Patrick admits NASCAR interest

However, she also said she would prefer to stay in open-wheel racing, and that preference could play a part in her decision.

"The money doesn't really matter," Patrick said after qualifying at Nashville. "If the top teams came to me, no matter what the number was, and I thought I had a chance to win, I'd really think about it. Winning is what puts me in headlines."

Meanwhile, IRL team owner Michael Andretti indicated he might - given the right circumstances - be interested in hiring Patrick, but echoed her sentiment that not many open-wheel teams are able to generate the sponsorship money to pay multi-million dollar retainers.

"I like Danica," Andretti said. "I've always been a fan of hers. I think she can win races. A lot of times she's the best one of the weekend on her team. I think she can get the job done, given the right situation.

"Do I like her? Yes. Would I be interested? Probably."

Two of Andretti Green Racing's drivers - Dario Franchitti and Bryan Herta - will be at the end of their contracts at season's end, and neither has re-signed with the team. AGR's two other drivers, Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti, are signed to long-term deals. Patrick's contract with Rahal Letterman Racing concludes this season.

The story of Patrick and NASCAR erupted last weekend, when a comment by Patrick's father, T.J. Patrick, at Chicagoland Speedway was interpreted as signalling a possible move by his daughter from the IRL to the Nextel Cup. Danica Patrick acknowledged on Friday that financial numbers have been discussed with a Nextel Cup team, but declined to say which one.

"I haven't seen an offer, but I've heard about one," she said. When asked which team made the offer, she said, "I'm definitely not at liberty to say."

Then, when asked if any team in the IRL would be able to match a top-level NASCAR bid, Patrick said, "I doubt it."

Andretti said open-wheel racing needs a draw like Patrick, and alluded to a possible end to the split between the IRL and Champ Car as hope that NASCAR money doesn't pull her away.

"I hope she doesn't leave," Andretti said. "(NASCAR) has a lot more money to play with, and that's why we have to get this series better. Hopefully, with a lot of stuff that's going on, it will get better so we can afford to be able to pay what we used to pay. I'd love to see (open-wheel) drivers get paid what we used to."

While Patrick's marketability is the primary attraction for Cup team owners, it's also considered to be an asset in the effort to keep her in the IRL, where she has been able to pursue individual endorsements. In NASCAR, it's likely that she would trade the endorsement money for a larger retainer.

"It's kind of open-ended how much I could make because I'm able to bring sponsors," she said. "I am able to make money afterward, but I doubt (anyone in the IRL) would be able to come up with a straight salary offer like NASCAR."