Scott Dixon (9) had some harsh words for Danica Patrick (7). Photo: Ron McQueeney/IRL
Danica draws ire of Indy 500 champ Dixon, Carpenter
Ed Carpenter wasn't happy either. Photo: Dan Helrigel/IRL
IndyCar’s big star takes heat for alleged blocking
You can add Scott Dixon and Ed Carpenter to the legion of Danica Patrick detractors.
Dixon, the reigning Indy 500 champion, called Patrick a “menace,” while Carpenter complained of alleged blocking by the Andretti Green Racing driver in the early going of the Iowa Corn Indy 250.
On the final restart of the day at Lap 227, Dixon and Marco Andretti were forced to split Patrick in order to get by her No. 7 machine and go after eventual winner Dan Wheldon and runner-up Hideki Mutoh. Patrick ended up sixth, but afterwards, Dixon proceeded to rip her anyway, telling the Des Moines Register’s Bryce Miller:
“She’s lucky that’s all she got, man. She’s a menace, man.”
As for Carpenter, he felt that Patrick held him up as he was trying to climb towards the front. The Vision Racing driver crashed out on Lap 39 in Turn 2. He vented his frustrations with her in the team’s press release:
“I started working my Menards car and moving towards the front. Danica was doing her normal supreme block job. That’s two races in a row I had to deal with that and I’m about over it.
“I finally got around her to join the lead pack when I had a suspension failure. I felt a vibration just before that, but there wasn’t anything I could do.”
He went on to tell the Register that Patrick was “the new Scott Sharp of the series,” referencing the former IndyCar driver that, despite his status as a fan favorite, had a bad reputation for blocking on the race track. Sharp now races in the American Le Mans Series.
For her part, Patrick seemed just as annoyed with the Lap 227 restart as Dixon:
“The Motorola car ran well today. I wish that I was able to keep position on the last restart, but what’s done is done. I have to thank my crew for all their hard work. I just wish had a better finish.”
Personally, I don’t remember seeing anything involving Carpenter until his wreck itself. As for the Lap 227 restart — which I believe is what Dixon was honked off over — I don’t think he has a solid case.
While Danica did appear to make a move on the restart, it wasn’t to fight Dixon. Instead, she went toward the bottom to try and stop his teammate Andretti. By the time she moved back up, Dixon was on his way by her on the outside.
Further more, it’s been proven over the course of Patrick’s career that she has been weak on restarts for some reason. I don’t think that was the main gist of Dixon’s kvetching, but why complain when you should have known that from the beginning? Give him credit for getting to the high groove, though. Continuing on that tangent, why did Andretti wait so long before going to Patrick’s inside for the fourth spot?
Well…it doesn’t really matter now. On to Richmond.
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3 Responses to “Danica draws ire of Indy 500 champ Dixon, Carpenter”
June 25th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Let the two of them whine and cry….Carpenter managed to wreck all by HIMSELF, which he has done on numerous occasions….if not for his step-father, Tony George, the guy wouldn’t even be racing in IRL. Dixon was never in the race….so obviously, it has to be somebody else’s fault
June 25th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I had respect for Dixon because I felt he was a good driver and kind person. Well, I just lost respect for him. I am not interested in his apology and I will not watch for him to win. I will chose another racer and never look at him again as a quality racer. Be a man! Be better than your comment. Take responsibility for yourself and noone else. Do not blame Danika for your own mistakes and problems. When I was a professional athlete. I always took care of myself with the assistance of my coach. We never made ways with anyone or excuses. I was always responsible for my proformance. Carpenter. I feel the same way. I am done being a fan of both of you. You done with me.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
You guys have obviously never raced before. When a slower car is blocking you, they are putting both themselves and you in a dangerous situation. One wrong move and both of their lives could be in jeopardy. And Dixon was completely justified in his complaints, as Danica has been nothing but a menace on restarts from the very beginning of her IRL days. Racing happens to be different from other sports in which other people can and will screw you up now and again. Also, I don’t know where you get off putting Dixon down because he blamed Danica, when she herself is the queen of “Boo hoo, I’m a woman so it wasn’t my fault!”
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