Links - Danicas future adds a buzz to IRL championship wee - North River Minor Hockey Association

Danicas future adds a buzz to IRL championship weekend LOGINREGISTERHELPYOU ARE NOT LOGGED IN NHLNBAMLBCFLNFLCurlingTennisGolfSoccerNASCARFormula OneIndyCar NASCAR Canadian Tire SeriesNationwideCamping WorldAuto RacingWorld JuniorsSpengler CupMenS WHCWomenS WHCHockey CanadaAHLBoxingCanada GamesCHLCISECHLFigure SkatingLacrosseMMANCAASkiingSummer SportsWinter SportsMoreOlympicsFantasyDaily LineShowsTSN TalentCommunityMainScheduleStandingsChampionsAllTime WinsAuto Racing on TSNeotText SizeHOMESTEAD Fla Danica Patricks moment of clarity came three years agoIt was the Firestone Indy 400 at Michigan International Speedway a race made memorable by a meltdown Patrick ran out of gas with less than three laps to go climbed from her car and embarked on a footstomping fistshaking tantrum before taking refuge behind the pit wallNever did it cross her mind that people were watchingI figured Oh the last couple laps of the race are going on theyre not looking at me right now Patrick said Then I kind of find out there was a camera focused purely on meFrom the moment Patrick joined the Indy Racing League just about all the cameras have been focused on herItll be that way again this weekend at HomesteadMiami Speedway when Patrick lines up in the seasonending Firestone Indy 300 where two stories will likely take centre stage The supertight championship battle between Scott Dixon Dario Franchitti and Ryan Briscoe and Patricks plans for 2010 and beyondWe feel pretty comfortable although its not our announcement to make and its a little bit premature that shes going to be with us and shes going to be with us for a reasonably good term said Terry Angstadt the president of IndyCars commercial division Shes a starPatrick has long said she wont reveal anything until the season ends although The Indianapolis Star first reported last month that she has agreed to a threeyear extension with Andretti Green Racing Asked twice about that extension last week Patrick didnt say a word either timeHer teammate Tony Kanaan can relate on some level to what IRLs most marketable driver is going through He handled contract renegotiations last year albeit ones that didnt command the attention that Patricks are gettingTheres long been expectations she will eventually make the jump to NASCAR likely with Tony Stewarts team Patrick has said shes considering some NASCAR stuff but immediately follows that up by insisting that no decisions have been made on what that meansThe most popular theory is that Patrick will continue with IRL while also getting some experience in NASCARs Nationwide or trucks series possibly as early as next year If Patrick even knows shes not sayingIts a distraction Kanaan said But thats the price that you pay to be a superstar and she is The reality is shes huge Shes big Shes a huge asset for anybody for any se...