AVONDALE, Ariz. — Apparently, the imminent deal that would bring IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick to a limited ARCA and Nationwide Series ride with JR Motorsports isn’t so imminent after all, according to Rick Hendrick.
The NASCAR team owner, who is involved with JR Motorsports’ Nationwide Series team, met with a group of reporters prior to Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Phoenix Int’l Raceway. According to Hendrick, Patrick may not be in a stock car in 2010.
“I just think that they’re not close to making a decision on whether she’s even going to do it this year, next year or if ever, so I think that’s what you’ve got,” Hendrick said.
Patrick, who signed a three-year contract extension to remain with team owner Michael Andretti’s IndyCar Series team in September, lives in nearby Scottsdale, Ariz. The past three years, Patrick has stopped by PIR during the NASCAR weekend to check things out and see some of her racing friends, including former IndyCar champions Sam Hornish, Jr. and Tony Stewart.
But this year, Patrick was nowhere to be seen, perhaps taking advice from her agent at IMG to keep a low profile. A Patrick sighting would have created a media brushfire.
Instead, Hendrick doused the rumors that a deal with Patrick for a part-time Nationwide Series ride is imminent.
“Nothing is ever imminent until it’s signed,” Hendrick told the group of reporters. “You know how that goes. Too many things can happen. I think everything is an option. It’s just too early to really comment on it. I can’t give you anything concrete because there isn’t anything concrete right now.
“Define imminent for me. I said you never know until it’s done. You never know until it’s signed and anybody can change their mind. You get down to the nitty, gritty of any deal, it’s very complicated. There can always be someone who steps back and says, ‘I can’t do it because of this.’ So until it’s done, it’s not done and that’s as honest as I know how to be.”
When asked if there has been a letter of intent agreed to, Hendrick said, “No letter of intent or nothing.”
Hendrick realizes that Patrick is committed to the IndyCar Series and remaining a top-name driver in that form of racing with a goal of one day winning the Indianapolis 500.
While she wants to try NASCAR, Hendrick admitted that may not happen in 2010. And when asked if Patrick wants too much money for a part-time ride in NASCAR’s second tier, Hendrick said that is relative to the amount of sponsorship she can generate.
“That all depends on what she can bring,” Hendrick said. “Drivers have a worth and it can be in a marketing value and it can be in talent behind the wheel and it all is measured by how much support they have. So I can’t say what she’s worth until you find out who is the sponsor and what people are going to do. I think that’s true with anybody in the garage.
“I don’t think, from my limited involvement, money has not been a big issue. I see her as wanting to make the right move, not being in a hurry, not saying that she can come out here and run a Cup car and whip these guys. She is very smart and she is very talented in a lot of ways with marketing savvy and driver ability with what she’s done in the sport.
“She is doing it in a very methodical way and I have not seen her make any mistakes yet, and we’re all just looking at how it could be good for everybody if this is the place and JR Motorsports is where she ends up.”