CONCORD, N.C. – Danica Patrick will take at least a one-year sabbatical from theIndianapolis 500 as she moves to NASCAR full time this season.
During Monday's first stop on the NASCAR Sprint Media Tour, Patrick said she will race in the 2012 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway rather than attempt the Indy 500. The races both are on May 27, the Sunday before Memorial Day, with the Indy 500 starting several hours earlier than the 600.
She didn't rule out racing again in an IndyCar atIndianapolis Motor Speedway, though, and hinted she would attempt an Indy 500-Coke 600 doubleheader as her Sprint Cup team owner, Tony Stewart, had done three times.
"I hope to do (the Indy 500) in the future," said Patrick, who will run 10 races in NASCAR's premier series this year and a full Nationwide Series schedule. "Maybe it'll be a double. But at this point, after a lot of conversations, it's just going to be the Coke 600. I think it's going to be a big challenge, but I'm looking forward to it.
Patrick said it was mostly a "business decision" that she was unable to secure a ride for Indy.
When she announced her move to NASCAR last August, Patrick told USA TODAY that a return to Indy would have to be with Andretti Autosport, her Izod IndyCar Series team the past five seasons.
read more: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-01-23/Danica-Patrick-to-skip-Indy-500/52755420/1
