In 2018, Tony Stewart stood by the start-finish line at Daytona with admiration in his voice and pride in his eyes. His longtime protégé, Danica Patrick, was preparing for her final Daytona 500. Stewart, who brought her into NASCAR under the Stewart-Haas banner, had always believed in her. To him, Patrick wasn’t just another racer retiring; she was a pioneer who had braved two of motorsport’s toughest disciplines, IndyCar and NASCAR. Her Daytona farewell wasn’t just symbolic. It was a moment that closed one chapter and hinted at a new beginning.
“She’s one of the most fearless people I’ve ever met. She has never backed down from a challenge. In fact, she’s sought out new challenges throughout her career, and that’s what brought her to NASCAR and Stewart-Haas Racing,” he had said. Stewart had hoped Patrick would continue pushing boundaries, maybe not behind the wheel, but certainly within the sport’s ecosystem. “She’s done something no other female has ever done at this level,” he said at the time.
Patrick had led laps at Indy, scored the best-ever finish by a woman, and won a race in Japan. He believed she could go wherever she wanted in motorsports. But instead of diving deeper into racing leadership or driver development, Patrick chose the broadcasting path. Since then, she’s been a regular face in the booth, first with NBC, then Sky Sports for F1, and now FOX Sports. This year, Patrick reunites with Stewart to cover FOX’s first broadcast of the Indy 500. Yet despite her long list of achievements and industry knowledge, fan reaction has been anything but warm.
Tony Stewart reunites with Danica Patrick
This year’s Indianapolis 500 is not just another race. For the first time, FOX is broadcasting the event, and they’ve gone big on their pre-race coverage. The network announced that both Tony Stewart and Danica Patrick will join veteran broadcaster Chris Myers in the secondary booth. Stewart, the 1997 IndyCar champ and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, returns with past broadcasting experience. Patrick, with her trailblazing record in IndyCar and five seasons in NASCAR, is also a familiar face in the media scene.
FOX’s plan is clear: combine racing legends and media pros to give viewers an exciting broadcast. Stewart brings technical depth and personality. Patrick offers the perspective of someone who’s made history. Big media names like Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi join the lineup, while NFL stars Michael Strahan and Rob Gronkowski will make race-day appearances. On paper, it’s an all-star team. But in practice, fans seem to have different opinions, especially about Patrick.
One fan on social media didn’t hold back: “Someone attending the Indy 500, please show up in a lizard suit and stand behind her on pit road.” While harsh, this reaction reflects widespread dissatisfaction. Viewers argue that Danica Patrick doesn’t prepare enough or add useful insight. They point to previous stints on CBS’s SRX broadcasts and Sky Sports F1 coverage where Patrick missed key details, like not knowing Bill Elliott’s nickname or even basic race rules. Her critics say she doesn’t do the homework required of an analyst.
July 22, 2023, Budapest, Hungary: American former professional racing driver Danica Patrick is seen in the paddock after the qualifying session of the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, near Budapest. Budapest Hungary – ZUMAs197 20230722_zaa_s197_193 Copyright: xJurexMakovecx
However, this type of criticism isn’t new for Patrick. Critics have long accused her of being underprepared, slamming her for mistakes and awkward moments throughout her media career. They called her out for wrongly suggesting Hamilton won a title he didn’t and for appearing disinterested during NASCAR analysis. They question her credibility and wonder why networks keep hiring her. Even in Formula 1, where she has grown more confident, the start wasn’t easy. Fans pounced on her errors. They mocked her fashion, tone, and even her questions.
But despite the criticism, no one can deny her influence. Patrick’s 2008 win in IndyCar made her the first woman to win a race in the series. She also holds the best Indy 500 finish for a female driver, third place in 2009. Stewart once said, “She has shown so many female racers that it can be done.” He emphasized that her biggest legacy might not be in stats, but in the hope she gave to a generation of racers.
She broke through in a world that wasn’t always ready for her. Patrick became a role model for young girls who never saw themselves in the driver’s seat before. Fans have enthusiastically welcomed Tony Stewart’s return to the broadcast booth. After two years of calling races for NASCAR on FOX, he’s built a reputation for delivering clear analysis and lively commentary. He brings rare expertise in both open-wheel and stock car racing. Fans trust him because he’s done it all, and they know he’ll deliver. Notably, he comes with some blistering accolades in his NHRA career.
With his IndyCar and NASCAR knowledge, he balances technical understanding with fan-favorite status. In contrast, Patrick’s return has amplified a divide in fan opinion. This contrast between the two stars is striking. Stewart gets the cheers, while Patrick faces the jeers. As FOX moves toward race day with its new lineup, the growing noise around Patrick’s role may continue to build.
Fans sound off on Patrick’s return
The reaction to FOX’s Indy 500 broadcast team has been explosive, especially when it comes to Danica Patrick. While Tony Stewart is earning praise for his return, Patrick is facing open hostility. Fans didn’t hold back. One viral post read: “Who are the dingbats that keep having this idea that adding Danica to a broadcast is a good idea?” That statement echoed across racing forums, where many pointed to her history of broadcast errors and said she lacks insight compared to veterans like Stewart.
Another harsh takedown: “When NBC used her, she added NOTHING. She was clueless as a FOX guest Cup analyst… she didn’t know the race rules and was oblivious to ‘Awesome Bill from Dawsonville.’” That user pointed to her SRX stint as proof that she doesn’t prep or understand the culture deeply enough. This has been a big problem for Patrick as an analyst. During a Formula 1 race in her initial days, she called Lewis Hamilton the winner when Max Verstappen dominated the track.
Another user echoed the sentiments and said, “Jesus Christ, to Danica! She’s an awful analyst! Maybe worse than she was a Cup driver! Smoke is great, on the other hand!” The contrast fans see between her and Stewart is stark. While Stewart is viewed as authentic and insightful, Patrick is seen as out of touch. Even her presence outside of IndyCar draws fire: “Ugh, Danica. She is awful in F1 prerace and adds 0 to the conversation. 500 miles of listening to her is going to be awful.”
Fans argue that her role across multiple platforms shows that networks care more about name recognition than substance. The numbers reflect the mood. Across social platforms, sentiment toward Patrick’s Indy 500 role has trended heavily negative, while posts featuring Stewart get hundreds of likes and shares praising his insight and presence.
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