Catchfence

Question: Your contract expires at the end of this season. I have to ask the obligatory, “Are you going to NASCAR?” question.

Danica Patrick: There’s a certain time when I can start doing things and talk to other teams and that time is not now. But I’m always keeping my options open. I have to keep in mind my driving, the platform and the sponsors. There are a lot of factors. But I think, in the end, the choice is going to be obvious. It will be natural.

Question: How hard do you think the IndyCar Series has been hit from the economy?

Danica Patrick: I don’t feel like we’ve been hit as hard as NASCAR has, but they have a lot more sponsors. So the shock might be easier to absorb.

Question: Just saw you on the cover of Shape Magazine, fresh off being in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Danica Patrick: Keep in mind I did Sports Illustrated in November and Shape in December, so I didn’t eat anything for all of Thanksgiving or Christmas. I’m 27. I don’t know how many more of these opportunities I’m going to have. As long as I have the opportunity, it’s probably good to do this type of thing every year.

- Auto Racing Daily