France family to steal IRL’s biggest star

UPDATE This rumor is upgraded to near- 'fact' today as a last minute deal is in the works for the France family to get their claws on Patrick. Danica turned approximately 20 laps at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday during the first day of Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series testing in preparation for the Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 28-29.

The 23-year-old Patrick tested the No. 2 Howard-Boss Motorsports Pontiac Crawford with an eye toward competing in the 44th annual twice-around-the clock event, and is sharing the car at the test with recently-retired NASCAR star Rusty Wallace. The 1989 NASCAR champion has officially announced his participation in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and has invited Patrick to join the team, which will also include American road racing stalwart Boris Said, and Scottish sports car ace Allan McNish.

“We’re running the Rolex 24 for sure," Wallace said. “We’re going to get (Patrick) in the car and get her some time, and see if she likes driving the car. It’s kind of up to her if she wants to be the fourth driver in the car. She’s got the invitation, there’s no doubt about that, but we feel like we’re going to have a good, winning team, and we feel like we’re organized."

After testing the car Thursday afternoon and evening Patrick—the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and Indy Racing League IndyCar Series Rookie of the Year—plans to accept Wallace’s invitation.

“I want to run it," Patrick said. “If it’s up to me, and he’s leaving it open, I’d love to run this race. I think it’s one of those races that you just need to stay consistent. Even with what I was doing out there, I was able to still not drop too far off in lap times with traffic. As soon as I pick up my speed on the track, hopefully that’ll stay consistent with traffic. I want to do the race, so if he lets me, I’m in."

01/05/06 Word on the street is that the France family has their eye on snatching Danica Patrick, the IRL's only draw, right out from under Tony George's nose. While she will drive in the IRL in 2006, when her contract is up look for someone in NASCAR to make her an offer she can't refuse. In fact, if we were the France family we would be on the phone to her now getting her a ride in the Rolex 24 Hour at Daytona race to whet her appetite. With all the other big names in Grand-Am's biggest race, adding Patrick will be icing on the cake for the powerful France family. Mark C.