IndyCar drivers comment on Danica Patrick making Indianapolis 500 return

Several IndyCar drivers have commented about Danica Patrick making a return to the Indianapolis 500 this year for the first time since 2011.

Danica Patrick, 35, is set to make her return to IndyCar in the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 this May. She last drove in IndyCar in the 2011 season. In the 2012 season, she drove full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, and from the 2013 season to the 2017 season, she drove full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Two days before the 2017 Cup Series finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida, Patrick announced that the season finale would be her final race in the Cup Series as a full-time driver.

However, she then went on to announce that she would not be officially retiring after that race. Instead, she stated that she planned to drive in the 2018 Daytona 500 and the 2018 Indianapolis 500 before officially ending her professional racing career.

She is set to drive in this month’s Daytona 500 in the #7 Chevrolet for Premium Motorsports. She has not yet found a ride for May’s Indianapolis 500, but several teams have emerged as possible candidates to field an entry for her.

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Her Indianapolis 500 return has stirred up far more attention in the racing world since she hasn’t driven in the race since 2011. Plus, her statistics in the race are not that bad, especially in comparison to her lackluster Daytona 500 statistics.

In six Daytona 500 starts, Patrick has finished the race just three times. Her career-high finish in the race is her only career top 20 finish in the race, and it is an 8th place result in 2013.

In seven Indianapolis 500 starts, Patrick has finished the race six times. In each of those six races, she has finished in the top 10. Her career-high finish in the race is a 3rd place result in 2009.

Her return to the Indianapolis 500 has caused several IndyCar drivers to comment about what her return means both for her and for the sport.

Here is what some of them had to say, according to ESPN.

Here is what four-time IndyCar champion and 2008 Indianapolis 500 winner Scott Dixon had to say about the subject.

"“I wish her well. She should be in for a fun May, and I’m sure she will be just fine. There’s no doubt she has a massive attraction with what she does and how well she does. It’s going to be good to see, I think, for the sport.”"

Here is what former IndyCar, NASCAR and Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya, a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, had to say about Patrick’s return.

"“If she gets a good car, she can do decent. She always ran well there. The oval experience in NASCAR will help. I think it makes her a much better oval driver. It’s tough — I think when your mind is set to retire, it’s hard to go and put it on the line,” he said."

Here is what Spencer Pigot, who would be her teammate if she drives for Ed Carpenter Racing in the race, had to say about Patrick potentially being her teammate and driving in this year’s Indianapolis 500 in general.

"“Yeah, sure. She’s obviously had a very successful career and was very good at the speedway.”"

Here is what six-time IndyCar race winner Graham Rahal had to say.

"“I have no doubt that she’s going to do a great job. … She’s always done a great job at Indianapolis. I think she’ll be just fine. It certainly is a lot more competitive today than five years ago, but I think she’ll be right in the hunt.”"

Here is what four-time Champ Car champion Sebastien Bourdais had to say.

"“It’s always a question of what car you’re jumping in. If your car is really good, things are easier. If the car is a handful and if you’re really struggling to feel it and it’s a moving target … and it’s super inconsistent and all, everything becomes much harder.“Obviously she is great for the sport. There is no denying the fact that she attracted a whole lot of attention to IndyCar racing, and, when she went away, it was not a great thing for us, and NASCAR capitalized on it.”"

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Will Danica Patrick be able to perform at a high level once the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 rolls around at the end of May like many IndyCar drivers expect her to? Tune in to the race, which is scheduled for Sunday, May 27th, to find out.