mans" sport just for the sake that she likes F1? It isn't always becasue thier try to be a trial blazer.
Why must women think they can or should venture everywhere a man has gone? Sheesh, I'm a woman and I'll be perfectly satisfied if all I ever get to look at in an F1 car are yummy studs like Webber, Coulthard, Button, or Alonso. I don't need all the hype surrounding a woman in F1 taking away from the actual season. One Indy win after several years of trying does not a Formula one racer make.
She doesn't belong in F1. Winning only 1 race in her professional career while driving for a top flight team is not the definition of success. She doesn't have the neck strength to deal with the G-forces generated through braking in an F1 car. This smacks of a marketing ploy by Honda. Shameful....
Right on Jim K. Considering F1 cars are superior, and very driveable, if a weak male can do is, surely one od us gals can. The only problem I see is the lack of traction control on F1's. But, hey, we have quicker reflexes anyway......
Why not a woman in F1? If she's physically strong enough to cope with the car, and a test should establish this, then good luck to her.
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