Danica Indy 500 deal put together by IndyCar

Danica Patrick

Desperate to get headlines like they got with Fernando Alonso in 2017 at the Indy 500, it would seem IndyCar helped Danica Patrick get a ride in the 2018 Indy 500.

An Indianapolis Star report confirmed the rumors that the series itself, led by Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, helped pair Patrick and Ed Carpenter Racing. While the report didn’t say how far the series was involved in landing her with ECR, it did say that they were seeking out suitors and opened doors.

While these one-off drives by heroes from other series may get IndyCar some extra mileage in May, it diminishes the regular drivers to just back page footnotes.

IndyCar needs to grow racing heroes organically, and not reply on outside heroes for what amounts to a temporary boost.

But then again, what would IndyCar know about making heroes? Not a single regular IndyCar driver is a household name today.