Danica Patrick signs autographs before her July 2 IRL race at Kansas. Credit: AP

Patrick rumored to be interested in NASCAR

IRL driver's contract with Rahal-Letterman expires this year

Danica Patrick could be trying to find her way into a NASCAR ride, reports Ed Hinton of the Orlando Sentinel.

Patrick's father, T.J., who manages his daughter's career, was roaming the Nextel Cup garage area Sunday at Chicagoland during the USG Sheetrock 400, exploring the possible interest of teams and sponsors.

Inside the Numbers Patrick's 2006 IRL stats Race Start Finish Homestead 17 17 St. Petersburg 14 6 Twin Ring Motegi 14 8 Indianapolis 10 8 Watkins Glen 16 8 Texas 14 12 Richmond 14 15 Kansas 12 11 Average 13.9 10.6

"I'm trying to get her here [into NASCAR]," T.J. Patrick told Hinton.

Danica Patrick, 24, exploded onto the Indy Racing League scene last year, nearly winning the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie driving for Rahal-Letterman Racing. But her contract with the team is up at the end of this season, and it appears she will not be returning to the team.

She reportedly is negotiating with other IRL teams as well as considering the possible jump to NASCAR.

T.J. Patrick and Danica's mother, Bev, were at Chicagoland on Sunday because "we've had some inquiries" from NASCAR teams, he told Hinton. They were guests of Roush Racing.

MESSAGE BOARD •   Share your thoughts on Danica joining NASCAR

There are two full-time female drivers in the Craftsman Truck Series, Erin Crocker and Kelly Sutton, and Deborah Renshaw ran a full Truck schedule last year.

Shawna Robinson made seven starts in the Cup Series in 2002, the last time a female started a premiere series event.

The possibility of the female driver coming to stock car racing comes on the heels of Sunday's announcement that Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya will drive the No. 42 Dodge next season for owner Chip Ganassi.