Filed under: Motorsports
Danica Patrick reaches new milestone, SI's Swimsuit Issue
Most drivers love to see themselves in Sports Illustrated. It means they did something important like win the Indy 500. Danica Patrick appears in the most recent issue, but it's not for winning a race. Rather, her hot bod has landed the IndyCar driver in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. We're not sure how many shots of her appear in the actual issue, but the magazine's website has posted 44 images of her climbing out of a driving suit wearing a teency weency bikini, an image that will no doubt be conjured by many men when they see her race next.Danica is a polarizing figure in motorsports because she doesn't shy away from her sexuality, and if anything uses it to her advantage. She's the first female in motorsports to not only be talented on the track, but also shrewd in business and able to capitalize on her money-making image. We'd all be kidding ourselves to think that Junior sells his expensive t-shirts to female fans just because he's a great driver, so it's hard to fault Danica for capitalizing on her looks, as well. On the other hand, it's also more difficult to take her seriously as a driver when she's topless.
[Source: Sports Illustrated]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Taylor 5:43PM (2/13/2008)
Talk about a sellout.
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iSpec 5:44PM (2/13/2008)
She's nothing more than peripheral entertainment. Perfect for the whole Indy Car Racing
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YouFaceTheTick 5:47PM (2/13/2008)
Shrug. That car racing finds an audience perplexes me. Love to drive, love to track, hate to watch anyone else do it. Sorta like porn.
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klitorisaurus 2:15AM (3/28/2008)
So.... You're trying to tell me you don't like watching porn? Uh huh.. sure.
El_Tomacco 5:55PM (2/13/2008)
She's a great driver and she likes to show off how hot she is. Why complain?
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Whitie 9:03PM (2/13/2008)
"great driver"? She is the Anna Kornikova of car racing (neither has ever won anything), except Anna was 30 degrees hotter.
Toy Yoda 5:56PM (2/13/2008)
She should race topless. I bet she'd win. All the drivers a head of her will crane their necks to check her out, and then crash their cars. :)
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Dustin 5:57PM (2/13/2008)
If I were rich, famous, attractive, and had an awesome job, I would probably smile. Danica should try it sometime.
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A&W 6:19PM (2/13/2008)
Ditto about the smile. She is actually quite cute when she does manage to get caught smiling. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2008_swimsuit/danica-patrick/08_danica-patrick_19.html
Thedevil 5:57PM (2/13/2008)
Is she ok?..not liking the looks of them neckbones
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matt 6:00PM (2/13/2008)
wtf, she has implants? that has to slow her down.
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G-Daddy 6:06PM (2/13/2008)
It's a shame...my young daughters really looked up to her, and were very excited to meet Danica at the 500 a couple of years ago. As unnecessary as these photos are, I really lost respect for her when I saw her "beaver" ad on godaddy. Try explaining that one to your 10-year-old. I keep hoping she'll make the jump to NASCAR; seems more fitting somehow.
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John P. 6:11PM (2/13/2008)
A few too many g's in the corners got her neck lookin all football player, but other than that she looks pretty darn good.
I don't have a problem with her using what looks she has to sell stuff and make money. You never know when the racing and/or the looks are gonna be gone.
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RobZ4 6:15PM (2/13/2008)
I also completely lost respect for her as a race car driver. Oh well ...sex always sells and she might be trying to branch out in case her career as a racer goes in the dumpster. I can almost guarantee she will be featured in Playboy magazine soon.
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YourNameHere 6:22PM (2/13/2008)
you guys are crazy. you want to sit there and tell me Michael Schumacher doesn't exploit his celebrity to make money?! get outta here. how is it ok for a male driver to expoit himself but not a female!? besides...those photos are so photoshoped there is only about %3 of her really in those pics anyway.
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500 10:13PM (2/13/2008)
My thoughts exactly, YourNameHere. Airbrushed to death, ugh.
RJ 11:13PM (2/13/2008)
The only difference is, Schumacher can drive.
I'm no Schumi fan at all, but I give him all the respect for setting a championship record that will be undefeated for years to come. Though in my heart I consider Senna a better driver.
BTW, when was the last time Michael was runing around posing in a g-string? Did I miss that? Or when was the last time and male driver used their genitals as an advantage on the track?
meshies 6:42PM (2/13/2008)
I don't understand how any male could complain about this. Best Autoblog post all day.
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tankd0g 6:43PM (2/13/2008)
She started out as a pin-up girl she might as well end it that way.
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RWD fan 6:45PM (2/13/2008)
Awesome. All the naysayers are full of crap if they say she can't drive, as I'll bet she outdrives them, or anyone they might even be on a first name basis with.
I say more power to her.
It's nothing nearly as bad as say, a Petty driving like crap for years based solely on their Dad's rep.
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