IndyCar fans have spoken, and they didn't hold back. In a recent poll on the official IndyCar Reddit page, Danica Patrick was crowned the 'most disliked' driver in the sport's history—and the reactions are as fiery as a last-lap pass at Indianapolis.
The retired driver, who left full-time racing in 2018, was never one to shy away from the spotlight. But this time, the spotlight is burning bright with criticism. Fans didn't just vote; they unloaded, calling out what they see as a career built more on marketing than on-track success.
Why the Hate?
According to the poll, Patrick's perceived arrogance and lack of major wins were the main drivers of her unpopularity. One fan wrote, 'She earned that title. If people turned on her it is because she placed herself above all of us who pay her wages. She was never a bright bulb, and those who say she had confidence were wrong. She had arrogance which equates to ignorance.'
Another fan compared her to a flashy college athlete who fizzled out: 'Danica Patrick is to Nascar and Indy car racing what Johnny Manziel was to the NFL. Both were full of themselves while being horrible at their sports. Johnny was a good college player, but choked in the big boy league of the NFL. He will always be remembered for flashing money when he got drafted, and then never lived up to the hype. Danica Patrick was just never a good driver.'
Marketing Over Merit?
Patrick's move from IndyCar to NASCAR was once hailed as groundbreaking, but fans are now questioning its significance. 'What was so historic about her jumping to NASCAR? She certainly wasn’t the first woman driver and never won a race,' one comment read. Another added, 'Stop calling her a racing star! She was slow, she would never have made it past go karts if her name was Daniel Patrick. She was not successful in Indycar and represented only the fact that marketing can win the day.'
This backlash isn't isolated. It echoes the recent IndyCar fans voting Danica Patrick the most disliked driver ever, a sentiment that has only grown louder. Even her stint as an F1 commentator drew ire: 'I was beyond thrilled when the decision was his aid to remove her as a commentator for F1,' one fan wrote, referencing a controversial exit.
A Polarizing Legacy
Patrick's career was undeniably polarizing. She broke barriers as a woman in a male-dominated sport, but her on-track results—zero wins in IndyCar and only one top-10 finish in NASCAR—left many unimpressed. The poll, which she won decisively, seems to confirm that for many fans, her personality overshadowed her achievements.
What do you think? Was Danica Patrick unfairly targeted, or did she earn the 'most disliked' label? The debate rages on, much like the PETA slams IndyCar star Romain Grosjean over bird strike joke, showing that controversy is never far from the track.
For now, Patrick's legacy remains a lightning rod—a mix of trailblazing and turbulence that keeps fans talking long after the checkered flag has waved.
