At least Danica didn’t crash this weekend

Last year at Phoenix Danica Patrick was involved in this accident, this year she made it to the end but way behind in 21st

The good news for Danica Patrick is she actually got through a race without crashing in 2012. The bad news is she couldn’t keep pace with the leaders, winding up 21st in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Saturday afternoon at Phoenix International Raceway.

Finishing three laps down in the Bashas’ Supermarkets 200, Patrick quickly exited her race car and declined to do interviews after the frustrating day on the 1-mile track.

“You just have to chalk it up," said JR Motorsports co-owner and Patrick crew chief Tony Eury Jr. “We know there’s nine short-track races we’re going to have trouble with this year and going to get more experience and that’s what we’re going to do."

“Top-10s on the mile-and-a-halves are really what we need to be doing," Patrick said Friday. “I just get along better with the more banked, grippy tracks. They just are a little more of a translation from my experience at IndyCars than going to flatter, less-gripped tracks like Phoenix."