Patrick, Andretti Say F1 Talk Premature

Posted Feb 24, 2009 4:43PM By Holly Cain (RSS feed)

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Danica Patrick and Marco Andretti are here at Homestead Miami Speedway for the first official test session of the IndyCar Series. But it's a possible future in Formula One that keeps coming up.

The F1 buzz is in reaction to the newly-formed USF1 team which was unveiled by owners Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor in Charlotte, N.C. on Tuesday.

"I'm very flattered to be thought of, for sure. ... Formula One is a very competitive platform, but I don't necessarily know why no one ever spoke to me,'' Patrick said Tuesday after the team mentioned her as a potential driving candidate.

"It's not like they contacted me and I gave them the 'oh yeah, that sounds very interesting.' I never heard from anyone.''

Danica Patrick Snapshots

** FILE ** In this May 30, 2008 file photo, IRL Series driver Danica Patrick speaks at a news conference in West Allis, Wis. Patrick says she has not been contacted by anyone from the new American-based Formula One team and has no plans to leave the IndyCar Series. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)

** FILE ** In this May 10, 2007, file photo, Michael Andretti, left, and Danica Patrick stand in the pits during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. Andretti, who co-owns the team for which Patrick drives, will be strategist for Patrick in the 2009 IndyCar season, the team announced Monday, Jan. 26, 2009. The decision allows Kyle Moyer, who made the calls for Patrick's car last season, to fill the same role for Andretti's son, Marco. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman, File)

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JANUARY 24: Danica Patrick, driver of the #2 Childress-Howard Motorsports Pontiac Crawford reacts to her lap times during the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on January 24, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JANUARY 24: Danica Patrick, driver of the #2 Childress-Howard Motorsports Pontiac Crawford drives during the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on January 24, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JANUARY 24: Danica Patrick high fives a young fan during the autograph session prior to the Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 24, 2009 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Rick Dole/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 26: Danica Patrick drives the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during the IRL Indy Car Series Nikon Indy 300 on October 26, 2008 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Danica Patrick drives the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during the qualifying session for the IRL Indy Car Series Nikon Indy 300 on October 25, 2008 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: Danica Patrick driver of the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda sits in her car during practice for the IRL Indy Car Series Nikon Indy 300 on October 24, 2008 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 24: Danica Patrick drives the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IRL Indy Car Series Nikon Indy 300 on October 24, 2008 on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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Andretti's grandfather, the legendary racer Mario Andretti, told the Associated Press that Marco would be the ideal fit for the new team, which plans to debut on the F1 grid in 2010 with a pair of American-born drivers.

Andretti, however, was apparently unaware of his grandfather's comments.

"It would be risky because it's such a new team, that's all I would say,'' Andretti, 21, said, brushing off the question on his way into a drivers meeting before practice.

Patrick's name came up even before the team's official announcement. But like her Andretti-Green Racing teammate, she didn't indicate it would be a realistic situation for her at this time.

"They probably just used my name a little bit,'' Patrick said. "But again, they used my name so I'm flattered. I would think they wouldn't just bring up my name unless they had some reason.

"People bring my name up, especially during this time where you've got Super Bowl commercials out there and Sports Illustrated and all this other stuff. It's a bit more of a hot button right now than other times of the year.''