Danica Patrick was still on Cloud 9 on arrival in Kansas, but soon will be back to business as usual (Ron McQueeney/IndyCar photo)
Danica Patrick’s “worldwind tour” is about to end, and business as usual is about to resume.
Patrick, fresh from her first IndyCar series victory last weekend in Japan -- and the five-day U.S. media tour that ensued -- will take to the track Saturday as drivers begin preparation for Sunday’s Kansas Lottery Indy 300 at Kansas Speedway.
Patrick spent much of the week taping national television shows -- including “The View,” “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” -- and being interview by major media outlets. Patrick said she knew her first win would bring a big reaction, but she didn’t imagine it would take on the level of social commentary that it did.
“It reaches out,” she said. “It speaks to women and to people breaking the mold and to people who are making history. That’s why I think it’s been a big story. It’s not just a win in racing or in IndyCar or in sports; it’s obviously a bigger thing.”
One of the first questions asked of Patrick after she won last weekend at Twin Ring Motegi in Japan was when she would win again. She responded quickly, “Next week at Kansas, I hope.”
That prospect won’t be easy. The IndyCar Series reunites with former Champ Car teams this weekend, increasing the field from the 18 that raced in Japan to 27 for Sunday’s race. Among the competitors will be another driver who scored an historic win last week. Will Power won the final Champ Car event at Long Beach, moving him to fifth in the IndyCar standings after three races.
Helio Castroneves, who Patrick passed for the lead at Motegi with two laps remaining, leads the standings, 12 points ahead of Scott Dixon. Patrick is third, 14 points behind Castroneves, and Tony Kanaan is fourth, 25 points off the pace.
