LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Danica Patrick’s new NASCAR changes could ignite TV ratings. Danica Patrick, beyond her bikini photos and suggestive Go Daddy advertisements, has been a help for NASCAR ratings. But today, Patrick is reportedly considering a change to her upcoming year that could ultimately impact viewership of the sport.

In May 2010, Randy Bernard said that IndyCar had seen its growth due in part to Patrick’s popularity. “I’m a firm believer that the credibility of this sport has to start with creating a very credible ladder system.” He added ” I think we need to take it one step further and create a grassroots program with karting.”

When Patrick first made the move to NASCAR, she admitted it would be tough. “I knew last year going into it, doing both Indy Car and NASCAR, NASCAR for the first time, I knew it was probably going to be my toughest year ever, and it was” Patrick explained.

In March of this year, she detailed to news that the biggest trouble is scheduling. She believes she has achieved that. “Last year in February, I had literally two Mondays at home.”

NASCAR’s Sprint Cup viewership numbers fell from 2006 to 2011. Patrick has hoped to change the shift. Last fall, NASCAR told news that TV ratings were down seven to ten percent from its previous season, and down upwards of twenty four percent since 2006.

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Today’s news claims that Danica Patrick is not leaving IndyCar. Rather, Patrick is now considering running full time on NASCAR’s Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports and part time in the premier Sprint Cup series for Stewart-Haas Racing (co-owned by Tony Stewart). Patrick nor team officials have yet to confirm the news.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has previously told news “I would like for her to run full time, and I’m sure she is considering that, and I think she would enjoy it.” He added “I feel confident that she’s content where she is and happy with what we’re doing. I think things are looking positive for us to put something together.”

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Danica Patrick has crashed at the Itaipava Sao Paulo Indy 300. Danica Patrick tells news that she expected accidents with today’s weather.  A downpour hit the race after lap ten. Within moments, a six car crash impacted Patrick.

Danica Patrick crashed in the front with Simona de Silvestro and Helio Castroneves. Also impacted were Ryan Hunter-Reay, Tony Kanaan and Oriol Servia.

Patrick told news after the accident that she had nowhere to go once the crash started. In a photo here appearing on BleacherReport today, “Simona de Silvestro’s car was on top of Danica Patrick’s GoDaddy.com car”. Tony Kanaan suffered a hand injury as well.

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Before today’s race, Danica had told news “Brazil race is up next, hope your cheering for the bright green godaddy.com car!” She added “Taking off for Brazil, I cannot believe how many people have been killed in this awful weather, I will pray for it to end! Caio!”

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After Bristol, Patrick headed to IndyCar with a start at t he Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Patrick has the contract option to leave IndyCar after this season. She returns to NASCAR on June 4 at Chicagoland Speedway.

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ST LOUIS (LALATE) – When Danica Patrick visited Bristol Motor Speedway this week to see the track and its banking, Patrick had a purpose. Despite Danica Patrick’s lackluster first season in NASCAR, this season Patrick is improving substantially.

Come today’s race at Bristol, Patrick has only one goal: to finish.

Bristol is far more significant for Patrick that other competitions. Bristol marks Danica’s last NASCAR race for three months, just weeks after her best NASCAR finishes ever, and just months before she decides if she will split next year’s season between NASCAR and IndyCar or leave IndyCar.

After Bristol, Patrick head to IndyCar that starts March 27 at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. Patrick has the contract option to leave IndyCar after this season. She returns to NASCAR on June 4 at Chicagoland Speedway. But first, she has to take on the difficult banking of Bristol.

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And while Patrick’s best start in 12 Nationwide races last year with nineteen, a finish for Patrick at Bristol could be critical to inspire her to a full NASCAR series for 2012. Patrick has dramatically improved this season finishing fourth in Las Vegas along with fourteenth in Daytona and seventeen in Phoenix.

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So when asked by news what her expectations were, Patrick said she would love to finish top twenty; but Patrick admits to news that she is happy just to finish. As Patrick told news this week, Bristol track is aggressive. In referring to Bristol’s thirty-degree banking on a short track, Danica said “[I'm] checking out the #Bristol track for the first time. It’s got some banking!”

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Danica Patrick has her critics. But Patrick, who has proven she can win fans with both bikini pictures and improving race finishes, remains part of the push for NASCAR to recapture TV viewership in a declining market trend.

NASCAR’s Sprint Cup viewership numbers have been down since 2006. In December, NASCAR confirmed its TV rating were down roughly seven to ten percent from its previous season. In fact, NASCAR broadcasters last December confirmed that their numbers had dropped since 2009 and were down upwards of twenty four percent since 2006.

In October, NASCAR said the news came as a surprise. “The simple fact is that people just are not tuning in,” said Julie Sobieski, ESPN’s vice president of programming and acquisitions said in a statement at the time. “We’re looking at everything to find out why.”

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Starting last year, viral reaction changed when Patrick took to the Nationwide Series. Unfortunately, she crashed at Daytona and never made it to Phoenix in the spring.

Such has changed.

Patrick was the fourteenth fastest driver during Friday’s first practice. She finished fourteenth at Daytona, seventeen at Phoenix. This week it’s Las Vegas.

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Despite the notoriety and thirst to win, Patrick is still delighted by fan reaction. “I think I saw someone at trackside live holding a Danica sign- awesome. Thanks!” she tweeted this weekend.

Patrick told news this week that she is a far different driver than last season. “I knew last year going into it, doing both Indy Car and NASCAR, NASCAR for the first time, I knew it was probably going to be my toughest year ever, and it was” Patrick explained. “Between racing and the disappointments that I had and the frustrations and then to have such a busy schedule, I mean it is February or know it is March.”

She explained that this year her schedule is more under control. “Last year in February, I had literally two Mondays at home.”

Patrick adds “I had two days at home and then the rest of the days was media and racing and testing, and all kinds of stuff, so it was a much, much more complicated schedule, but it is a little more under control this year and last year had so much to do with announcements, everybody wanted their announcement from me driving their car in NASCAR, everybody had their, wanted their little piece.”

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Ashley Judd’s husband Dario Franchitti has won the Indianapolis 500 2010! Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 in 2007 during a rain shortened race. No shortening happened today, giving Dario a huge victory Sunday.With today’s win, Dario Franchitti has become the first driver to win the Daytona and Indianapolis in the same year.

“I think this is just as good the second time. … The number 10 car was the dominating car. … Thanks to all the fans coming out to the Speedway today” said Franchitti after his win.

“It means so much to come back after going away from a year… thanks again to everyone at Team Target.”

Dario Franchitti told press after his 2007 win “The ups and downs throughout the day – what can I say? I’m in shock right now – it’s been a rollercoaster month, and it was a rollercoaster day.” “I can hardly believe it. Who would have thought it?”

Ashley Judd said Dario had promised her sister a win today. And he delivered. Danica Patrick also finished an impressive fifth.

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