Danica Patrick set for stock car debut in ARCA 'crash fest'

Danica Patrick says she only recently learned the ARCA event in which she'll make her stock car racing debut on Saturday at Daytona is a renowned "crash fest."

Patrick, the only woman to win a major American series closed-course race, showed both the poise and the naivety she carries in her move into NASCAR in the opening seconds of her Media Day appearance Thursday morning.

She deftly handled the opening of her interview session, greeting reporters and asking whether they could hear her better if she stood or sat.

But one of the first questions dealt with the history of Saturday's minor-league race having a high number of crashes because of the inexperience and aggressiveness, and Patrick made it clear she has a lot to learn about the stock car racing world.

"I recently heard that it's a crash fest," Patrick said. "I didn't know that, but OK, now I do. I think that just makes me realize I need to be smart out there. ...

"I realized at the (Daytona) test (in December) how hard it is to pass. Maybe that's why it's a crash fest. You run so much closer in these cars than in an Indy car."

Patrick, twice a top-four finisher in the Indy 500, said there's still no decision on whether she'll stick around Daytona to compete in next week's Nationwide Series race.

She's scheduled to compete at least a dozen Nationwide races for JR Motorsports this season, but she was advised not to make her debut in NASCAR's second-tier series at Daytona because it's such a difficult and high-pressure event.

She said today she would have to have "a pretty stellar weekend" in the ARCA event to opt for the Nationwide race, while defining stellar as not being her finishing position but rather how comfortable she feels in all situations.

"I just want to be smart," she said. "This is the biggest race of the year for everybody, and there are guys that are going to be out there running for a championship. And obviously there's the challenge of all of those Cup guys, too.

"You know, it's been recommended that it's not the best idea to start there. I'm not going to ignore the people that have given me advice."

Patrick's more interesting comment came late in the 20-minute interview when she was asked if she would bring the aggressiveness she shows in the IndyCar Series to stock car racing or hold back while she's learning.

"I think that with earning respect of other drivers, you walk this very fine line of being kind of a wimp out there and taking their (stuff) and not doing anything about it and also being too overly aggressive and kind of making yourself look silly by it, too," she said.

"So that's why it takes a long time to earn all of their respect. But if somebody does something to me that I don't like, you have to respect that you get something in return. And I have fenders now, so that's very exciting."

The buildup for the Feb. 14 Daytona 500 and new NASCAR season begins in earnest today. More than 50 drivers across NASCAR's three national series - Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Craftsman Trucks - will make 20-minute appearances in trade show-type booths to talk about the Speed Weeks and the new season.

Among today's likely topics: Tony Stewart reacting to NASCAR loosening the reins on bump drafting - Stewart called the tactic deadly a few years ago - and Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski talking about their budding rivalry.

The roar of racing engines isn't far behind. Practice for the Bud Shootout is tonight from 5-7:30 and competition begins Saturday with Daytona 500 pole qualifying, the ARCA race and the Bud Shootout.

Saturday night's non-points Shootout features last year's 12 Chase drivers, former active Shootout winners, former active Daytona 500 and Coke Zero 400 champions and last year's Rookie of the Year.

Surprise critic

Jimmie Johnson doesn't criticize another driver often, so when he does, it's news.

Near the end of his Media Day interview session Thursday, the four-time defending Sprint Cup champion vented about Sam Hornish Jr., who took him out of last year's Chase race at Texas in a wreck apparently started by Zephyrhills' David Reutimann.

Johnson brought up Hornish after saying 51-year-old teammate Mark Martin is a driver others can learn from.

"The guy I wouldn't want to learn from would be Sam Hornish," Johnson said. "He hits way too much stuff, including me, at important times. And then he's never said a word. ... The guy just doesn't talk, doesn't say anything."

Hornish said he plans to "clear the air" with Johnson this week.

Odds and ends

With the bigger restrictor plates and free rein to bump draft, drivers got after it in Thursday's Bud Shootout practice. The result was a seven-car crash triggered by Martin and Denny Hamlin. ... Richard Petty's wife, Lynda, has been diagnosed with Central Nervous System Lymphoma. She will be treated at Duke University Medical Center.