WINNIE LAM: Hello everybody.
I'm Winne Lam.
It's surreal to be standing 10 feet away from the amazing race
car driver, Danica Patrick.
And I'm thrilled that Claire Johnson is here
today to do the fireside chat with Danica.
There are many women Googlers who are in technical roles
where there are more men than women.
So we thought it would be inspiring to hear
Danica's story about how she excels
in the male-dominated field of race car driving.
So without further ado, please help me give a very warm
welcome to Danica Patrick.
DANICA PATRICK: Thank you.
Oh my gosh.
Thank you for coming.
We were just talking about how sometimes people come,
sometimes people don't.
And I said that the worst fear for someone
like me is that you do these and nobody shows up.
Or you get introduced somewhere and nobody knows who you are.
So thank you all for coming.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I think my worst fear is
that I would host this and no one would be here.
But you guys, nice job.
We filled the room.
I think we could've used a bigger room.
So a couple things because I know you all
want to hear from Danica.
Just so you know about this talk.
I feel really pleased.
And I want to think Winnie and Nicole and Rich.
And folks from the Google GoDaddy team who helped
prep this.
We have some great slides and photos and a couple of videos
to show.
And we also have a bunch of questions
that luckily I was prepared with to go through.
We probably aren't going to have any time for any live Q&A.
But I have looked at the Dory.
So if you have stuff on the Dory-- and Mave
is going to pass me notes-- Dory is our internal Q&A tool.
DANICA PATRICK: Got it.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: We're all about the tech here.
DANICA PATRICK: OK.
I was like, I don't--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So people can ask questions from there.
DANICA PATRICK: --know who she is.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: She's like, I
have no idea what you're talking about
but please don't bring it up.
But anyway, so we'll keep an eye on the Dory.
But hopefully we'll get to most of the topics
that you all have.
And in full disclosure, I like to drive fast,
but I do not know that much about race car driving.
DANICA PATRICK: Perfect.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And some--
DANICA PATRICK: Neither do I.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: --of the folks in the audience--
I think you know a lot-- may not as well.
So I may follow up and ask you to clarify a few things.
Don't you want to get out of NASCAR and all the left turns
sometimes?
Go back to your open wheel roots?
DANICA PATRICK: We have a couple of road courses.
But what I notice in the gym is that I'm definitely
dominant pushing with my right and pulling with my left.
It's very out of balance when I use dumbbells.
And they're independent.
And I'm like, yep.
And nope.
Can't get there.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So when you pick your gowns
for award shows would that could be an issue for you?
DANICA PATRICK: Always.
Shoulders.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: We're good.
We're already getting into it.
So just so folks don't-- if you don't know who Danica Patrick
is, I'm not sure why that is-- but she's the most searched
for athlete.
And we're a search company among other things.
So certainly she's on our radar.
But has been an amazing role model for women.
For girls.
But also for anyone who's an aspiring race car driver.
And grew up in the sport.
And even went to Europe for some time--
which her parents let her do, which maybe we'll
ask how that went-- to continue her racing
education and practice.
And has driven with Indy car.
And is now with NASCAR on the Sprint Cup Series
if I'm right about that.
DANICA PATRICK: You got that right.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And has been-- I
think folks know-- the GoDaddy spokesperson for 13 years.
DANICA PATRICK: Well, been in 13.
After this year, 13 Superbowl commercials.
But since 2007.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Since 2007.
OK.
So just a lot of Superbowl commercials.
DANICA PATRICK: A lot of SuperBowl commercials.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Since 2007.
And has also hosted the Country Music Awards.
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah the American Country Awards.
It was last month in Vegas.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And been on the cover of various hotshot
magazines.
We have one of them here.
Sports Illustrated is one of them.
ESPN magazine, right?
I think saw that one.
Anyway, so she-- And you have your own company, right?
"Danica Racing."
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: You're a businesswoman.
DANICA PATRICK: I write President on it.
So it makes me feel really cool when they say title.
Your signature and title.
And I write president.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Or if you go through customs
and they say, what's your job?
DANICA PATRICK: I don't actually know
what to write when it comes to that point in time.
I write the same thing now.
But for a long time I didn't know what to write for my job.
Driver?
Or race car driver?
Or professional driver?
Automotive driver?
President?
I mean, that would help.
I would think.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I think race car driver
might be cooler than president.
DANICA PATRICK: I write race car driver.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I think-- I'm down with that.
DANICA PATRICK: Wow, you think that's cooler than president?
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I do.
Danica Patrick: Well, it's probably a lot easier.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That might be the state of politics
these days.
All right.
Anyway.
Let's talk a little bit about when
you knew that this was a passion of yours.
DANICA PATRICK: Well, I started racing go-karts
when I was 10 years old.
And it really was because my sister wanted to race.
There I am.
Adorable.
Yup.
I still need glasses, but I wear contacts.
And I'm positively blind.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And your sister was younger?
DANICA PATRICK: My sister was eight
and I was 10 years old, which is why my number was 10.
So it was really just something to do together as a family.
And I just took to it.
I started winning my first year.
And I won the championship.
But this kid blocked me and I didn't
know how to get around because he drove down
the inside of the straightaway.
I figured it out after that.
You just push him off the end of the track.
But I didn't know then.
But I think really it came from the first year.
And just being successful.
And I really liked practicing and getting
better and seeing improvement.
And I mean, we all tend to like things that we're good at.
And it was something that went well pretty quickly for me.
So it was really year one.
I thought I would go to college for engineering.
But I didn't.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: We support that.
We like that.
DANICA PATRICK: I ended up going--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: We all support the driving.
DANICA PATRICK: I ended up going to England.
And I'm not sure which one was harder.
Which one would have been harder, England
or engineering college?
But I wanted to go to college for engineering
so I could know how to work on my car.
But I went to a different kind of college ultimately.
But those were my plans at 10 years old.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So how old
were you when you went to England?
DANICA PATRICK: I was 16.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Wow and so your family said--
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah I was a junior in high school.
And I wasn't really even there very much junior year.
I went over to England in the first semester.
I went over for two of the four months of school.
And did a little bit of racing.
And then I went back full time after that.
So I left high school halfway through my junior year.
And I've never looked back.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And was the thinking
on that, that you would just get more experience and--
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah.
It was described to me that I can learn more there
in one year than five years in America.
And the opportunity was there to do it.
Really what ended up happening was this person--
that told me that I could learn more there than in the states--
had followed my career then for a couple of years.
And contacted me when I turned 16.
And said, we've been watching you.
We want to help you in your career.
And that's when I went over to England for a little while
to check things out.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: This is someone in the British racing
scene?
DANICA PATRICK: There was an Englishman.
And then there was a Texas-based family
that had been involved in racing for a long time.
So they had followed my career for a couple of years.
And fortunately saw me win a lot.
And after that I moved to England.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's great.
So we have gotten a few questions
on our moderator tool.
And certainly, as Winnie mentioned,
our Women at Google group is interested in-- as you
were coming up through the sport and in those earlier years,
I'm sure it still is the case today,
but you're a little bit more established now.
You were certainly contending with the fact
that it was more of a male-dominated sport.
Although women, I think as I understand it,
from the history of NASCAR were allowed to race since 1949.
Not the case for the IndyCar races.
But anyway, women were allowed to race
and there were some women who raced.
But it just really, as this happens sometimes
in engineering classes, very few.
And for you, you've become arguably the most famous
female race car driver.
How was it coming up through the sport?
Did you find that there were overt obstacles?
Or was it just occasionally an issue?
DANICA PATRICK: I think that the big difference between me, when
I came along versus when some of the women in the past
in the earlier years, were there is that-- take for instance
my first Indy 500 was 2005.
And you had to do something called rookie orientation,
which meant you had to go out and do 190
for five laps or 10 laps.
And then you had to do 200.
And then you do 210.
And then 220.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That would be miles per hour?
DANICA PATRICK: Yes.
And so it was just a build up in the process.
And so I would come in from making a run--
and once you've passed your test and gone
through all those speeds, then you get to practice basically.
And I'd come in and I was basically the quickest car.
So I would come into the pits and everybody
would be cheering.
There was a huge slew of photographers and journalists
in front of my car.
And on the pit wall there was tons
of fans behind the behind the fence.
And I was embraced in general.
I'm sure there's still haters.
But they exist always.
In everything.
There's always going to be people
that don't like you or believe in you.
But in general, very well received and embraced.
And I think that's a big difference.
In the past I don't think that was there for them.
Everyone has to prove themselves.
There's no doubt about that.
I face it as a rookie.
I face it as a girl.
And I face it as just a competitor.
As a person trying to beat other people.
So it's always a challenge to earn respect.
But I think that there's probably a few more doubters
along the way.
Or it may take a few extra times of proving
what you do, what you can do, before people really
believe it.
And then of course there's just some that never do.
But it's a process.
And still going on.
And I'm sure it will for awhile.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And talking about the Indy 500,
you were the first woman-- you lead for 19 laps in the Indy
500 when you were 23 years old.
So did you feel like you proved it at that point?
DANICA PATRICK: Well, I think that when
I got my ride in IndyCar-- It came the year before at Indy.
And I had gone to a press conference at the track.
And I wasn't racing.
But the team that I drove for in the lower level racing
had an IndyCar team.
And so I went to a press conference on Thursday
before the race.
And all of a sudden my boss said,
and Danica's going to drive in IndyCars next year.
And I was like, I mean, I'm not going to argue,
but I didn't know you were going to say that.
So it came pretty suddenly.
But I got into it in my first year of Indy Car and thought,
it's not a for sure thing.
You still have to do it.
Just getting there is not there.
You need to do some good things and establish yourself.
And get some roots in the sport.
And have proper support from sponsors.
And after that Indy 500 I did.
There was a certain level I felt a little better after that.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I mean you clearly
had earned your way.
DANICA PATRICK: It was definitely a pivotal year.
And it was a magical month.
And it was full of highs and lows.
And the lows were really just that I was running out energy
to do interviews.
But that's a good problem to have.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Luckily we're catching her
at the beginning before the season starts.
DANICA PATRICK: This is my first day at work, everyone,
this year.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's true for a lot of us as well.
DANICA PATRICK: Is it?
OK.
Well, welcome back.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: On the holidays.
DANICA PATRICK: High on sugar from the holidays?
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Exactly.
So, then, you won the IndyCar race in Japan.
And did that feel like-- how big a deal was that?
Or was it not a big deal?
Because you already kind of made it in IndyCar.
DANICA PATRICK: Well, I mean it's something
that I am-- I even said it back then in 2008-- that it
felt long overdue for me.
There were opportunities that were probably even better
to win along the way that didn't happen.
Versus that day.
So it was but there was somebody-- another driver told
me that year at some point, he said, you know what?
One day you're going to be doing just the same thing that you've
been doing every day and you're going to win.
And that's exactly what happened.
You're doing the same thing that you do every day.
And so it was a feeling of relief.
And for the casual fan or the casual consumer,
first place and winning is very easy to understand.
And so it was nice from that perspective.
And there was a lot of talk and argumentative points
about I haven't won.
And so it did take care of that.
And of course eventually--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: It checked off that box.
DANICA PATRICK: So, I mean, I wanted
to win a lot more than that.
And there were opportunities.
But it seemed like my talent as a driver in IndyCar
was going like this and my cars went like this.
So that didn't really interject at the right point.
But they did kind of right at 2008.
Your equipment is really important too.
Your equipment is very important.
It's the chicken before the egg.
What is it?
Is it the driver?
Or is it the car?
Well, you really can't have one without the other.
So if things aren't where they need to be there
then the best driver can't take--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: We kind of
have that with computing power.
DANICA PATRICK: Sure.
Absolutely.
You're only as good as your resources.
Your technology.
Your coworkers.
Your brainstorming.
Your motherboard?
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Yeah, exactly.
Your core.
Your chip core.
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah, that's it.
Chip it up.
Chip me up.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's what I'm saying.
Back to the male-dominated thing.
I have found-- and I think some of the female engineers,
hopefully some of them are in the room-- sometimes
the situation is you don't get the respect.
And you talked a little bit about that.
And then you earn it.
And maybe it takes little bit longer.
And the other situation is maybe you get too much attention.
Where you're just a person doing a job.
And I think for you it's probably frustrating.
I mean, you've gotten a lot of attention.
I think as a driver.
But maybe a little bit more sometimes as a female race
car-- and particularly being the first woman
to do some of the things-- we're going to talk about a few
of them as well.
DANICA PATRICK: And that does happen.
It's a double-edged sword.
When you are different or outside of the box and people
are paying attention.
You do something good or kind of good and people realize it.
You do something bad or kind of bad
and people realize that, too.
So it's a double-edged sword.
But I mean, I'll take it.
Because there's times where I finished fourth and it
makes big news.
And that doesn't happen for anyone else.
So they're noticing the little things
along the way a little bit more.
What happened in my first year.
Or something like that.
Something a little bit unique about it sticks out.
And because I'm a girl and I'm different
and these things haven't been done before.
All I know is that in my career I just work really hard.
And I know that when I've done everything possible
on and off the track to perform, then people's opinions
or judgments can't affect me.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: When you work hard,
you've got a lot of, I think, physical conditioning
you probably have to do.
And then, do you just have to drive a lot?
DANICA PATRICK: For my physical conditioning?
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: For both.
I mean, how do you stay in shape?
Danica Patrick: I mean, I take it to the streets--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: For driving 200mph.
DANICA PATRICK: In a calculated fashion.
I do make a lot of people mad on the road.
I'm sorry about that.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I meant more
in a contained environment.
DANICA PATRICK: No I mean I'm--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: On the track.
Do you go and drive every day?
DANICA PATRICK: There's testing.
Practice.
Or whatever you want to call it.
We call it testing.
This week-- this Thursday and Friday--
we'll be at Daytona getting ready for the Daytona 500
at the end of March.
So you do some of that.
The real conditioning comes in the season when
you get in the car and you get racing every single weekend.
And we have two weekends out of-- we have 38 races
and two weekends off.
So we race all year.
I mean it just feels like we race all year.
And then we get five minutes off and then
you're right back at it again.
So it goes pretty hard.
For sure.
But do you have to be the fittest person in the world
to drive a race car?
No.
But you do you have to be fit.
You do have to be race fit, as we call it.
There's a lot of repetition.
There's a lot of heat.
There's a lot of adrenaline.
And it's about being able to control all that and keep cool.
And literally keep cool.
And keep cool in your head.
And not grip the wheel so hard.
And be conditioned for the repetition, too.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And the repetition
meaning-- because you don't want to zone out.
Cause you got to keep--
DANICA PATRICK: Well, it's this and this and this and this
and this--- so it's when the car is not balanced right.
It's not just a matter of turning the wheel.
It's a matter of turning the wheel
and feeling what it's doing.
And catching it all the way around the corner.
So you're tensed up the whole time.
And then even down the straightaway
the car wants to turn left.
It has stagger.
It wants to turn left.
So you still have to hold it down the straightaway.
But in the corner you release and let it in.
And then you're just chasing it through the corner.
Or you're adding a whole bunch of wheel because it won't turn
and then your shoulder gets an impingement.
And that's not good either.
I know.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And by the way, speaking of the heat,
I'm all worried because the room is a little warm.
She's looking at me like--
DANICA PATRICK: No, those cars are probably
130 degrees inside the whole time.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So you must sweat off
10 pounds riding it.
DANICA PATRICK: It's really awesome.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: But then you eat one Big Mac.
DANICA PATRICK: Before we started,
we were just talking about holidays and being in shape.
And I said that by nature that my job is athletic.
And if not, I just sweat it off.
By the end of the season I'm always my fittest and leanest.
Because every weekend you're in the car three days
a week minimum.
I was in the car.
I tested on average every other week for two days.
Every other week, I would say, on average.
So I'm in the car almost five days a week most of the time.
And then the races are four hours long.
So the pit stop isn't like a pit stop down
the road for a candy bar and an energy drink.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: No smoothie.
No Starbucks.
DANICA PATRICK: I do drink something with calories
but it's not--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Like those gel things or whatever?
DANICA PATRICK: No, it's like a premix shake stuff.
But it's by no means a meal.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Well, speaking
of doing a ton of racing, we we wanted
to show a video-- Oh, look.
And there you are winning, as you win a lot.
But one of the videos we wanted to show--
it's kind of a long video guys, but it
was an exciting, historic event which was-- she's
the first woman to win the pole position.
And this is at the Daytona 500.
So we're going to watch that video for a couple minutes
and then we'll talk about it.
DANICA PATRICK: That happens the week before the race.
So when's the race?
The Daytona 500 is usually the third or fourth.
February 23 this year?
So it'll be the week before that on Saturday.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: All right.
So in about a month or so.
You're just doing a job there.
But are you thinking, I'm making history right now?
Are you thinking, I just need to get pole position?
What was your--
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, I'm just thinking about taking the car
and taking it to its potential level.
And not wasting its potential by making a little mistake
and missing a shift.
Getting up to speed.
Or clipping the apron when you're going around the corner.
Because the car doesn't just go just dead straight.
It kind of follows the road.
And it pulls.
And it moves.
So it's not hard.
Daytona's not the hardest track at all to drive.
But just the little things.
I'm not going to be able to take the car at Daytona
and take it from a 15th place car to a pole car.
But I can screw it up and lose the pole for sure
by making little mistakes on the track.
By not getting up to speed right.
Not taking the right line.
As in, letting the car open up and pick up speed.
Because every time you hold wheel on it,
it's going to scrub speed and slow it down.
But you also want the shortest distance.
So there's a little marriage between letting
it open up off the corner to build up momentum,
but also running a short distance
so that you're not adding feet onto your lap.
Making a longer lap.
So just little things like that.
And catching the apron.
You're trying to be as low as you can on the corner.
But the track has a transition point.
And at that transition point, if the car bottoms out,
the body work will hit it and scrub a bunch of speed
off the car.
So just little things like that.
But I'm not really thinking about history.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Basically your answer is
you're doing your job.
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah, I'm doing my job.
Absolutely.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: You're looking
to win is what you're doing.
DANICA PATRICK: Yes, exactly.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's a good answer.
DANICA PATRICK: Watching qualifying
is painful as a driver.
After you go there's literally nothing else
that you can do to make it better.
It could only get worse.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And you need to hang around there
and watch it, or?
DANICA PATRICK: I went and worked out actually.
I was like, what do I do?
And I just I went back to the bus,
got my gym clothes on, and went into the gym
and worked out and watched qualifying.
I was still in the gym when the last cars were qualifying.
And my PR people kept coming in and saying,
you need to get ready.
You need to get ready.
You're going to be on pole.
I'm like, I'm not getting out of these clothes
until I see that car pass the line
and I know I'm on the pole.
Because I'm not jinxing this.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Good for you.
DANICA PATRICK: I forgot to eat then, too.
So me with no food is no good.
It's no good.
Any girls in here that feel me on that?
Seems to be more of a girl issue.
So I didn't eat lunch because I went and worked out.
And then I had to go do all the interviews for hours and hours
afterwards.
I probably kept Brian Williams waiting,
but I had to eat a sandwich at some point in time.
But it was exciting.
It was a lot of fun.
And it was really neat to see number
10 at the top of the boards.
And it's cool just to have number 10 back really.
Because it was my go-kart number, as you guys saw.
So I got to choose that number.
So it's really neat to have my old number back.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: When you went to NASCAR
you got to choose?
DANICA PATRICK: When I went to Stewart-Haas Racing and Sprint
Cup I got to choose my number.
Yeah.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's great.
That's a factoid for us.
That's good.
So you are one of the only 13 drivers
who has led laps in both the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500.
DANICA PATRICK: So I think that's probably
the coolest statistic to me.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Is it?
I wanted to ask you about.
Is that-- again remembering I don't know that
much about race car driving-- so is that just totally
different kinds of racing?
And to be at the top of your game in both of them
is pretty amazing?
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, they both have the same elements.
But they're just newly learned disciplines.
So I don't know how to relate it.
It's like a whole new computer system.
It's like, all right.
I need to figure this out.
But it's all the same--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Different programming language.
DANICA PATRICK: --sort of ideas.
It's just trying to figure it out all over again.
And you'll get it.
But it just takes a little bit of time.
And so it's the same thing.
So, yeah.
I thought that's the coolest statistic.
To be one of 13 drivers in history
that have led Daytona and Indy.
That's pretty neat.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And why are those two races
such a big deal?
I mean as you said--
DANICA PATRICK: They're the oldest.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: --the Daytona track--
DANICA PATRICK: They're some of the oldest.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: The oldest.
Got it.
DANICA PATRICK: Indy's about 100 years old.
And Daytona's about 50 years old.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And they get great TV coverage
and all that stuff.
DANICA PATRICK: They do.
There's a lot that goes around them.
Qualifying is the weekend before for both of them.
So qualifying happens.
There's a lot of media around that.
And then it goes all the way through the week
into the race weekend.
Yeah.
They generally have a culture of fun.
I mean, there's a lot of campsites.
And people that hang out.
And bonfire.
And set up tiki bars.
And play cornhole.
And fly their Dale Jr flags.
And some of them have Danica flags.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: We need to get more Danica flags.
So let's talk a little bit about things
that are related to what you do.
Teamwork.
Advice you might have.
Dealing with criticism.
And one of things you've already talked about--
and I think people here might relate
is-- sometimes it feels like you've got this repetitive
stuff and you've got to stay focused.
And you're also dealing with a lot of scrutiny, as you said.
Maybe a little bit more being a woman.
What advice would you have to people
who are facing obstacles?
Who need to maintain their focus and their confidence.
Even when day in and day out they
may not be getting the rewards that they
are hoping to get for their work product.
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, I think the difference between someone
who ultimately is successful and someone who isn't, is just
getting up and trying again.
And I feel like I've seen that in my life--
again, to other people-- is that things get hard
and people try again.
And things got hard and people might try again, might not.
And then things got hard and they just don't try again.
And giving up can't be an option.
And I think that goes back to the core of making sure
that whatever it is you're doing is something
that you love to do.
Something that you enjoy.
Something that maybe if you didn't even get paid,
would you still do it?
And I think that's what pulls you through those times
ultimately.
And that's what keeps you coming back for more.
And that's what that passion and that love
for what it is that you do is what keeps you going.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So would you
say your resilience and that persistence
is because you love what you do so much?
Or is there something about your parents?
Or anything in your upbringing?
DANICA PATRICK: I think that genetically
I'm determined because my dad was
very much like that for sure.
Very persistent and determined.
But I think it's also because I found something
that I love to do.
And there's plenty of other stuff
that I've done that I didn't keep doing.
I mean, I didn't keep playing basketball.
Let's face it.
But I kept racing.
So it was about finding that.
I feel.
And finding it really young.
I'm very fortunate that I found it really young.
And I tell everyone, young or old,
if you could do anything in the world, what would you do?
Well, why can't you do that, then?
At least start.
At least just try to make an effort at doing it.
You're not going to get there within one shot.
But you just need to take baby steps.
And opportunities along the way.
And I feel like, especially people get out of college
and they have this idea of what they want to do
and their holding out until they get it.
Just get going.
Just get working.
And get the experience.
And start working your way there.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I think that's great advice.
So you said what makes you different makes you great.
Where does that advice come from?
When you talk to people.
DANICA PATRICK: Well, I mean I think
that the most obvious one, really obviously,
is being a girl.
So when I was younger, and living
in England and early teen years, I
didn't care that I was a girl.
I just didn't want to make it real obvious.
I mean, I didn't want it to stand out.
I didn't wear nail polish because when
I talk about the race car I didn't want guys
looking at my hands and seeing pink fingernails.
I didn't wear pink and purple and make
it really flashy and obvious.
No hearts and bows.
And just wanted to blend in.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: You're describing
my seven-year-old daughter.
DANICA PATRICK: Am I really?
Hearts and bows?
Or didn't want to wear hearts and bows?
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: She's now rejecting them.
But she was all in them.
DANICA PATRICK: Well, you go through these phases where you
feel comfortable and sometimes you don't.
And I didn't really feel comfortable making it obvious.
And so it really was-- I came back from England
when I was 19.
And I let myself go there to be a girl a little bit.
And it really came from a racy photo shoot
that I did that it was more girly of me.
And it just all of a sudden-- stuff started happening.
And people were contacting me.
And sponsors and teams.
But nobody questioned what I could do.
It wasn't like people didn't think I could race.
Or their opinion really changed on that.
Maybe they had an opinion on what I did.
But it didn't change the opportunity
to be able to do what I wanted to do.
It just really was opening doors and it
was allowing-- it was me being able to tap into something
that was part of my personality.
I mean, I think we're not one-dimensional people.
We have all kinds of different sides to us.
I don't just race.
I don't just work on cars.
I race.
And I like to cook.
And I like to travel.
And I like to look pretty.
And I like to get dressed up.
And I like hair and makeup.
And I like all those other things.
So it was a way for me to-- it was an extension of me.
But it was celebrated.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So success
came to you as you embraced who you were.
DANICA PATRICK: Exactly.
So, sometimes, I really feel that whatever
it is that's the most different about
you is probably the most important.
And the most special.
And the most useful.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I once had
a boss who-- we worked in consulting
and we'd go and talk to clients and I was usually
the only woman in the room.
And he said, whenever you say something,
everyone is going to be listening.
Because you're different than everyone else in the room.
And I was like, yeah.
And I think you're right on there.
I like it.
So let's talk about the team.
You mentioned this a little bit.
You've got a whole team you work with.
You've also got the car and the technology of the car.
How important is that team for your success?
And how do you work with them?
What's your role in the team?
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, the team is critical.
Obviously.
I mean, you need a bus driver.
You got to get a truck driver to get the car there.
You've got to get guys to put the tires on, of course.
So there's a whole bunch of steps in the process.
And it can't happen without the other.
But I think more importantly with team, for me,
is about morale.
It's about attitude.
It's about your mood and keeping everyone in a good mood.
All those guys that you see right there,
we see each other every weekend of the year.
Pretty much.
And so that can wear on you.
And it can get exhausting.
That's the family vacation.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: There's your family.
But you had that whole team of guys behind the car.
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah.
So that's my crew chief on the left.
He's kind of the other co-team leader with me.
But the two of us dictate the mood of the entire team.
Being a leader is also being a cheerleader.
And it's very important.
So I think that team is a lot attitude.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And then is your family with you a lot?
We saw them all on the plane.
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah, yeah.
That was the day after the season ended.
We went on vacation.
So that's Ricky's family.
And my family.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Did they go out
for all those 38 weekends?
DANICA PATRICK: They go out for-- between the two families,
we see them quite a bit.
And we have two buses.
So our family will stay on my bus
or his family will stay on my bus.
And we'll stay on Ricky's bus.
And we have a total fancy campground.
We just open our buses up together.
Open up the tents.
We've got picnic tables.
Grills.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: You're making me want a bus.
DANICA PATRICK: Family's really important.
And I think that as an extension of your mood,
family plays a role in that too.
If your home life isn't good that tends to bleed over.
And vice versa.
So keeping everything in order and being happy
is really important, I think, for success.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: You talked a little bit--
I think that's great and it seems like having that support
system--
DANICA PATRICK: I think I gotta cheer for the Colts.
We were at a Colts game.
I mean, I'm a Bears fan.
But I don't know anymore.
We haven't been doing so well.
The Colts are on their way.
Did anyone see them come back?
28 points.
Down a half.
That was pretty impressive.
I don't know if they'd beat a California team or not.
But I'm sorry but--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: We have to get off this topic.
DANICA PATRICK: But I did watch the game.
But I'm still a girl.
I still don't always remember all the details about it.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Me either, but I like it.
DANICA PATRICK: I do too.
I love football.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I love football.
All right.
So talking about-- not related to the NFL--
DANICA PATRICK: Anybody watch the GoDaddy Bowl last night?
Maybe next year.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: But you went from NFL to college.
You just confused me for a second.
DANICA PATRICK: I did.
I did.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: But that was actually
a good segue for what I needed.
Sponsorship and brand building.
So let's talk about it.
It's an interesting thing for you.
You're a brand.
You've got Danica Racing.
You've got your name as basically a brand.
You've got your sponsorship relationship
with GoDaddy and some other companies.
But did you ever actively think about-- I mean,
you almost mentioned this when you
talked about the photo-shoot and how
things started to happen for you.
Do you ever think, I'm building a brand here?
When did you realize that?
Or when did you start to think that way?
DANICA PATRICK: It took a while for sure.
I mean, I think that the idea of brand
and the idea of role model took a little while to set in.
Because it all seems so new.
I'm like, I don't know.
I'm just driving.
And I'm trying to figure myself out.
But I've been really fortunate in my career.
I've had great sponsors along the way.
And Go Daddy being the best.
Where I can be myself.
They stand behind me no matter what.
And they have great core values.
And they've done some really great stuff and continue to.
And so brand is very important.
In this day and age, especially with social media
and everything like that, we're all
reading through authenticity pretty quickly and easily.
I think you can tell what's real and what's not real.
And if there's anything that I want to do, it's be real.
And be someone that you can trust.
And someone that you look at what I'm doing
and you believe in it.
And so I've been lucky enough to be
able to be selective over the years with my partners.
And I've got great ones.
And they're extensions of who I am.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Are there are other things that
come to your mind when you think about what
you hope everyone relate--
DANICA PATRICK: Other than fast?
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Fast.
Good one.
DANICA PATRICK: Well, back in 2009,
I signed on with IMG, which is now William Morris.
But we created a brand statement or a brand title for me.
And it was Beautiful Revolution.
And it was really just about being
able to be feminine, be who you are, but yet be different.
And so that's the statement from my--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And be revolutionary.
And were you an active participant
in that whole process?
DANICA PATRICK: Absolutely.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's pretty cool.
DANICA PATRICK: There was all these storyboards going on.
And photos of me doing certain things.
Categorized stuff from the internet.
And it built a story of what really stands out
about me in the public eye.
And what people are paying attention to.
And then words start to get developed
from those storyboards and from those collages.
And then it keeps whittling down to a title.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Wow.
Cool.
So I think we have a picture of you
at the Country Music Awards or--
DANICA PATRICK: The American Country Awards.
Oh my gosh.
That's the best shot I've seen of the height difference.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: If we have time--
DANICA PATRICK: I have boots on.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: If we have time
later we'll show a funny video from this.
But we're going to run short on time.
But I wanted to ask you about when you do stuff like this.
When you make these choices.
Besides they don't let you choose your co-host, I guess.
Or your co-presenter.
DANICA PATRICK: No, he was great.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: He's so tall.
DANICA PATRICK: Chris is great.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Do you think about your brand?
Do you think about what's fun for you?
Or whether you have time in your schedule?
DANICA PATRICK: Absolutely.
I think about things that are fun.
I don't know-- Does anybody listen
to country music in here?
Not many.
I'm not surprised.
We're in California.
It's OK.
But I know there's some of you out there.
So it was one of those things-- country music
it just happened for me.
I never, ever listened to it.
And my dad always said, it feels like I'm
kissing a horse when I listen to this stuff.
So my upbringing, which I feel like dictates
who we are-- seeing your parents and seeing the way you grew up
is an explanation and not an excuse.
You are who you are because of your family.
And my dad hated country music.
So I never listened to it.
And so I got to NASCAR.
And I mean GAC.
GAC is on the TV.
And it's all country bumpkin music.
And I just wasn't having any of it.
I did a music video with Miranda Lambert.
And it was called "Fastest Girl in Town."
And I had not heard her song.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: She seems pretty cool.
DANICA PATRICK: She is very cool.
But I hadn't heard her song.
And it was already out on the radio.
So I felt kind of bad.
So I thought, I'll get her albums.
And she had just started a new band with two other girls.
And they're called the Pistol Annies.
So I got that too.
And I listened to them.
And I was like, I think I like country music.
And it just happened like that.
Now it's pretty much all I listen to.
So when the American Country Awards
asked me to co-host the show, I'm like,
you mean present, right?
No, co-host.
OK.
So--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's a lot of work.
DANICA PATRICK: It was a huge undertaking.
And I'm extremely decisive.
You don't have to ask twice.
You might have to tell me something
twice because I forget.
But you don't have to ask a question twice.
And my agent asked me if I wanted to do it.
And he's like, this is a big deal.
This is a definite yes.
And I'm like, I'm going to need to call you back.
And in the past he would tell me, call me back
and let me know.
And I would say, Alan, the only thing I'm going to do
is forget to call you back.
I already know the answer.
And so I told him, I think I'm going
to need to call you back on this one.
And I asked around about what people thought.
Basically, did anybody think I could handle this?
So I said yes and it was--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Because that's like multiple hours
being up on that stage.
DANICA PATRICK: It's a shorter country
show but it's two hours.
And you're co-hosting.
So it's important.
And I ended up singing and dancing on the show.
I wore a showgirl outfit at one point in time.
You should have seen the number they wanted me to wear first.
I tempered it to feel comfortable.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Good for you.
DANICA PATRICK: Because you've got to feel comfortable.
And of course that's the photo that
makes the magazine or newspaper.
But it went great.
It was a lot of fun.
And more than anything, it was about having an experience.
And growing as a person.
And doing something outside of my comfort zone.
I'm much more comfortable answering questions
than I am reading a prompter and having
to do something pre-programmed.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Back to the advice and we'll close.
And we'll talk a little bit about internet
and small businesses and things.
You really stretched yourself, right?
You did something you weren't that comfortable doing.
Where do you--
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, I've always wanted to be a singer,
but I'm not.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: But you sang on the show.
DANICA PATRICK: I sang a lot.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Where does that come from?
I mean, if you're talking to people in the room
here who are thinking of trying something new
or doing something different.
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, I think that's the only way you grow.
And that's the only way you can start
to learn your real capabilities.
And what I've learned over the years with me,
is that trying new things ends up usually going pretty well.
And that's where you start to get
more confidence in yourself.
And if anything, you just learn something.
And you have an experience.
And life is about experiences.
And if something exciting comes your way just say yes.
Just try something new.
And not be afraid.
And the worst thing you do is fail.
And you just don't do it anymore.
Or you try again.
So new experiences are how you grow.
And I think that, that goes back to the core of-- even
just living in a new country when I was 16.
I grew up so fast because I did that.
And it's about doing things that are outside of your comfort
zone.
Something you would not do.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's great.
So speaking of about building businesses and brands
and doing some new things.
One of things that is not new for you
is your relationship with GoDaddy.
But we're going to talk a little bit
about the commercial this year.
And the internet and small businesses.
In your own brand building and business building,
how important has the internet been?
You mentioned social media.
You mentioned people really being
able to smell whether something's authentic or not.
Do you use any Google products?
Do you use technology a lot?
DANICA PATRICK: I google myself.
Is that bad?
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: No, that's not bad.
DANICA PATRICK: I actually google my name and Ricky's name
and I look for new photos of us.
Because we get candid ones taken at the track.
And I never see them.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I do not have pictures of me
and my husband on the internet when I google.
DANICA PATRICK: I will say that Google is the only thing I ever
use for search engine.
Always.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Oh, we're very happy to hear that.
Thank you.
OK.
That was a shameless Google question.
DANICA PATRICK: That's the truth.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Do you think about building businesses
online or the work that GoDaddy does with small businesses?
How do you think about that?
Or are you separate from their business?
DANICA PATRICK: Where I came from-- I mean my first Indy
500 in 2005.
My website shut down because there was too much traffic.
It couldn't handle it.
I don't know.
The server wasn't big enough.
We didn't see that coming.
So--
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So that taught you a lesson.
DANICA PATRICK: It taught me a lesson in 2005
about being prepared.
But also about how much interest there is there.
And like you said, I'm usually one
of the more searched athletes.
And so internet is a huge source of how we learn about things.
How we maybe choose to cheer for something.
Choose to like something.
I mean, I use it all the time for everything.
I mean, GoDaddy is all about small businesses.
And for me that taps right into me.
I mean, I'm finding new gyms to go
to because I'm always on the road.
A restaurant.
A store.
You name it.
A hotel.
I need locations.
I need hours.
And if you're not on the internet, I can't find you.
So I use the internet constantly.
And it's been a source of how I've
gotten to where I am today.
And it can also be a source for someone else
to see their dreams come true, too,
by making themselves relative.
I feel like if you're not on the internet,
you're not relevant in this day and age.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: We agree.
Thank you for saying that.
We'd love to see more businesses get online.
And we're thrilled that GoDaddy does so much work to help them.
When you think about your relationship with GoDaddy--
I mean you've been in the most Superbowl commercials
of any celebrity or some stat like that.
Which is kind of wild.
But think about it.
DANICA PATRICK: It is kind of weird.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And that's since 2007, right?
DANICA PATRICK: It's like 100 million people every time.
That's crazy.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That's a lot.
That's a lot of eyeballs.
A lot of impressions.
Then you've got the YouTube people
watching it all over again, which we see a lot of.
When you think about how their advertising has evolved
and what they're planning now for this year--
I don't know how much you're allowed to talk about it--
but you've grown up together.
Do you work together on the creative concepts?
Or do you do show up and they're like, here's the plan.
How does it work?
DANICA PATRICK: A little of both.
But there's always that trump card of, I don't like that.
There always has been.
We both respect each other.
And so it's been a great relationship
from the very beginning.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So anything
you could tell us about this year's ad?
DANICA PATRICK: No, not really.
I mean, I think there was some photos that got out there.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I heard it's different.
I heard it's different.
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah, there's two of them.
I'm in one of them.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: And they're
talking about getting found online.
I've been told that much.
DANICA PATRICK: Yeah.
Well, it's all about that.
And it's definitely about showing women now
in a really powerful way of being small business owners.
Being confident.
And trying to see their dreams come true.
And so I like that.
I mean, I completely relate to that.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Do think of yourself
as a small business owner?
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, I guess I do more so now.
I think about it.
And I think about it in the long-term of like,
at some point in time I won't be racing anymore.
And then what am I going to do?
So building the brand up to a certain point
and then maybe branching off so that
when I retire from racing-- I'm probably
not going to be 65-- I'll still have
something fun to do outside of racing.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Do you have
advice for women in business?
When you think about yourself as a business woman
or your future-- you've given a lot of great advice actually
this whole talk-- but when you think about the business side
of it--
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, I think that first and foremost, it's
making sure that it is something that you love doing.
But then it's about confidence.
I mean, I remember being a kid and going
into a business meeting.
And I said a lot of I thinks and maybes and likes.
And it's about being poignant, confident.
You want this.
This is what's going to happen.
And being aggressive with your words.
And I think that that's something to always keep
in mind-- is to just be confident
through the whole process.
And the way that at least I've generated confidence,
is by doing my homework and being smart about something.
And knowledge is power.
And those old commercials when I was
a kid watching Sunday morning cartoons-- knowledge is power
and stars flew across the screen.
It's true.
You can't be in full control and know everything
and do a good job unless you really do your homework
and know what you're asking for.
What you're trying to accomplish.
So confidence and doing your homework.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: You sound like you're
someone who works a lot on being well-prepared.
I mean you must have prepared for this thing a lot.
DANICA PATRICK: OK.
Quick little story.
So I got there to Vegas and it was
like four or five days before the show.
I didn't have anything yet.
I saw the opening.
The cold opening was a pre-tape.
And I had seen that.
But I saw nothing else.
So it's just how it works.
Because the writers that do all the shows-- the writers
they do all the shows.
So they came off of a show that had just
aired a couple weeks earlier.
And then they started writing the ACA's.
So it was like, you don't really have content.
So it kind of scared me.
So it wasn't until we went into our first rehearsal was
on-- the show was on Tuesday-- Saturday
we went and read prompter and did blocks or whatever it is.
And we read the script on the prompter.
I had never seen the script.
And I'm reading it on prompter for the very first time.
And so it was a mild disaster.
And so, I mean, words like, a bad rehearsal
is a good sign for a good show, they were telling me.
And I'm like, shoot.
So it was a whole new experience.
It was like cramming for a test.
As if I ever did that.
But it was solid Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday of line
reads and going over things.
I mean, I had to do a dance routine.
So I would just stop, drop, and roll.
I would just do it on the spot.
Just so that I could know I didn't
need to think about the dance.
And it was just all about repetition.
So it was like cramming for those days.
Completely.
Claire Hughes Johnson: You did prepare, but it was intense.
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, my calves
hurt from doing that little dance so much.
It was only 17 seconds.
But it was long enough for my calves to hurt for three days.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: You couldn't
get me to dance for five seconds.
So good job.
DANICA PATRICK: But it was great because I
was by far outside of my comfort zone.
But it was really fun.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: That is great.
So a couple of final questions.
When you think about all your balancing,
you're an entrepreneur, a race car driver, obviously.
You've done things like this.
You've got your family that you spend a lot of time with.
How do you balance all those competing priorities?
Do you have a framework in your head?
Or do you just take it as it comes?
DANICA PATRICK: I think you have to take some of it
as it comes because sometimes it's new.
But for me it's definitely been a little bit
of trial and error.
And as your life changes and evolves, then gets bigger,
essentially I feel like the older you get
there's more to manage and balance.
And you just have to find out what your own rhythm is.
How you like to operate in your day?
How you like to prioritize things?
Do you like to bunch your schedule up?
Do you like to spread it out?
Do you need to make sure there's lunches?
I mean, down to all those kinds of things.
Just, how do you like to run your day?
And so I've figured out what that is.
Now mind you, I mean I was pretty exhausted
by the end of that show in December.
And the rest of the stuff I had to do in December.
But sometimes you have to bend a little.
But you just can't get to the point that you break.
If you break then that's where the problems start.
And then it breaks everything else down.
So it's OK to say no.
And as long as it comes from a good, honest place of,
I'm not going to be good for this situation
if I say yes, or good for myself or good for my family,
then you just say no.
And you move on and know that you're better for it.
And find those little things that
make you happy along the way.
Whether it's going to get a pedicure or massage.
For me, just sitting down and playing Candy Crush.
Just whatever it is.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: Is that on your mobile phone?
DANICA PATRICK: It is.
Ricky and I are always competing against who's ahead of who.
I'm behind right now.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: So you need to get over done with this
and do some Candy Crush.
And the final thing you mentioned for your team,
that you focus a lot on morale and being
someone who keeps them motivated and up.
When you think about leadership and being a role model, which
you said came to you, you realized,
wow-- you are a role model, by the way.
I have a colleague here who brought her daughter
because her daughter wrote a paper about you.
I think.
How do you carry that responsibility?
What kind of leader are you?
How do you think about being a leader?
How do you think about being a role model?
Is that hard to have to think about all the time?
DANICA PATRICK: I think that it's about being yourself.
And then you can really never screw up.
And I always encourage everyone, whether they're young or old,
to do what you love to do and be who you are.
And then you can't ever make a mistake along the way.
You just are being who you are.
And if I get fiery and intense at the racetrack,
I'm not shocking you.
I've done this before.
But that's who I am.
And if you don't like it at least you can respect it.
So that's how I operate in my days and my life.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: When did you realize that?
That you just have to be who you are.
DANICA PATRICK: I think that it just grows over time.
I think it's grown over time to realize
that you can be different and it's OK.
And that you can have an opinion.
And in fact, I'm a consumer, for sure.
And when I watch things or people,
I don't just want to watch people telling me
what I'm supposed to be hearing.
I want to see them be honest and raw and real.
And maybe it sounds like what I want to hear.
But maybe it doesn't.
And I respect them for that.
So I like people to be who they are.
And the differences are what make us interesting.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: All right.
Final thing.
It's a new year.
Any big goals for this year?
DANICA PATRICK: To be the most Googled athlete.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: I think you already did that.
You already did that.
DANICA PATRICK: OK.
To be the most Googled athlete at least today.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: All right.
I think you're already there.
DANICA PATRICK: No, I want the whole one actually.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: You're all there.
But any races?
Anything?
Any race car driving thing?
I should ask.
DANICA PATRICK: I mean, it's my second year in the Sprint Cup
Series.
It by no makes me a veteran at all.
But for me it's about progression.
And I don't think that you can ever
know exactly where you should be or what you should want.
And it's good to set goals.
For me I feel good to just set progression goals.
And know that I'm getting better.
And when I look back over the last month, am I better?
Over the last six months, am I better?
And of course my ultimate goals are I want to win races.
I want to run in the top 15 as much as possible.
I want another Daytona 500 pole.
And I want to win the whole race.
CLAIRE HUGHES JOHNSON: All right.
Well, thank you so much.
This was great.
DANICA PATRICK: Thank you.
Thank you for coming everybody.