Patrick considering NASCAR future

T.J. Patrick, father and manager of the former Indy 500 rookie of the year, was in the Chicagoland paddock to watch this weekend's NASCAR races.

Patrick's contract with Rahal Letterman Racing expires at the end of this season and her father says he has held explanatory conversations with one team as he evaluates all opportunities for her daughter.

"I'm trying to get her into NASCAR," T.J. Patrick told the Chicago Tribune.

"We've had some inquiries from NASCAR teams. We're just talking to everybody and seeing what's shaking here."

Last month, Danica said in a news conference at Richmond that she was not thinking NASCAR was in the immediate future. However, she said she would never rule out the possibility.

"If the right opportunity comes up, you have to look at it. You'd be silly not to," Patrick said. "I think as long as we're in this series [IRL] and we're compensated for what we do well, and we're enjoying ourselves and it's safe, then this is where I want to be.

"As long as that happens, I can see myself racing in IndyCar forever unless a bigger, better deal comes up and my heart changes."

Her father believes she could be put off by the amount of races in the sport, however, she could easily be ready to race for next season if she wanted to.

"There's just so many races," he added. "That's what scares her more than anything. It's 38 weekends. I don't know if she's coming around to the idea, but all the arrows point this way.

"I don't think she'd have a problem [in being ready]. You could give her six months or a year in a car and do some testing and learning. She understands the basics."