Addison Road

“There are only three sports: Bullfighting, Auto Racing, and Mountaineering. All the rest are merely games.” - Ernest Hemingway

Poking a bull with a sharp stick and then taunting it isn’t much fun for the bull, and mountaineering is, well, not very fun to watch on ESPN. So for me, it’s racing. F1, Champ Car (Now IRL), MotoGP and AMA Motorcycle racing. If my Tivo has anything recorded on it, it usually gets purged on Sunday morning. (Note: NASCAR isn’t actually motor racing. It’s advertising for middle-America at 175 MPH. Please don’t confuse NASCAR with actual racing.)

This past Sunday was an extremely important day for auto racing. Danica Patrick, the only female driver in the IRL (Indy Racing League), won her first professional race at the Motegi Oval, in Japan. Not only was this her first win, but it was the first win for ANY female driver in a professional North American Racing series. Kind of big deal, if you ask this racing fan. Others have tried (Lyn St James, Sarah Fischer, Milka Duno) but finally, the fastest person in the world, on this particular Sunday, is a woman.

Unfortunately, her win is not without controversy. Some say it was sheer luck, as her fuel-saving strategy happened to place her in the front of the pack at the checkered flag. Some have even cried conspiracy, hinting at a closed-door money exchange to secure a female driver her first win. (Even though Danica had not won a race in 50 professional starts, her team remains one of the highest sponsored teams in the IRL, and she is consistently voted the most popular driver in the series.) I disagree. Fuel-efficiency and other strategic decisions are just as important as mashing the gas pedal ’round a corner. Racing is about much much more than going faster than the dude next to you. So shut up, naysayers. You just got passed at 200 MPH…..by a girl.

I have tremendous respect for Danica Patrick. (I’ve had my doubts, believe me. I might drop some bombs in the comments, but not here) From the first green flag, she has said, “I am a paid race car driver, and I am paid to win races.” She’s always operated with class, professionalism, and poise. I’m really hoping that this isn’t a flash-in-the-pan win for her, and I’ll be rooting her on throughout the rest of the IRL season. Congrats, Danica. A job well done…

I think Hemingway would be very pleased…