Danica in NASCAR?

[Yeo]

CHICAGO (Reuters) -- Motor sports' best known female driver, Danica Patrick, could soon follow Formula One's Juan Pablo Montoya to the NASCAR circuit, her agent and father said on Monday.

Patrick, who shot to international attention in 2005 when she became the first woman driver to lead the Indianapolis 500, could leave the Indy Racing League at the end of the season to try her luck in the hugely popular stock car series.

"I'm trying to get her (into NASCAR)," Danica's father and agent T.J. Patrick told the Chicago Tribune on Monday.

Montoya sent shock waves through the motor sport world on Sunday when it was announced he was leaving McLaren to reunite with car owner Chip Ganassi.

The fiery Colombian won the Indy 500 in 2000 and CART championship in 1999 driving for Ganassi but has never driven in a NASCAR event.

While Patrick does not have Montoya's racing credentials, she would have no less marketing potential for a series seeking to expand its popularity.

Since her fourth place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the photogenic Patrick has remained the IRL's top attraction but the 24-year-old driver has yet to win a race.

Her contract with the Rahal-Letterman Racing expires at the end of the current season and Patrick's father was at the Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday for NASCAR's Nextel Cup race holding discussions about Danica with several teams.

"We're just talking to everybody and seeing what's shaking here," said Patrick.

Patrick said he does not believe his diminutive daughter would have any problem making the jump and given time and the right car could be competitive in the rough-and-tumble world of stock car racing.

"I don't think she'd have a problem," said Patrick. "You could give her six months or a year in a car and do some testing and learning. She understands the basics.

"Strength-wise, it's probably easier to drive one of these because they have power steering where we (in the IRL) don't right now."

The dominant motor sport series in the U.S., NASCAR has been searching for new marketing opportunities and way to grow the sport.

Montoya's arrival is sure to increase interest among the large American Latin community as well as generate interest among motor racing mad South America.

Patrick would also likely open up new doors and revenue streams pulling in the woman viewers.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/racing/07/10/danica.nascar/index.html?cnn=yes
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