Since her transition to NASCAR Danica Patrick has been a lightning rod for the media. Patrick draws positive and negative critique for everything that she does on and off of the track. Whether she deserves it or not and whether it’s fair or not, the majority of the press around her usually has a negative connotation.

Although the media and fans seem to have no issue giving their opinion of her, drivers tend to be a bit more politically correct. With the exception of Richard Petty, NASCAR drivers tend to say all of the right things when questioned about Patrick instead of what they might actually think. Recently, a NASCAR fan on YouTube put together the below video. The video contains a mix of drivers in-car radio communications, all having to do with Patrick.

Now in all fairness to Danica Patrick, a lot happens on the track in the heat of the moment. I am sure that you could easily go find audio of drivers bashing everyone at some point or another over their radios. That being said, a lot of the comments were more or less about her lack of ability or her perceived lack of ability. The drivers and spotters even go as far as poking fun at her relationship and acting astonished to hear she is on the lead lap.

Emotions can easily get the best of competitors while racing but in the case of Danica Patrick it might be more than just emotions. People will always judge how good of a racecar driver Patrick is on a variety of things. If anything, she should be judged on the facts and on the numbers, nothing else is needed.

Christopher Olmstead is a Co-Editor of BeyondTheFlag.com on the FanSided Network. Follow him on Twitter @WhooYouKnowIt “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.