Notebook: Title battle hots up

"From my point of view, winning the championship is definitely feasible," said Lazier. "It started off as a long shot, real long shot. All of a sudden, it isn't so long. Now, all of a sudden, it is pretty darn doable. We've got a ton of momentum.

"They've done a brilliant job. No doubt they've done a great job. Haven't dropped out any races. Seems like if they don't win, they take second or third. Always checking the points. They are doing what they need to do to win a championship. However, we're doing what we need to do to win a championship, too. I think it's going to be really, really close. Real tight at Texas."

The 21-year-old Hornish believes if he keeps finishing in the top three, it will be extremely difficult for Lazier to overtake him in the point's battle with three races remaining.

"It's really hard to gain an advantage on Buddy when we're both running Firestone tyres, running Dallara, both have Speedway Engines," Hornish said. "The only thing different is pretty much the driver. So I don't know, maybe I need to do some homework."


Sarah Fisher may soon have competition for being the fastest female driver in the Indy Racing League. Danica Patrick, a 19-year-old driver from Rockford, Illinois who is currently competing in the British Formula Ford Championship, was at Kentucky Speedway this weekend with Heritage Motorsports.

Patrick, who started racing go-karts at age 10, has competed in Europe since 1998 and became the highest finishing American in the Formula Ford Festival in 26 years when she finished second in 2000. It was the highest finish ever for a female and the highest finish for an American since Danny Sullivan in 1974. Sullivan went on to win the 1985 Indianapolis 500.

"I wanted to see more about the team and how they do things and get to know the team and become friends with everyone," Patrick said. "I've seen a lot of fans come here. It seems like a well-attended race. I was at the CART race at Chicago two weeks ago and they didn't have half as many people. That's a good thing to see with this series.

"My goal is to get a drive as long as it is a good drive and one that I can win in. As long as I get that opportunity, then that is what I want to do."

John Mecom III has been Patrick's manager for the past three years and co-owns Heritage Motorsports with Jim Rathmann Jr

"I left school when I was 16 and moved over to Europe," Patrick said. "I came back and got my GED. I've done that part of it. I left halfway through my junior year and followed my dream. If I hadn't done that, I would have gone through life with regrets because you have to do it to the fullest.

"To get up and say I'm going to Europe doesn't happen like that, it comes with being successful in racing and the belief by myself and other people that you will make it happen. You have to be a talented person to have the confidence you can make a career out of it."

Patrick's racing background started at young age, similar to NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart and Indy Racing League regulars Sam Hornish Jr. and Fisher.

"I don't think my background is much different than any other race driver," Patrick said. "Everybody is starting young these days and that is what you have to do if you are going to be a top of the line driver. You have to start at age 10.

"I first started racing go-karts when I was 10 and I did that for seven years," Patrick added. "I raced against Sam Hornish and only raced once or twice against Sarah Fisher. Sam has done a very good job in the IRL. We used to race head to head and at the end of the day, most every time I would beat him. I'm not saying I'm better than him because he has impressed me in the IRL. He has either matured or everybody is scared of him and doesn't feel like fighting for a position. It would take me out there to compete against him to see if it's any different."

Don't be mistaken by Patrick's striking good looks; she has the heart and determination to be a real racer.

"It makes you want to get out there and race today," Patrick said. "I'm watching and learning and waiting to climb the ladder."


Rick Treadway became the 100th driver to start an Indy Racing League race when he took the green flag on Sunday. He started 15th and finished 17th after his car encountered various problems.

"To be racing in front of all these great Indy Racing League fans at Kentucky Speedway was incredible," Treadway said. "I mean, it was a tremendous learning experience. I learned a lot at this race, and I'm going to build upon that and hopefully going to do a little better at Chicago.

"It was my first time in traffic, and there's sure a lot going on and fast, but I'm used to that flying aeroplanes. Things were going great until we lost radio communications. The team decided to pull me in and fix the radio rather than leave me out with no communications. I know how important it is to hear your spotter. They play a major role in helping the driver. Our goal was to be running at the end and we accomplished that."