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Danica Patrick has won over Madison Avenue, but she never has tasted Victory Lane. So, behind a steering wheel, is she more Anna Kournikova or Maria Sharapova?
Is she media hype, or is she the real deal?
"Remember this is only her 20th start, and she was a rookie last year,'' ABC racing analyst Scott Goodyear said of Patrick's entry in Sunday's Indy 500.
"The average for an individual to win in this series is 33 starts before they actually take a victory, so I think that needs to be held in context.''
Maybe Patrick has not finished first in a race, but she has been a ratings success. Last year, for the first time since 2001, ABC's Indy coverage raced past Fox' Coca-Cola 600, even though the Coke 600 picked up its highest number ever, according to Nielsen.
At one point during last year's Indy 500, Patrick led the race, raising expectations and revving up curiosity. She eventually finished fourth.
Goodyear thinks Patrick has done a great job of not letting the overwhelming buzz dull her focus.
"I think everybody needs to realize, with the demand on her time from the fans and the media, it is so hard to actually focus and concentrate and get your job done,'' Goodyear said. "It is not just happening at Indianapolis for her, but at all the events. That is a tough task.
"There have been so many drivers who have come to the Indianapolis 500 and have never led, and last year we were obviously thrilled to see her come here in her rookie year - basically her fourth start in Indy cars - and lead this event.''
The one thing Patrick allegedly has not created is jealousy. Former Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr., who will be competing in Sunday's race, said that he and other drivers are actually happy about the attention that Patrick has garnered.
"The attention she has drawn is very good for the sport,'' Unser said. "I don't see anyone being jealous or anything like that, because the more people watching the race, the more people who are seeing you in the race.''
Sunday, Indianapolis 500, 1 p.m., ABC
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