The IndyCar racing fraternity's barely-concealed annoyance with Danica Patrick got out in the open again after the Iowa Corn Indy 250 Sunday.
The shorthand version: Scott Dixon called her a "menace." Ed Carpenter said she was "the new Scott Sharp," presumably a crack on her propensity to block other drivers.
Oddly enough, neither driver could specifically cite a particular instance of Patrick blocking them. They just spoke vaguely about her doing it.
Here's what I think: No matter what anyone says, deep down the racing community as a whole still thinks a woman's place is behind the pit wall. I think jealousy drives a lot of the criticism of Patrick. And I think if Dixon, Carpenter or anyone who secretly snipes at Patrick behind her back had their heads screwed on even halfway straight, they'd realize she's putting money in their pockets that wouldn't be there otherwise.
No one in golf complains about the attention Tiger Woods receives, partly because, yes, he's Tiger, the pre-eminent player of his generation. But they also understand how much he's elevated their sport, made them all beaucoup richer and produced huge ratings for a sport that, frankly, is pretty much unwatchable on TV.
Patrick's done the same thing for IndyCar racing, albeit with a whole lot less success. And if she is arrogant and hotheaded and downright unlikeable a lot of the time ... well, I suspect if she were a male driver displaying those qualities, her fellow competitors wouldn't have nearly as difficult a time accepting it.
Bottom line is she's making them all richer and raising the profile of the sport, whether she deserves the attention or not. The smart play for her detractors, therefore, is to do what they do best: Shut up and drive.
-- Ben Smith
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