This week’s topic of discussion: Kimi Raikkonen, Danica Patrick, and the pimping out of drivers to sell a sport to new fans. Now unless you’re new to this site, you know that a) I can’t stand Danica Patrick and b) I heart Kimi Raikkonen. So the idea of comparing one to the other is not only interesting but could also cause me immense mental anguish, which is most likely fun for you, but not so much for me.
So let’s start with Danica: First off my primary beef with Danica is NOT with IndyCar. Sure, Indy pimps her out like donuts outside a Weight Watchers meeting, but can you blame them? The series is, at best, climbing out of the toilet and Danica drives well enough, and she’s easy on the eyes – so why not.
What bothers me is Danica’s desire to be treated like “one of the guys” despite the aforementioned pimping by IndyCar. You can’t be in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and then wonder why you’re treated different. And you can’t expect “the guys” to like you when your looks base success outweighs their skill based success every time. It’s just annoying. And yet, she just act like this is all out of her control and IndyCar does it and she can’t help it, which is all crap of course.
So then we move on to Kimi Raikkonen: The former F1 driver turned WRC rally guy is pimped all over the WRC world. And again, I can’t blame them because this is the best thing that’s happened to WRC in years and is desperately what the sport needs to get some attention in the motor racing world. HOWEVER, the big difference is: Kimi doesn’t care. He shows up, he races and if WRC puts his face on everything – nothing changes. Danica on the other hand, seems to believe her own hype (kind of like that Button fellow) and doesn’t get that no one rates her that high, except her dad and IndyCar – and Indy is just trying to make a buck.
So is Kimi the Danica of WRC? Yes and no. Series PR wise: Yes, both drivers are everywhere and regardless of how they do in any given race, they’ll always be plastered on the post-race reports. Personal PR wise: No. Danica believes the hype and feel she deserves it. Kimi just drives.
Source: F1B
Courtesy: Boudica Planet-F1
