Moving To NASCAR Could Be A Big Mistake For Danica

Once again the Danica Patrick to NASCAR rumors have started to heat up. What makes this year different from those in the past is this time those rumors seem to have taken on a more serious tone. From all indications Danica, who is a free agent after this year, has done all she can do in IRL and is seriously considering making the jump from open wheels to fenders and bumpers. On paper the move seems to be a safe one, but realistically it's a move that could ultimately damage her career in the long run.

A move of this magnitude has nothing to do with her gender or even her talent level. It does, however, have everything to do with performance, meeting expectations and her ability to adapt to the nuances of the Sprint Cup Series. Ask Dale Earnhardt, Jr what happens when you are expected to win and you end up struggling and fail to meet expectations.

Finding sponsorship will not be a problem for her. Sponsors and corporations will fight for the chance to get on board and get on the hood (let's not forget she already has ties to godaddy.com and Motorola). Finding the right team; that will be her biggest obstacle.

With the powerhouse teams of Hendrick, Roush-Fenway, Childress and Gibbs locking down their lineup as we speak, aligning herself with a solid team right out the gate will be quite a challenge. Signing with a team that might not give her the ability to grow and compete right out the box could be career suicide.

If Danica is really serious about coming to Cup then she needs to take a good, long look at those who have come before her; Paul Tracy and Jacques Villenueve were "can't misses" but missed anyway; Sam Hornish, Jr is just now getting the hang of things; and Dario Franchitti was fortunate enough to crawl back to IRL after his cup of coffee in Sprint Cup was nothing short of disastrous.

Perhaps the best advice came from three-time reigning champ Jimmie Johnson. Johnson welcomed Danica's move to NASCAR, but not until she is ready. Johnson went on to say that Danica needs to stay in the IRL for a few more years and run ARCA, Camping World Truck and Nationwide races to gain experience. It's there, in those series, where she will know if she has what it takes to be a Sprint Cup Driver.

Until she decides the questions and rumors will continue to haunt her. If she wants to do this the right way then she can't jump at the first opportunity that comes her way. The hype will eventually fade and her performance will take center stage. It's why there is no middle ground in regards to her decision. She will either fail or be a success. If her IRL career is any indication, then she better hope the move to NASCAR is more of a career boost than a career killer.