Danica Patrick

The going has been tough for Danica at Indy, according to Dave Anderson of The New York Times.

“Things are not going well at the speedway. …Her publicist has given her a factoid to use: The average Indy-car driver wins for the first time on the 33rd try. Patrick pointed out in an interview last week that her 33rd race would not come until next season. “People should just keep it in perspective,” she said. “I don’t think I’m going to lose fans if I don’t live up to expectations.”

GoUpstate.com: Enormous expectations for Patrick

But by all means stay tuned, says Tony Fabrizio: “Nothing about Patrick’s 2006 season suggests she can’t be a factor at Indy. She qualified third at Homestead but didn’t race because Rahal Letterman withdrew its cars in respect of [fatally injured Paul] Dana. She finished sixth at St. Pete, which was her best effort on a street or road course. She finished eighth at Motegi, Japan, after starting near the back because qualifying was rained out.”

IndyStar.com: Tracking Indy’s status

It’s a good chance many will be watching for how it turns out. That may help sustain the upward trend of TV viewers started by Patrick’s performance last year, as charted by Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star. The Indy 500 bottomed in 2000 according to this quintdrennial (or every five years) chart. This one is fairly interesting when comparing the good ol’ days at Indy (as open wheel race fans seem to view them) versus the good ol’ Kentucky Derby and the now omnipresent Super Bowl. Then there’s that NASCAR thing going on as well.