14 DAY TRIAL // Danica Patrick, not the most successful but definitely the most popular IndyCar driver, has officially ended her IndyCar career with a final tribute to Dan Wheldon, who died in a 15-car pileup on the Indy 300 circuit the other day.
As we also informed you yesterday, Wheldon died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash that occurred during the Indy 300 race in Las Vegas.
Patrick’s final tribute to her late mate marks the end of her IndyCar career, which will inevitably translate into a decrease in popularity for Indy, Michael Andretti, Patrick’s current team owner, says, as cited by IB Times.
“Danica did bring, I think, new fans to our sport, and hopefully those fans aren’t here only because of Danica,” Andretti says.
“I’m sure she brought fans that normally wouldn’t have watched it but now have become fans of IndyCar racing,” he adds.
From now on, Patrick will only be focusing on her NASCAR career and this could mean that she’ll take the fans she made on IndyCar with her as she leaves, fellow drivers believe.
“It is a very tough move, but one advantage Danica will have is she’ll be driving good cars. That will be a massive help for her,” Dario Franchitti is quoted as saying.
Davey Hamilton notes that the popularity of IndyCar may take a serious hit with Danica’s departure.
“I hate to see her go. She’s probably going to take away fans, and we can’t afford that,” Hamilton underlines.
Dan Wheldon, who died in the latest Indy 300 race, was only 33 years old and is survived by a wife and two small children.
He was gunning for the $5 million (€3.6 million) top prize but was the last on the grid. His car was caught in a crash, sent flying through the air and then hurled against the fencing, where it exploded.
Wheldon died on the way to the hospital, from the injuries sustained.