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VIDEO: Danica Patrick Drafting Interview
Danica Patrick got a full day of on-track experience Saturday including afternoon drafting practice...
ARCA Communications  | http://www.arcaracing.com  |  Posted December 19, 2009   Daytona Beach, FL
“It was a lot of fun. It’s different than driving the cars that I drive... But you need to run really close so like there’s no room for error if someone makes a mistake..." - Danica Patrick (Image: SPEED)


Open-wheel star continues to prep for Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 during Speedweeks 2010

During the second day of a three-day test session in preparation for the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 on Saturday, Feb. 6, open-wheel star Danica Patrick gained a full day of on-track experience behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.

Patrick was able to work with her team and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. on adjustments to her race car as well as participate in afternoon drafting practice.

“We had a good day,” Patrick said. “We got out there and we did a bunch of single-car running. At the beginning of the day, we did a bunch of 10-lap runs to just get laps and get comfortable and get the line and get everything down perfectly. Then we went to some shorter runs and then we did some group running. We actually did a 40-lap run.

“It was a lot of fun. It’s different than driving the cars that I drive. You can run so much closer and you can cross over each other. But you need to run really close so like there’s no room for error if someone makes a mistake. That’s going to be the challenge. But it was a productive day. I learned a lot and I feel really comfortable in the car. Tomorrow is going to be even better.

The IZOD IndyCar Series star was 25th fastest in Saturday morning session with a speed of 179.183 mph. In the afternoon, she posted a speed of 181.554, good enough for 19th fastest. In her other No. 88 Chevrolet in the afternoon session, she was 20th fastest with a lap of 181.375 mph.

Patrick said she gained valuable experience from the afternoon drafting sessions.

“I guess you can run a lot closer than what I thought,” Patrick said. “Two car lengths up above from my spotter is like on him for me. That’s on him, you are on him in IndyCar. It was a little bit more challenging to get that last car length or get up on him. We even got to the point where they’re like, ‘give him a little bump down the straight.’ I was trying but I couldn’t catch him. It’s getting into that mode that you need to be right on him to take advantage of the situation and stay with the draft.”

Patrick will make her stock car debut at NASCAR’s most storied track – Daytona International Speedway – in the season-opening Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 and will use the 80-lap, 200-mile race to prepare for her partial NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule with JR Motorsports.

“She’s doing really good,” Eury Jr. said. “Drafting is not something that you learn overnight. She has done really good learning how to stay in a pack, learning what the car does in different aero situations. We’re pretty pleased. I think I need a little more speed in the car just in single car runs. Overall, it has been a good successful day. We’ll come back here tomorrow and let her draft a little bit more and I think we will be game on.”

The Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 event on Saturday, Feb. 6 is part of a racing tripleheader day at Daytona International Speedway with Daytona 500 Qualifying presented by Kroger and the Budweiser Shootout All-Star race all being held on the same day. Tickets start at $39.


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