(Photo courtesy of SI)

Danica Patrick picked up her first victory earlier this year, but she’s still fighting for respect on the track. Some groups consider her an IRL gimmick that’s using her femininity instead of her skills to advance. Fellow driver Scott Dixon says Danica Patrick is a menace on the track. Chief steward of the IRL, Brian Barnhart, said Danica’s reputation can be damaged by the other driver’s accusations.

From IndyStar.com:

“What I think is happening is that guys are getting a little frustrated (with her). She needs to be a little careful that if things aren’t going so well (with her car), she needs to treat her fellow competitors with respect, and if she doesn’t, that will probably come back to cost her.”

Barnhart also stated that he didn’t see anything unsportsmanlike in Danica Patrick’s driving during the IndyCar series race at Iowa Speedway last weekend. DP feels she’s done enough to earn her props and to hell with you if you’re not giving her any.

“I would hope that I’ve earned the respect of the drivers; it’s something I’ve worked hard for. I’ve always made sure that when I’ve been in a situation that’s not ideal that I cut slack around me and made sure that I did that because it would come back (to me).

“I have the respect of my teammates and that, to be honest, is the only thing important to me,”

I don’t think she’s being completely honest. The respect from her teammates should be most important but league wide respect is necessary. I know she’d rather be considered a winner and fierce competitor than “the cute dangerous driver.”

Danica Patrick, auto racing, menace, Scott Dixon

Men know not to mess with a woman’s hair but that doesn’t seem to apply in the IRL. Danica Patrick’s teammates at Andretti Green Racing have stated that they will cut off her hair when she wins her first race. DP’s not feeling that celebration:

“I don’t know. I really think I’m going to have to have someone intervene. I get two inches cut off, ever, and I’m hyperventilating. I’ve always had long hair as long as I’ve been on this earth. I don’t think it’s going to happen. I really don’t. But I’m going to run for my life, though. I know that much. I’m not going to open it up like wide open, take my helmet off in pit lane and be like ‘Hey, where are the guys?’ I might just leave it on for an hour, not until I can have someone restrain them and search their pockets.”

The obvious joke would be that Danica’s hair will grow to her feet before she has to pay up, but she’s been creeping towards her first victory. She’s had 13 starts and 9 top ten finishes this season. She’s in 7th place, 4 points ahead of Scott Sharp and 13 points behind Helio Castroneves, in the IndyCar standings. Winning a race is Patrick’s only challenge left.

 If Danica does win a race and ends up getting her hair cut, I wonder.. How low will the team take it? I’ll have to reconsider Danica’s Playboy shoot if her head gets shaved like Britney Spears.

Danica Patrick looks forward to first win but dreads teammates plans to give her a haircut. Courtesy of The Sporting News

6 Women from the sports world that Playboy should contact.