Taylor Hyatt, Author at Horsepower & Heels

Danica Patrick’s Daytona 500 Cut Short

February 22, 2016 // by Taylor Hyatt

As Speedweeks came to a close with the 58^th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Danica Patrick left with much to be desired from her newly sponsored Nature’s Bakery No. 10 Chevy SS with Stewart-Haas Racing. This was Patrick’s first event with the snack and food brand sponsor as well as crew chief Billy Scott. The two had never worked together until the February 13^th Sprint Unlimited, but the communication seemed fluent between them all weekend. Unfortunately, everything else didn’t go as planned.

Patrick takes damage in the Sprint Unlimited race

Patrick, whose 2013 Daytona 500 pole position earned her a spot in the Sprint Unlimited, started the race in 12^th and despite multiple incidents finished in 11^thposition. She had made her way towards the front of the pack at one point, but a sudden decrease in speed by the No. 31 caused her to make contact ending in major grille damage. After fixing the majority of the problem during yellow flag pit stops, the No. 10 was caught up in a multi-car incident leading to right-front damage once again. Fortunately, for the team the car was able to continue and finished the race. In a post-race interview Patrick didn’t show much excitement about the on track activity.

That’s just speedway racing. I feel really good about how tonight went.”

Danica Patrick | Thursday’s Can-Am Duel

More trouble was ahead for the Stewart-Hass Racing team in Thursday’s qualifying race, the Can-Am Duel, for the Daytona 500. Starting in the 14^th position Patrick was in a great place to fine tune the team’s plan. That is until she was once again caught up in a multi-car accident, however, only sustaining minor damage from a spin in oil after moving to avoid the carnage happening in front of her car. Being that this happened on the final lap she was able to take the checkered flag and because of the NASCAR caution rules she was given a 7^th place finish. Patrick was optimistic that her team would be able to repair her car before the big day.

Hopefully, nothing is wrong with the car and we can just hammer on it a little bit, get it where it needs to be, change out the engine and get ready for the 500.”

Danica Patrick’s Daytona 500 efforts

Finally, it was time for the main event. The event race fans from all around the nation come to the sunshine state to watch, The Daytona 500. Patrick began the race in 16^th position, but after a green-flag pit stop causing a pass-through penalty due to crew members being over the wall before permitted by the guidelines, she was back on track without any help from the draft. Quickly, she found herself a lap down and during the next caution was just out of reach for the “Lucky Dog” which would have put her back on the lead lap.

It (the penalty) put us in a position of being aggressive at the wrong time in the race against cars you don’t always want to be aggressive with” said Patrick.

Unfortunately, left-rear contact was made with the No. 16 car, of Greg Biffle, causing Patrick to go airborne and spinning into the infield ultimately ending her day with a 35^th position finish and only earning six points towards the chase.

As if Danica needed anything else to go wrong during the first race of the season, The King himself, Mr. Richard Petty, thought he would add insult to injury. He’s always been a tough critic of hers and very vocal in regards to her NASCAR career. In an interview with Yahoo Sports he once again expressed his opinion.

“She ain’t gotten no better or no worse.”

Although, a rough start to the season, Danica Patrick has the tools, the car, and the team to have a great year. Next week she’ll show what she’s got in Atlanta!

What do you think of her Speedweek efforts and the King’s comments?

Comment below!

First Lady of F1 Maria Filippis

February 22, 2016 // by Taylor Hyatt

Formula 1 recently released the unfortunate news that Maria Teresa de Filippis had passed away on January 8^th, at 89 years of age. The Italian driver was the first woman to start a Formula 1 race which happened in the late 1950’s.

This got me thinking about how little we acknowledge the early generation of female, auto racing pioneers. We are always taking about the girls currently in the news making headlines about what a great season they’re having or what a great year it was for women in the sport which is great, but what about the ladies that made it possible for those articles to be written? Let’s talk about them!

Maria Filippis | The First Lady of F1

Maria Filippis is only one of two women to ever have the opportunity to race in Formula 1 and it’s been over 40 years since Lella Lombardi, the second female to start an F1 race, last start in 1976. When asked about being the minority in the sport by Red Bulletin Filippis had a typical answer for the time.

Of course there was prejudice, along the lines of what’s that woman doing here?”

Maria Filippis wasn’t a stranger to auto racing or competition, especially in Italy. Having driven sports cars previously, with many class wins, and participating in prestigious races such as the Mille Miglia, an endurance road race, dating back to 1927.

Maria took the green flag in three Grand Prix races, driving a Maserati 250F, a very popular car at the time. She managed to place 10^th in her first race in Belgium, but in Portugal and Monza she had to pull the car in early due to engine failure.

Unfortunately, after having an awful accident herself, colliding with a light pole, and seeing her Porsche team boss, and friend, Jean Behra, lose his life in a fatal on-course crash Maria decided the risks of racing were too high. She retired in 1959 and never looked back. She was very emotional about the experience in her interview with the Observer in 2006.

That, for me, was the most tragic because it was in a race that I should have been taking part in.”

After many years of marriage and raising children, Maria Fillipis became secretary general of the Club International des Anciens Pilotes de Grand Prix in 1984. In 1997 she became Vice President for retired drivers and most recently, honorary president in 2011.

In the U.S. we had Janet Guthrie and Lynn St. James. In Italy, they had Maria Teresa de Fillipis. Think of the possibilities and how the sport could have changed for women if she would have continued her racing career. Still, we wouldn’t be where we are without her.

Amy Ruman wins historic TA championship

January 11, 2016 // by Taylor Hyatt

Professional road racer, Amy Ruman, added her name to the history books as the first female Trans Am champion in the history of the sport. Her win at Daytona International Speedway, in the final race of the 11-event season, comes as her eighth in 2015 and the 13^th since her Trans Am career began in 2005.

Amy Ruman Clinches TA Championship

Amy’s TA class Chevrolet Corvette sat in second place on the grid, but all she needed was a green flag on the race and she would have officially clinched the championship. That didn’t stop her though, after running in the top five with multiple lead changes throughout the majority of the 75 minute race, and managing the traffic from the back of the pack, Amy passed former (2014) champ, Doug Peterson, and took the lead with only six laps to go. Taking it easy was definitely not in her plans!

“Traffic is always an issue and can be a factor in our races. So I just tried to maintain composure and just run consistent lap times, and that got us the win. The car was set up strong” said Ruman.

Historic Firsts for Amy Ruman

That Saturday in her No. 23, McNichols’ sponsored Trans Am car Amy set not one, but two records. She became the first female to claim a Trans Am championship with 345 points to Paul Fix’s 311 and she also became the first female, solo-driver, to have an overall victory at Daytona International Speedway. This came just months after Ashley Freiburg’s co-driving skills won her the IMSA race at Daytona placing her name as a first. Although, Ruman isn’t new to the history books – in 2011 she became the first woman to win a Championship finale race in Trans Am.

Amy has certainly worked her way into up the ranks with the help of her father, Bob Ruman, who is a 20 year veteran within the sport and series and also received support from the family run business, McNichols’ Company.

“I think finally it all just gelled and came together. We have a really well-prepared car. We switched to PME motors; they’ve been strong for us all year and that was a great move. My dad has dialed in the setup on the car; we’ve had it for three or four years now. I think finally all the pieces of the puzzle came together, and we had a rally good year. I drove smart and we were there at the end when we needed to be. We had some absolutely dominant wins and some where we had to come from the back a few times. There was a little bit of everything, but it was just a fantastic year for us.”

Amy was able to make a sometimes difficult and trying season into a great win for the team. I can assure you that this won’t be the last we see from Amy Ruman or her team!