Loose end tie-up: Danica to run in Nascar

I reported the “news” that this “news” was pending, so I feel obligated to not leave you all hanging.

Yes, Danica Patrick will drive a partial Nascar schedule in 2010, in the sport’s lower Nationwide Series.

But here’s what I find interesting. At this moment, this story is not on ESPN’s front page. It’s leading the site’s Nascar section, but nothing on the main page.

The story does refer to the “intense attention the 27-year-old driver will bring to the male-dominated sport.”

But ESPN, itself, isn’t pushing that attention as hard as you might think.

So, I have to wonder — just a little — whether Danica-mania (we really need a Danicagate at some point to send Negative Camber off the deep end) might be a bust.

We’ll see.

And now, since we are a Formula 1 site, here’s all the parts of the ESPN story devoted to one of our own:

Patrick’s biggest challenge will be on the track.

“Danica, I think she’s got the talent and everything but I don’t think she knows what she’s getting into,” Juan Pablo Montoya said in September.

Montoya understands the difficulties of the transition better than most. The former Indianapolis 500 champion left Formula One three years ago to pursue a career in the Sprint Cup series.

A driver with far better credentials than Patrick, who has one win and finished no better than fifth in points, Montoya ranked 20th in points as a rookie and 25th a year ago before making the Chase this season. He still hasn’t won on an oval track.

“They’re so different to drive,” said Montoya, explaining the difference between a stock car and Indy car. “It’s not the same feeling.”

Montoya said trying to compete in IndyCar and the Nationwide Series at the same time will make the transition even more difficult.

“I wouldn’t be doing both cars, to be honest with you,” he said. “That’s my advice.”

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