Danica Patrick doesn’t shy away from making herself heard. The former IndyCar driver has always gone all in for gender equality and has broken barriers in the motorsports community by creating a place for herself. Most of us know it’s largely a male-dominated industry. At a time when a battle rages on regarding inclusivity in women’s sports, the 42-year-old finds herself in the center of the debate. And she isn’t afraid to voice her thoughts, however contentious they may be. Dan is a fiery old character who wants equality in sports, just like most of us.

This time, the open-wheel racer shared her views on equality while having a realistic outlook on the differences between men and women. Especially when competing in an industry as competitive as sports.

Danica Patrick calls for a level playing field

Do you know what the difference is in driving a racecar at 200 miles per hour? It’s impossible to see if the racer is a man or a woman. The driver zips past the track in the blink of an eye. It obviously leaves awed bystanders noting the car number to identify the racer behind the wheel. Unlike other sporting disciplines, motorsports is one rare field where men and women can compete directly against each other. With less dependency on physical prowess, car racing is one of the few instances where both the genders are truly equal.

However, that isn’t the case for the majority of other sports. Keeping men out of women’s sports seems to be a hot topic of debate at the moment, with the inclusion of transgender women dividing the fanbase. Advocating for exclusion, Danica Patrick said, “It’s ironic that I’m passionate about that because I was a girl in a guy’s sport.”

The Wisconsin native continued, “There are just clear biological differences between the two. I mean, all you have to do is YouTube or Google some stories of people that took some transition d—- and how different they felt taking testosterone.”

Danica Patrick is the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing, with a total of one career win at the 2008 Indy Japan 300. Her career has been an example of barriers being broken and shifting the narrative about women competing against men in the motorsports world. However, while inclusion and gender equality were applicable in the industry, the 42-year-old believes it doesn’t work the other way around, with men participating against women in physically demanding sports.

Sharing her thoughts, Patrick said, “When it comes to strength and sheer potential, there’s just no question that guys are able to achieve more than women.” Her concerns are understandable, especially concerning having a level playing field in track and field or contact sports. Imagine if you had mixed gender bouts in UFC and boxing. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture, right?

She believes that while inclusion and equality matter in sports, they shouldn’t undermine competition, especially when one gender has a clear advantage.

Trending

1

Three Years After NASCAR Exit, Kurt Busch Announces 7-Word Devastation as He Eyes Cup Series Return

2

Joey Logano Lets Out Major Inferiority to Kyle Larson, Blames NASCAR’s Controversial Brainchild for It

3

Stars Finally Align for Richard Petty’s Iconic $14.1 Billion Manufacturer to Make Their Return to NASCAR

4

“Fake News Network”: Tony Stewart’s Rival Hammers FOX on Air for Offending NHRA Community With False Claims

5

Calls Mount Against Joe Gibbs’ “Generational Bust” as Fans Point Fingers at True Phoenix Culprit

Patrick shares her beliefs about women competing in F1

Few motorsports disciplines are as demanding as Formula 1. Driving over 200 mph and being subjected to over 5 g’s of force during high-speed corners and braking can take a physical toll on the body. It takes a great deal of neck strength and training for drivers to meet the demands of the racing discipline. Given the nature of the sport and only 20 drivers breaking into the open-wheel competition’s highest level, Danica Patrick believes women are better off steering clear of the racing discipline.

Sharing her thoughts, Patrick candidly said, “It’s just, the odds are not in favor of there always being one or being many of them. At the end of the day, I think that the nature of the sport is masculine. It’s aggressive. You have to handle the car — not only just the car because that’s skill, but the mindset that it takes to be really good is something that’s not normal in a feminine mind.”

While Danica Patrick’s opinion might be controversial, she has plenty of experience in open-wheel racing. Thus, she knows what she’s talking about. The last time a woman competed in Formula 1 was in 1992, when Giovanna Amati failed to qualify in three races. Given how physically demanding the sport can be, it’s unclear if another woman steps foot in a NASCAR car.

However, the sport must do more to promote inclusivity and gender equality, especially for roles that don’t involve sitting in the F1 cockpit. Do you guys agree? Let us know in the comments below.