Danica Patrick’s 2012 season IndyCar decision sparked speculations. The trailblazing driver, who redefined possibilities for women in motorsports, stunned fans by skipping the Indy 500 to focus on NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. The decision, dubbed a “business move,” sparked fierce debate.
Thirteen years later, the choice remains pivotal. Patrick’s shift to stock cars promised broader fame and financial stability but came at a cost. As NASCAR’s longest race loomed, her absence from Indianapolis left a void even her historic Daytona 500 runs couldn’t fill.
Danica Patrick’s Pivot From IndyCar Glory to NASCAR Gambles
Patrick’s reasoning was pragmatic. “It’s a business decision,” she said in 2012. “I hope to do it in the future, the Indy 500 that is, and maybe it will be a double. But at this point in time, after a lot of conversations, it’s just going to be the Coke 600, and I think it’s going to be a big challenge.”
In case you missed it, @DanicaPatrick plans to miss the Indy500. http://t.co/Ix1BaNcN #nascar
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn)
Her full-time move to NASCAR included 10 Cup Series races with Stewart-Haas Racing and a Nationwide Series campaign with JR Motorsports. For team co-owner Tony Stewart, her commitment signaled grit. “We didn’t tell her she couldn’t run the 500. It was left up to her. It shows how dedicated she is to making this transition,” he said.
The logistics were brutal. The Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 shared a May 27 date, making a double attempt nearly impossible. Stewart, who attempted the “double” twice, understood the toll.
“We always want to do more than what we’re capable of doing,” he said. “But the reality is you have to pick at some point and choose your career path. This is what I’ve done and what she’s doing now.”
IndyCar’s door stayed open. “We continue to wish Danica the very best on this new phase in her career,” CEO Randy Bernard said. “The door is always open should she wish to run the Indianapolis 500 in the future.”
But Patrick’s focus never wavered. At Daytona, she eyed victory: “I feel good about Daytona and I think there’s a real chance, if luck falls our way, to perhaps win.” Stewart agreed, sort of, and said, “A rookie won it last year, why would you ever count yourself out?”
The Cost of Reinvention and IndyCar Nostalgia’s Shadow
Patrick’s IndyCar legacy was secure. She led 19 laps as a 2005 Indy 500 rookie, finished third in 2009, and became the first woman to win the Indy Japan 300 in 2008. Yet NASCAR offered a larger stage and harsher realities. By 2018, she admitted, “I missed being relevant.”
The business decision paid financially, but it strained her competitive identity. Stewart-Haas prioritized growth over nostalgia, and Patrick’s 2013 full-time Cup move demanded total focus.
“It’s going to be important for me running for the championship full-time for the first time to really keep myself focused with the Cup car,” she said. Yet the longing lingered. “If I do do the Indy 500 moving forward, it will be with Go Daddy.”