Danica Patrick: It's Time for Patrick to Make Up Her Mind About Her Future

Danica Patrick Needs to Choose Between IndyCar and NASCAR Once and for All

Will she or won't she?

That's the one question that discussions about Danica Patrick inevitably boil down to. At least, such has been the case in the last year or so ever since Patrick made her Nationwide debut last February.

Since then, Patrick has gone back and forth between NASCAR and IndyCar, and the results have been as mixed as ever. Ever since she burst onto the scene in 2005, Patrick has just one career win between either circuit.

In particular, Patrick's transition into stock car racing was a little bumpy, as she placed no higher than 19th in any of the 13 races she ran in 2010. However, things have been a little better so far in 2011. Patrick has finished in the top 17 three times in four races, the most notable of which was a fourth-place finish in the Sam's Town 300 in Las Vegas back in early March.

Because she is clearly making progress in her NASCAR career, many have speculated whether or not she would do away with IndyCar for good in the near future.

This was the question she was asked on Thursday, and her answer left a lot to be desired.

"I suppose anything is possible," she said, according to the Associated Press. "But I know for me, I haven't made any of those decisions yet."

 

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If this is to be Patrick's official position, she can rest assured that the question is going to keep coming. The only way to make it stop is to make up her mind once and for all.

Well, maybe it's time she did that. After all, going back and forth doesn't appear to be doing her any favors.

If Patrick chooses to stick with IndyCar, it stands to reason that there will be more success in her future. Her only career win came at the Firestone IndyCar 300 in 2008, and she routinely finishes in the Top 10.

The same cannot be said of her Nationwide career. As such, transitioning into a full-time NASCAR driver constitutes a big risk as far as her overall legacy is concerned. No doubt this is probably the one thing that is keeping her from making her decision.

While actual racing success may not be in the cards if Patrick were to start racing NASCAR full-time, it would still be a good career move. At last check, NASCAR drivers to pretty well for themselves.

Basically, it's a choice between two different kinds of success, with wins on one side and cash on the other. But because Patrick is so hesitant to commit to the latter, maybe it's time for her to give up the NASCAR ghost.

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