IRl driver Danica Patrick signs autographs for fans during a break in practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Thursday, May 7, 2009. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
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Updated: Thursday, 24 Sep 2009, 9:54 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 24 Sep 2009, 9:54 PM EDT
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH/AP) - 24-Hour News 8 Racing Analyst Derek Daly reports that Danica Patrick has signed a three-year deal to stay in IndyCar with Michael Andretti's team.
Sources tell Daly that AGR and Patrick were planning on announcing a new deal after the Chicago race in August but Patrick only wanted a two-year deal at the time while Andretti was looking for a three-year commitment. But now it appears that both Patrick and Andretti have agreed on three years.
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart said earlier this month that he has no doubts that Patrick will eventually make the jump to stock cars.
"I just know that she's excited about this and making this change," said Stewart. "I can pretty much guarantee at some point she's going to be over here."
Stewart made the same jump himself more than a decade ago, leaving the Indy Racing League for a more lucrative deal in NASCAR. He's become something on a mentor to Patrick, who visited his racing shop and had a chance to talk with him further at sponsor appearances.
"She's looked me straight in the eye and said, 'Hey, this is what I want to do. It looks like fun. It looks like a lot of work, but it looks like fun,'" Stewart said. "She doesn't have some misguided idea that it's going to be easy doing it. She wants to do it the right way. She has the intention of doing everything right."
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