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as most know by now - in a precedent-shattering event - Danica Patrick became the very first woman NASCAR driver to get the pole position at the Daytona 500 (or any major race ever).
So this is not a publicity stunt - she and her team have earned the top spot.......
but I just saw a discussion on ESPN about her upcoming first-ever...
Several of the ESPN talking heads seems to think that the other (male) racers in the Daytona 500 all would certainly know how GREAT it would be for their sport if Danica does well, has a TOP 5 finish or wins it...
and the talk actually centered on how because they all know how good it would be for their profession - that the other drivers would cut her some breaks or possibly even facilitate (help) her during the race.
Now - I don't follow car racing all that much - but I think that concept is preposterous....and yet as I searched other sports columnists - others seem to feel the same way...
"This is great from the sport and the rest of us will benefit from it...
"I'm proud to sit on the front row with her."
The other side of the argument is that the pole position is not all that much of a benefit - the pole sitter has only won 9 times in almost 60 Daytona 500's
The pole position goes to the guy (or lady) with the fastest car and thus gaining pole position is 90% the inherent speed of the car and 10% the driving skills of the driver...
BUT when the race starts for real - then regardless of where you sit at the start - it suddenly becomes 90% racing skills and the speed of your car gives you only 10% of your advantage.
So this is not a publicity stunt - she and her team have earned the top spot.......
but I just saw a discussion on ESPN about her upcoming first-ever...
Several of the ESPN talking heads seems to think that the other (male) racers in the Daytona 500 all would certainly know how GREAT it would be for their sport if Danica does well, has a TOP 5 finish or wins it...
and the talk actually centered on how because they all know how good it would be for their profession - that the other drivers would cut her some breaks or possibly even facilitate (help) her during the race.
Now - I don't follow car racing all that much - but I think that concept is preposterous....and yet as I searched other sports columnists - others seem to feel the same way...
"This is great from the sport and the rest of us will benefit from it...
"I'm proud to sit on the front row with her."
The other side of the argument is that the pole position is not all that much of a benefit - the pole sitter has only won 9 times in almost 60 Daytona 500's
The pole position goes to the guy (or lady) with the fastest car and thus gaining pole position is 90% the inherent speed of the car and 10% the driving skills of the driver...
BUT when the race starts for real - then regardless of where you sit at the start - it suddenly becomes 90% racing skills and the speed of your car gives you only 10% of your advantage.
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