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Is Danica Patrick heading to NASCAR? If her father, T.J. Patrick has his way, the IRL IndyCar driver will be racing one day in Nextel Cup.
Patrick's father attended Sunday's NASCAR race at Chicagoland Speedway as guests of Roush Racing and, according to the Chicago Tribune, said, "I'm trying to get her (into NASCAR)."
Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing, said while T.J. Patrick was a guest of the team, no discussions took place in regards to his daughter's racing future. Representatives from some other NASCAR teams -- including Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, Evernham Motorsports, Robert Yates Racing and Team Red Bull -- also said they have yet to speak to the 24-year-old from Roscoe, Ill.
A spokesman for Rahal Letterman Racing said the team had no comment other then to say discussions to extend Patrick's contract -- which expires after the season -- are ongoing. Neither Danica nor her father could be reached Monday.
Talk of Patrick possibly leaving the IRL comes a day after Juan Pablo Montoya announced he would depart Formula One for NASCAR.
"That father is doing all the pushing here," said Rusty Wallace, a former NASCAR driver and current commentator on ABC/ESPN IRL broadcasts. "What needs to happen is that Danica has to come and make the decision ... She's the best lady driver I have ever seen."
Patrick said two months ago that her immediate future didn't include fenders and roofs.
"I wanted to be an IndyCar driver since I was very young, and I wanted to win the Indy 500," said Patrick, who is in her second season in the IndyCar Series. "I think it's silly to let go of that dream at this point, and nobody (from NASCAR) has called me."
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