Kyle Petty's Danica Patrick statement on Thursday stirred controversy as the former NASCAR driver claimed Danica Patrick is "not a race car driver."
"Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs," said Petty, the son of NASCAR legend Richard "King" Petty. "She can go fast, but she can't race. I think she's come a long way, but she's still not a race car driver. And I don't think she's ever going to be a race car driver."
A bold remark, interviewer Matt Clark followed up on Petty's statement on Thursday and asked why Patrick would never become a race car driver in his eyes. The racing veteran expressed little faith on Danica Patrick and said it was "too late to learn."
Well, if Danica Patrick is not a race car driver, what is she and why does she belong on the grid?
Kyle Petty believes Danica Patrick is a "marketing machine" for the sport and the media has artificially propelled her to stardom.
"Fans have bought into the hype of the marketing, to think she's a race car driver," Petty said. "She can go fast, and I've seen her go fast. She drives the wheels off it when she goes fast."
Petty was careful to make a distinction between driving fast versus racing. "The King (Richard Petty) always had that stupid saying, but it's true, 'Lots of drivers can drive fast, but very few drivers can race,'" Petty explained. "Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs. She can go fast, but she can't race."
There's no doubt that Danica Patrick has done a lot to promote American Motorsports and is capable of generating great marketing for any racing series she chooses to join. However, does that mean Danica Patrick cannot not race car driver? The numbers don't lie.
While Kyle Petty may have delivered some blunt criticism, Danica Patrick is the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing. Danica Patrick made history when she won the Indy Japan 300 to become the only woman to ever win an IndyCar Series race. Patrick placed third in the 2009 Indy 500, becoming the only woman to finish the historic race on the podium. All in all, Danica Patrick scored a win, six podiums, three poles, and 63 top-10 finishes during her 7-year stint at IndyCar.
Is Danica Patrick a racing driver or is she a marketing machine? Why not both?
Watch the video below to learn more about Kyle Petty's opinion on Danica.
