Danica Patrick says she would still like to race in the Indianapolis 500
Danica Patrick says she still hopes to return to race at the Indianapolis 500 following her full-time move to NASCAR
The former IndyCar racer has not completely turned her back on the series despite engaging in a very busy schedule from next year, as she runs full-time in the Nationwide Series with JR Motorsports while racing a part-time programme with Stewart Haas Racing in the Sprint Cup.
Patrick said the tragic loss of Dan Wheldon during her final IndyCar outing as a series regular will not dampen her desire to race at Indianapolis again in the future.
"Absolutely, I'd love to do Indy," Patrick said when asked about her possibly returning to the Brickyard. "In my opinion it's the greatest race in the world and I have so many feelings and emotions and memories and I still feel like I have memories to create, so no, that won't affect my decision."
This weekend at Texas Motor Speedway Patrick will run a special paint scheme on her Nationwide car in tribute to Wheldon's memory and also a helmet design sporting the British flag and Wheldon-themed colors. The helmet will be later auctioned through http://danwheldonmemorial.com/.
Although she admitted to feeling safer inside a stock car than in an IndyCar, Patrick emphasised that her decision to move to NASCAR was not influenced by safety concerns at any point.
"It does feel safer," said Patrick. "It felt safer two years ago when I first got in a Nationwide car. I'm pleased to have a roof over my head this weekend. Accidents still happen, but not a lot of serious head injuries. Having my head covered definitely adds a level of comfort."
Earlier this year when announcing her full-time switch to NASCAR, Patrick said she was 'uncertain' about running in the Indianapolis 500 next year.
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