Danica Patrick concerned about Motegi's IndyCar trip
Danica Patrick says she is concerned about her upcoming trip to Japan but still plans to be there for the IndyCar Series event at Motegi next week
Speaking at Richmond International Raceway, where she makes her 21st career outing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend, Patrick echoed some of the worries already voiced by some in the MotoGP paddock, including world champions Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi.
Patrick says she will be taking every precaution possible - even if she thinks IndyCar should be responsible for that, and did not hide her fears ahead of her trip.
"I don't think it's great. I don't want to make anyone mad but heck, yeah, I'm concerned!" said Patrick. "MotoGP's made a big fuss about going there and obviously their race got delayed and it's still after ours, next weekend.
"They had a study done that seemed like it was relatively safe. I don't know if it necessarily means that the radiation levels are elevated compared to the past. Maybe they are, but it's not the highest around. I mean, the radiation seems like it's okay.
"I'm concerned about the food, to be honest. They say don't eat beef, which probably means don't eat vegetables and fruit - I read something about nine times the radiation in mushrooms so far out of the Fukushima area.
"And there's earthquakes, like every week. And it seems like every other week there's a big one. There's been a couple 6.5s [on the Richter scale] in the last month or two.
"I think that there's a general concern about the safety of being over there. I'm told that IndyCar has an emergency plan if something happens and we need to all get out, which is terrible to think about.
"We compromised on the track 'cause we're racing on the road course and not the oval. IndyCar is not going back after this year anyway. It just seems like a lot of forced things to make it happen. But I'm just a racing driver and I have to show up where I have to show up."
Motegi was the scene of Patrick's sole victory to date in the IndyCar Series three years ago, although it was claimed on the oval and not the road course they will race on this time due to damage sustained to the oval during the earthquake.
She currently ranks 11th in the standings with just three races left of her full-time IndyCar career before making the switch to NASCAR next year.
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