DANICA MANIA
Bob Storck
INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, June 7, 2005 – Danica Patrick may not have won
the 89th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, but she won the hearts and
allegiance of fans, who purchased a record amount of Patrick-themed
merchandise in May.
Patrick-branded merchandise flew off the shelves of Indianapolis Motor
Speedway retailers all month. Patrick’s history-making drive in the
2005 Indianapolis 500, which saw her become the first woman to lead
the race and then finish fourth – the highest-finishing woman ever at
the “500” – led to a huge spike in retail sales.
Patrick-branded merchandise outsold all other IRL IndyCar® Series
drivers combined, and IMS retail officials had to reorder merchandise
bearing Patrick’s name and likeness several times during the month of
May. Two “reorders,” for thousands of T-shirts, took place for Miller
Lite Carb Day and Indianapolis 500 Race Day. MainGate printed a
reorder of Patrick T-shirts overnight Saturday, May 28 so they were
available for sale at IMS on Race Day, Sunday, May 29.
By the time track officials closed the public gates at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Race Day evening, the inventory of
Danica merchandise still in the gift shops on Speedway grounds
consisted of one baseball cap, two T-shirts and one 1/64-scale
die-cast Indy car. Online sales of Patrick merchandise remain strong
following the race.
Official Patrick merchandise also was popular outside of the Speedway.
Meijer retail and grocery supercenters in the Indianapolis area sold
out its stock of Reebok Patrick T-shirts. All but one of the Hat
World/Lids retail locations in the Indianapolis market sold out of
Patrick hats on race weekend. The Lids on the Road trailer sold out of
Patrick hats and T-shirts by Saturday, May 28, and the company’s Web
site also was sold out of Patrick hats.
Sales of Patrick merchandise also increased in Hat World/Lids
locations in Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Dallas and Chicago.
Existing supplies of the Patrick T-shirt and baseball hat have been
restocked and are ready for purchase at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway Online Store at www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com, via IMS
Mail Order at (800) 955-INDY, at the Official Trackside Gift Shops
located in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum or at
the Brickyard Authentics Stores located in Circle Centre Mall in
downtown Indianapolis and at the Indianapolis International Airport.
wtrplnet
"Bob Storck" <bst...@sprynet.com> wrote in message
news:nc9ca11ca37vk4rns...@4ax.com...
> 'DANICA MANIA' DRIVES BRISK MERCHANDISE SALES AT INDIANAPOLIS 500
Who woulda thought. A 23 year old woman does what Tony George cannot do,
save the IRL.
For ten years he has done everything possible to wreck the series he wrested
from the jaws of success, and has been an abysmal failure. Supporting teams
so lame they get black flagged for slow speeds, allow drivers obviously
unqualifed to play when they should be in a support series, the list is
endless.
Along comes Danica and suddenly there is buzz. LOTS of buzz.
I have REALLY mixed feelings about this. I am thrilled that Danica is doing
so well in IRL. I agree that IRL is a nearly top level series. Kind of
like F Atlantic is a nearly top level series, just with a bigger engine.
And I like all the "top" teams participating in this series. I go way back
in racing and Rahal, Andretti, Penske, all these names mean a lot to me.
Nothing has happened in the IRL before this year to actually bring in new
fans, and stop the rapid decline, until Danica showed up.
Is it just because she's hot? I hope not, but that is a plus. I like her
absolute drive not only to win, but to be the best, and not be ashamed to
express her disappointment when she isn't at the front. Just being in the
field and not making mistakes isn't good enough for her.
Bobby got more than he bargained for with Danica. I'm guessing he was
thinking he would bring her into this slowly, not expecting too much. He
should have checked with Danica about that. She wants to win, and win now.
You can see it in any of her many interviews.
This woman is the real deal. She's got a good ride and she is going to make
the most of it.
I may suggest that this is when Tony George finally figures out he hasn't
got it right. A 'girl' beating the established icons of open wheel racing,
that in fact Tony is financing, well, he's got to figure maybe his "vision"
is somehow flawed.
Here is a chance for reunification, those who have the real power, and it
ain't Tony George, need to take the initiative.
Go Danica, rough the boys up, I just hope you don't get hurt in a car that
isn't famous for protecting it's driver.
.
>
> INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, June 7, 2005 - Danica Patrick may not have won
> the 89th Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, but she won the hearts and
> allegiance of fans, who purchased a record amount of Patrick-themed
> merchandise in May.
>
> Patrick-branded merchandise flew off the shelves of Indianapolis Motor
> Speedway retailers all month. Patrick's history-making drive in the
> 2005 Indianapolis 500, which saw her become the first woman to lead
> the "500" - led to a huge spike in retail sales.
With the possible exception of a late crash, equipment failure or
other unexpected caution flag condition involving or affecting the
race leaders, Danica Patrick will neither win, nor have a single
podium finish, for as long as she participates in open wheel
racing against the likes of talent such as Wheldon, Kanaan,
Herta, Franchitti, Castroneves, Hornish, Bourdais, DaMatta,
Junquiera, Tracy, Vasser ...
She would be an utter and complete joke in F1.
Billy Arnold
>With the possible exception of a late crash, equipment failure or
>other unexpected caution flag condition involving or affecting the
>race leaders, Danica Patrick will neither win, nor have a single
>podium finish, for as long as she participates in open wheel
>racing against the likes of talent such as Wheldon, Kanaan,
>Herta, Franchitti, Castroneves, Hornish, Bourdais, DaMatta,
>Junquiera, Tracy, Vasser ...
But yet she beat Kanaan, Franchitti, Castroneves, Hornish, Bourdais,
and Junquiera at Indy... Her first Indy... Her fifth IRL
race...ever.
And let's not conviently forget that she beat Kannan , Franchitti,
Herta, Hornish and Castroneves, as well as future World Champion, Ed
Carpenter, at Motegi.
These lists are merely the last two IRL races. This will be only her
sixth IRL race.
I think you may underestimate her apparent talent.
>
>She would be an utter and complete joke in F1.
>
Probably, but IRL drivers are out of their league there.
Carey Akin
"wtrplnet" <alan.s AT REMOVE Spam intertrader.net> wrote in message
news:s_qdnT1WqcS...@comcast.com...
It just goes to show what I have been saying all along. It's about the
driver.
Carey in Manvel
>
>
.
message news:2omla1pdncg6rgl61...@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 11 Jun 2005 02:08:11 -0500, "." <.@dot.com> wrote:
>
>
> >With the possible exception of a late crash, equipment failure or
> >other unexpected caution flag condition involving or affecting the
> >race leaders, Danica Patrick will neither win, nor have a single
> >podium finish, for as long as she participates in open wheel
> >racing against the likes of talent such as Wheldon, Kanaan,
> >Herta, Franchitti, Castroneves, Hornish, Bourdais, DaMatta,
> >Junquiera, Tracy, Vasser ...
>
> But yet she beat Kanaan, Franchitti, Castroneves, Hornish, Bourdais,
> and Junquiera at Indy... Her first Indy... Her fifth IRL
> race...ever.
>
> And let's not conviently forget that she beat Kannan , Franchitti,
> Herta, Hornish and Castroneves, as well as future World Champion, Ed
> Carpenter, at Motegi.
>
> These lists are merely the last two IRL races. This will be only her
> sixth IRL race.
>
> I think you may underestimate her apparent talent.
>
She hasn't beaten anyone at anything. Even Rahal admits
that she would have had her normal poor finish, a best
of 11th or 12th, had it not been for her being out of
sequence and that oh so fortunate yellow flag at the
end of the race.
Cal Vanize
> She hasn't beaten anyone at anything. Even Rahal admits
> that she would have had her normal poor finish, a best
> of 11th or 12th, had it not been for her being out of
> sequence and that oh so fortunate yellow flag at the
> end of the race.
>
>
OK, so lets ignore her and let open wheel sink back into the nothingness
it was before she got the press coverage.
wtrplnet
"Cal Vanize" <forget...@finallyfree.com> wrote in message
news:2IEqe.1105$eL5...@fe04.lga...
> . wrote:
>
> > She hasn't beaten anyone at anything. Even Rahal admits
> > that she would have had her normal poor finish, a best
> > of 11th or 12th, had it not been for her being out of
> > sequence and that oh so fortunate yellow flag at the
> > end of the race.
Hasn't beaten anyone at anything? Um, I think about 29 other drivers at
Indy would admit she beat them. Tactics got her up in the standing? Gosh!
That's the first time I ever heard about anything like that in racing! Yes,
finishing first is the goal, but a successful race doesn't always mean
ending up in first place.
I don't know you or really care, but I'm going to say what I'm thinking.
When my wife and I were racing SCCA there were a lot of pissed off guys when
she beat them and claimed that women shouldn't be allowed to race with men.
They actually went so far as to say women didn't have the "temperment" to
race. Right. Judging from all the incredibly stupid things I've seen
overheated men do on and off the track I'd race beside a woman anytime.
Just like men, some women are good racers, some aren't. Danica will make
her mark in racing and not just because she's hot looking. F1? I think
that talk is way premature. F1 has rarely been kind to American drivers for
various reasons.
One thing cannot be denied, IRL has gotten a massive amount of interest for
one reason, Danica. If any IRL fans want to say that is a bad thing, let's
hear it.
.
>
> "Cal Vanize" <forget...@finallyfree.com> wrote in message
> news:2IEqe.1105$eL5...@fe04.lga...
> > . wrote:
> >
> > > She hasn't beaten anyone at anything. Even Rahal admits
> > > that she would have had her normal poor finish, a best
> > > of 11th or 12th, had it not been for her being out of
> > > sequence and that oh so fortunate yellow flag at the
> > > end of the race.
>
>
> Hasn't beaten anyone at anything? Um, I think about 29 other drivers
at
> Indy would admit she beat them.
No they wouldn't, especially Sheckter and Enge, IDIOT!
> Tactics got her up in the standing? Gosh!
> That's the first time I ever heard about anything like that in racing!
No winners strategy or tactics include running into others cars, or
stalling the engine, or spinning or knocking out two other innocent
contenders, only to hope like hell for a godsend salvaging caution
flag appearing at the most opportune possible time, IDIOT!
>Yes,
> finishing first is the goal, but a successful race doesn't always mean
> ending up in first place.
2nd place (which of course she's never attained either) is the
first loser, IDIOT! S T I L L no wins, no poles, no podiums .
> I don't know you or really care ...
Likewise, you can be sure, apologist IDIOT!
Billy Arnold
"." <.@dot.com> wrote in message news:KsEqe.2661$Cr.1596@fed1read07...
> She hasn't beaten anyone at anything.
Bwhaaaaaaaa Waaaaaaaa Bwhaaaaaaaa Bwhaaaaaaaa Waaaaaaaa Bwhaaaaaaaa
That is the most revisionist Earl line I have ever heard. "She hasn't beaten
anyone at anything. "
That is a true classic. Now, ladies and gentlemen, we have a new definition of
"beaten":
If you are named Danica, it is not considered beating the competition, even if
you beat 29 other drivers to the finish.
Bwhaaaaaaaa Waaaaaaaa Bwhaaaaaaaa Bwhaaaaaaaa Waaaaaaaa Bwhaaaaaaaa
> Even Rahal admits
> that she would have had her normal poor finish, a best
> of 11th or 12th,
Always conveniently forgetting Motegi, are we, where she beat 18 other drivers?
But with the your new definition of "beaten", it doesn't count.
> had it not been for her being out of
> sequence and that oh so fortunate yellow flag at the
> end of the race.
You are the most entertaining thing on Usenet at the moment. Please keep up the
good work.
.
news:1118680645.958fe049cb1fed9aa5e3db7f95818d27@teranews...
> You are the most entertaining thing on Usenet
And you're without a doubt among the very least.
Slack Jack
not her driving. She is good looking...... Sarah Fisher was a good
driver too, and much younger when she hit Indy, but didn't have the
backing that Danica has. What happened to Sarah? Well, she's trying
for Nascar now cuz the IRL has a new girl and she (Sarah ) couldn't
find a ride...
Danica was very very lucky she didn't knock herself out of the Indy
race with that stupid yellow flag move. The only reason (as stated
earlier) that she finished as high as she did is because of that
mistake, taking herself out of sequence and extending the yellow flag
until the cars she knocked out of the race were cleared. As far as
I'm concerned, she hasn't proven anything yet, except she looks good on
camera and has a good racecar (and a weight advantage)....
She has brought interest up for watching IRL races, and I'd have to
admit I try to watch more now then I did before Danica Mania......
Billy Arnold
"." <.@dot.com> wrote in message news:Bajre.46$X71.43@fed1read07...
Yes, I'm glad I am not considered a joke.
.
news:1118753923.d281296b486161e085989581cfa2b4ca@teranews...
Further positive proof of your confusions and delusions.
As with everything else you're just too stupid to realize
that just because you're not entertaining doesn't mean
you aren't a maladroit, inept, obtuse excuse for a joke.