Story Excerpt:
(ESPN) The circus of media and fans that followed Danica Patrickaround her first test at Daytona International Speedway in a stock car three years ago has disappeared.
So has the confusion the former IndyCar star had as she struggled with little things, such as how to tuck her hair into the back of her firesuit and climb in the car, during that ARCA test in December 2009.
Patrick’s first laps in a Sprint Cup car Thursday, aside from missing the entrance to the garage from pit road, felt natural to her and looked natural to those who have followed her two-year progression through the Nationwide Series.
“You wouldn’t have known it was her driving. You would have thought it was Tony [Stewart] or Joey [Logano],” said Greg Zipadelli, referring to the past two drivers he worked with at Joe Gibbs Racing before moving to Stewart-Haas Racing this season as competition director and Patrick’s interim crew chief.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will field Patrick full time in the Nationwide Series ride after two part-time seasons, wasn’t even aware initially that Patrick was in the No. 10 SHR car she will drive in Cup races.
“I didn’t even remember she was supposed to be here,” he said. “She’s been relatively quiet, and that’s probably good for her to be able to come in here and work and … concentrate on driving and on her new team and everybody.”
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