Answer this...

NASCAR: Can female drivers be competitive in this...?

XERB1019 VIDEO: "Inside NASCAR's" hosts Chris Meyers, Randy Pemberton, Brad Daugherty and Michael Waltrip discuss performance expectation levels for female driver Danica Patrick 

What is the performance expectation of Danica Patrick in NASCAR? On yesterday's episode of "Inside NASCAR," they went there. All the way there.

Her immediate goal is to finish races -- two out of three ain't bad. 

But what does everyone else expect her to do before she can be considered a success -- or even competitive? Is finishing races enough? Or does she have to run in the top 10? Win races? 

Brad Daugherty says that's never going to happen:

"I don't think she can win in one of these race cars. I just do not think that will happen. They're too heavy, too difficult to drive -- a whole different discipline."

Is he right? Can a 100 lb. woman compete on the track with the big boys in the big cars?

Physical ability aside, most are in agreement that Danica needs to go all-in on a full-time commitment to the sport to have any hope of becoming successful. And even then it could take years. 

What do you think ? Does she have the talent? Does she have the patience?

Do we?

Fun with search terms on Answer this...

As many longtime readers know, Answer this... was originally inspired by search referrals to Drink this... Sometime in 2004, after a post on Matt Kenseth and another about Katie Holmes, Googlers were visiting looking for Matt Kenseth's wife Katie. This... is Katie Kenseth became the first entry in a category that would eventually take on a life of its own: NASCAR Wives and Girlfriends.

These days, most of the inquiries come directly from the tallglassofmilk inbox, but I still keep an eye on the keywords for inspiration -- and amusement. Some inquiries have been answered, some simply cannot be answered and some just don't deserve to be answered. Others beg me to have some fun with this...

Curious Minds Want to Know

1. Should Tony Stewart date a super model?
   Would a supermodel date Tony Stewart? That is the question.
2. The woman of Tony Stewart
   Wanna be one? Tryouts are held every weekend in the NASCAR motorcoach lot. Items to bring to your audition: Proof of age, an over-sized bosom, your best table/lap dance and/or your completed application to become a Tony Stewart Racing development driver.
3. Dale Jr. and Danica Patrick dating
   What?! No one told me about this! Does Danica's husband know? Or Junior's woman? or her husband?
4. Is Jamie McMurray married to Christy Wallace?
   I'm surrounded by identity crisis everywhere I turn. See also: Christy Futrell, Chrissy Wallace, Katie Wallace.
5. Robby Gordon children
   Robby Gordon has kids? Who knew.

What do you want to know?

How much hype tolerance have you got for this...?

Danica Patrick, Daytona International Speedway - Feb. 6, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)

You might have heard ... Danica Patrick has come to NASCAR. Big news. Has its pros and cons.

Pro: Brings sponsor dollars, new fans and heightened awareness of female drivers.

Con: For NASCAR veteran fans, all Danica all-the-time media coverage will reach saturation level before she even gets a Cup car ride.

Have you reached your Danica threshold yet?

Related articles

• Danica Patrick showed she may have a bright future in stock car racing after a good Daytona run (sports.espn.go.com)
• Danica seeks respect in NASCAR (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• With Patrick in Foreground, Other Women Chase Stock-Car Glory (nytimes.com)

Danica, on having the right equipment for this...

IRL Driver Danica Patrick in the Sports Illustrated 2008 Swimsuit Issue

Quoting this...
“About her appearance in the swimsuit issue, driver Danica Patrick said: ‘I didn’t do it the way Marisa [Miller] did it on the cover or anything. I definitely don’t have that equipment.’ See? In racing, it’s always about the equipment.” ~ Orlando Sentinel

Photo gallery: Danica Patrick in Sports Illustrated's 2008 Swimsuit Issue