Danica Patrick -- Firestone Indy 200

UPDATE: Added race pics here (http://picasaweb.google.com/stephen.wampler/FirestoneIndy200).

But first, the RL Clean up truck. Taken at Nashville Super Speedway on qualifying day, Friday, July 13, 2007.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1360/804563500_4fde2e2736_o.jpg

OK guys, try to control yourselves.

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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1387/804447354_4ed51eb2a9_o.jpg

I will post the link to the whole album later.

Here's one more...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1266/808147698_9db4f765a6_o.jpg

Hi swampler GREAT PIC'S of Danica how did you get so close

Hi swampler GREAT PIC'S of Danica how did you get so close
Thanks. I had a really, really big lens. ;)

Just kidding, of course. I have a press pass to the race as I'm doing some side work for the local paper. The one of Danica signing autographs, anyone could have taken as I was shooting between people in line, but the others were literally on pit road. That's why the RL is going left instead of right as it would appear from the stands. I can actually see the stands behind Danica in the shot with the water bottle. It's nice and blurry, but that's what it is.

Great shots Steve, thanks for the pics.:)

nice wheels on the safety truck, i wonder what lowering springs they used too...

bdr

Great shots Steve, thanks for the pics.:)

Also a good shot of her in the Tennessean sports page this morning.

Excellent photography, Steve. The album must be stunning.

Also a good shot of her in the Tennessean sports page this morning.We don't subscribe to the Tennessean, so I looked on the website (http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/SPORTS09/707140352/1002/SPORTS). Looks almost like my 2nd shot of her that I posted.

We don't subscribe to the Tennessean, so I looked on the website (http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/SPORTS09/707140352/1002/SPORTS). Looks almost like my 2nd shot of her that I posted.

What I thought, the little lady make good sunglasses shots.:cool:

What I thought, the little lady make good sunglasses shots.:cool:
I was amazed at how "little" she really is. Short and thin, tiny really, but you have to be to get in those tiny cars.

As promised, here is the link (http://picasaweb.google.com/stephen.wampler/FirestoneIndy200Qualifying?authkey=OGGfTPUWX74)to the entire qualifying night. Note that the cars on the track are actually the Indy Pro Series cars, not the big name guys and girls.

I was amazed at how "little" she really is. Short and thin, tiny really, but you have to be to get in those tiny cars.

Too bad you missed this photo op!! She looks good on the hood of a car also!:cool:

We don't subscribe to the Tennessean, so I looked on the website (http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070714/SPORTS09/707140352/1002/SPORTS). Looks almost like my 2nd shot of her that I posted.They stole your shot... grrr :) If you get a next time, try one shot where you zoom in a bit more to basically get the eyes. Could be a neat shot as it would capture more of her focus/determination.

Too bad you missed this photo op!! She looks good on the hood of a car also!:cool:
LOL! I think you mean she looks better on a hood of a car. I'd seen her in FHM before, though I don't remember the shot you posted.

They stole your shot... grrr :) If you get a next time, try one shot where you zoom in a bit more to basically get the eyes. Could be a neat shot as it would capture more of her focus/determination.That's kind of what I was going for, but if you don't include the helmet, I think you'd lose the "story" of where she was and why she is determined. Besides, I was at full 200mm zoom. I guess I could have walked closer though. :D

As promised, here is the link (http://picasaweb.google.com/stephen.wampler/FirestoneIndy200Qualifying?authkey=OGGfTPUWX74)to the entire qualifying night. Note that the cars on the track are actually the Indy Pro Series cars, not the big name guys and girls.Wow, great shots. My favorites are of the ladies in their tank tops :):):) (good capture)

that danica patrick almost makes me want to start watching auto racing.

nice pics of her and of the RL.

Those are some terrific photos! Great job.

I'm not that much into car racing but I at least know who she is! (I like the Honda commercial when she gets pulled over...:p)

I don't know if anyone noticed, but the lady in the yellow dress and white hat is Ashley Judd (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000171/) (she's been in movies) and is married to one of the drivers. She lives close by, in Franklin, TN.

I don't know if anyone noticed, but the lady in the yellow dress and white hat is Ashley Judd (she's been in movies) and is married to one of the drivers. She lives close by, in Franklin, TN.Oh... hahahaa... I figured she was someone that people should know... :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Great shots swampler! Yes, she is tiny. She's 5' tall and under 100 lb., so she has to be in fantastic shape to drive a champ car. Maybe you can do some before and after shots. Her teammates are threathing to give her a buzz cut when she wins her first race. :D

Great shots swampler! Yes, she is tiny. She's 5' tall and under 100 lb., so she has to be in fantastic shape to drive a champ car. Maybe you can do some before and after shots. Her teammates are threathing to give her a buzz cut when she wins her first race. :D
Wow! I didn't realize she was that short. I'd hate to see that long hair shaved off, it's half way down her back, or further.

I can't really do an after shot (unless she wins) because I have to cover victory lane after the race and the other drivers disappear pretty quick.

I can't really do an after shot (unless she wins) because I have to cover victory lane after the race and the other drivers disappear pretty quick.Nah, screw that! This is a much bigger story, plus the admiration from the ROC-nation.

Nah, screw that! This is a much bigger story, plus the admiration from the ROC-nation.

Agree, stick with Danica, she is by far the most photogenic!!:)

Agree, stick with Danica, she is by far the most photogenic!!:)and the most popular person in Indy racing. She is the story.

(plus we like looking at her ;) )

and the most popular person in Indy racing. She is the story.

(plus we like looking at her ;) )

You got it!!!:)

Got Milka?:cool:

Nice work !!

As far as Danica.... two words Hot and Fast !! Does not get any better !

I'd add another...tough. She doesn't take any crap from other drivers, and if they mess with her on the track, she's in their face afterwards.

Rained out at Nashville Speedway last night. Racing today at 12:00 CST on ESPN2. Let's hear it for Danica!:)

Rained out at Nashville Speedway last night. Racing today at 12:00 CST on ESPN2. Let's hear it for Danica!:)Nice, and by the time that is over, NASCAR should be starting up on TNT.

Nice, and by the time that is over, NASCAR should be starting up on TNT.

TNT sucks, wish NASCAR they would stay with FOX. Toooooo many commercials!!:( I am totally winless this year in our weekly race pot. 10 players draw a number 1 through 0 for qulifying positions, 1 through 43 for $5 bucks a race. One girl has already won 5 times.

Danica 3rd at Nashville, way to go girl!!:cool:

Back from the race and going through the pictures now. Will try to post some after I finish running through them. Fairly uneventful race...no crash pictures this time.

All I can say is thanks for sharing the pics. Great shots...

I'm glad everyone is enjoying them. Here (http://picasaweb.google.com/stephen.wampler/FirestoneIndy200)are the race pictures from today. I saw Gene Simmons from Kiss and there are several pictures of him, including where he saw me taking his picture and pointed at me. Fortunately, he didn't use his middle finger! :D

I'm glad everyone is enjoying them. Here (http://picasaweb.google.com/stephen.wampler/FirestoneIndy200)are the race pictures from today. I saw Gene Simmons from Kiss and there are several pictures of him, including where he saw me taking his picture and pointed at me. Fortunately, he didn't use his middle finger! :DExcellent!!! How can you not love Gene Simmons?!?

What they should do in Indy racing is make the races fair. They should add 100 lbs. or so to Danica's car to make the total weight the same as the rest of the drivers' cars. Do you think it's fair to have someone driving a car that's 100 lbs. lighter than a competitor's? Well, that's exactly what is happening. She's competing against other drivers who outweigh her by double and she still can't win. Every car should have the same gross weight or one wonders whether it is driving skill that's aiding her or the less weight. I'm sure the other drivers would like to make their cars 100 lbs. lighter. I can't wait to read the comments to this post, but just think about it. In horse racing, all the horses carry the same weight. Why should she have such a great advantage simply because she's tiny (and female)?

I've seen this somewhere before:
http://wizbangblog.com/content/2005/05/29/racer-accuses-f.php

Female Indy drivers:
* Milka Duno
* Sarah Fisher
* Janet Guthrie
* Danica Patrick
* Lyn St. James

I see nothing wrong with people being the size that they are. If teams really thought there is an advantage to less body weight, there would be only female drivers or horse jockeys would have a new career. Since female drivers don't win every race, this argument has no bearing.

NASCAR offsets driver weight in 10 pound ranges. Over 200 pounds, no offset. 190-200 pounds, +10 pounds in the car, etc.

More great pics, thanks Steve for sharing.:)

More great pics, thanks Steve for sharing.:)
I agree, interesting and high quality artistry.

You da man Steve! Thanks for the great photos!

Formula 1 cars must weigh a minimum of 1320 lb, including car and driver. Do you think there are any that weigh 1321?

Formula 1 cars must weigh a minimum of 1320 lb, including car and driver. Do you think there are any that weigh 1321?


Don't know how much he weighed when he was driving F1, but he's a big guy. I'm 5'11", so he's got to be 6'1" or so. And we have to weigh 385 in our karts...I have to add 32 lbs. of lead to make weight. I'm guessin' Eddie doesn't. :)

It's easy to hit the target weight in Formula 1. None of the cars are anywhere close to the minimum weight with the driver. They all have to be ballasted. This gives the designers the leeway to place the ballast weights low and where ever they want it. I doubt if Eddie was at that weight when he drove. The minimum weight may have been different then too.

Great pictures swampler.

Here's a few I took at California Speedway in Fontana for IRL practice/qualifying.
I was camped in the infield and in the pits/garages for 4 days.

The Honda Bike is for the Silver RL owners. ;)

She got married soon after this race. :( Oh well.
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She got married soon after this race. :( Oh well.
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Good shots, thanks for adding to the thread. I suppose (hope) this would be her husband that's about to get the lip lock. :eek:

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Here is our girl all dressed up at the 2007 ESPY awards

Here's a photo of our girl just being a girl.

Here's a photo of our girl just being a girl.Cool shot. I've been wanting to try a multiple exposure like that for a while now.