Danica: ‘I’ve Had Concussions’

Danica Patrick has had her bell rung a time or two

Danica Patrick stated during media sessions Wednesday that she’s had multiple concussions during her racing career.

Patrick, 34, was asked specifically about Dale Earnhardt Jr. saying publicly he’s had 12 concussions.

“I’ve had concussions," Patrick said. “Every time you crash you have a concussion on a varying degree, I’m sure. So when he said something about having 12 concussions I was like, ‘Oh, I’m sure I’ve had 12 concussions.’

“It is a little bit thought-provoking is what I would say, for sure, because while we’re not football players, we don’t get the repeated hits like in succession over a short amount of time, but it’s rough in the car and the hits are probably singularly bigger maybe," Patrick noted. “I don’t actually know. I’d be assuming that. I’m just assuming that going 200 mph or 150 mph has to be a fairly big hit compared to running, but, then again, we have a lot of protective layers, whether it be SAFER barriers, the collapsible items on the car that all are meant to take the inertia, and then all the safety equipment that we have from the helmet and HANS and the belts, but it makes you think, for sure.

“It makes you pay attention to yourself and I think there’s nothing better than having somebody like Dale Jr. going so far as to get out of the car for as long as he did and saying, ‘Hey, I have a problem,’ because it makes it more available for everyone else.

“Now, I don’t think anyone else has as much luxury sponsorship-wise as Dale Jr. probably does to be able to just get out of the car like that, but it also is coming from a big-name driver that is setting the standard for well-being and it’s admirable," she continued. “I think we like to sweep it all under the rug as drivers like we feel fine and nothing is wrong, but it’s our life. If there was someone that told me or I would hope any other driver if you have another wreck you could have a serious problem, they would be out."

Patrick added that she would sit out if confronted with a concussion issue.

“I would be out because I love what I do, but I love lots of other things and I also love life and I’m too young to have it be over, so it’s a good lesson for a lot of people and a good education," Patrick said. “Just like in that movie ‘Concussion,’ which is something that we watched after it happened, maybe there will be some more tests and things run to be able to test better and know more about our concussions and our symptoms and how it happens over time."