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BREAKING NEWS: IndyCar Superstar Danica Patrick Signs With U.S. Formula One Team
They don’t have a car. They don’t have an engine. They don’t even have a confirmed sponsor, but the United States Grand Prix Engineering Formula One team expected to compete in the 2010 Formula World Championship, will have a signed driver shortly after noon today.
In a PaddockTalk Exclusive, we are able to report that IndyCar and Sports Illustrated swimsuit pinup superstar Danica Patrick will be taking her show to a worldwide audience starting in 2010 as the 26-year old beckons to become the first female race winner in Formula 1 history.
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We have confirmed that at noon today – April 1st, Patrick will be officially meeting personally with new Formula 1 technical boss Ken Anderson of the USGPE (formerly USF1) at the Charlotte, North Carolina temporary offices and signing a multi-year multi-million dollar deal. F1 Boss Peter Windsor is still working his day job and is traveling with the F1 circus to the Malaysian Grand Prix. Though unable to attend today’s meeting, he will participate in the meeting via cell phone.
The American phenom will take the brief detour to the facilities as she travels to the 2009 IRL IndyCar season opener at St. Petersburg, Florida this weekend, and has already signed a letter of intent to drive for the team. This afternoon’s signing will be putting the wraps on the official contract that the parties have been negotiating for the past 90+ days. The timing is very interestingly since it began long before USGPE went public with their intention to run in the Formula One series in 2010.
Patrick was surprised when we reached her via cell phone to confirm the story. She said, “I can’t talk about it… yet.” Danica did however confirm that she was scheduled to land in Charlotte early Wednesday morning for some “PR work.”
Windsor however was much more forthcoming about the impending announcement. He said, “Everyone knows that once more than one person knows a secret in the paddock, everyone knows. Patrick brings the right credentials, will be strong commercially, and will be fully compatible with the team. “
As for sponsorship, Windsor hinted at big things saying, “Clearly, Danica Patrick is not one to shy away from a bit of controversy, nor will USGPE shy away. Our agency is thinking of something along the lines of PETA’s Superbowl ad, though it never made it to the telly, it has reached millions of people.”
We found it surprising Windsor should mention PETA, especially considering Formula 1 Boss Bernie Ecclestone’s daughter Tamara posed naked in a recent anti-fur campaign, and the boss has been rumored to be in the background of the fledgling team.
When we followed up on that thought, Windsor denied the old man’s involvement, and then said…”By the way, how did you find out about this, I’ve only talked to Ken and Danica, and then the lawyers on Monday?”
Though protective of our source, we quietly revealed to Windsor… “You might want to talk to the lawyers about using the Kinko’s copy shop just down the street for their triplicates. We’d hate to see one of your engineer’s wives get you in an awkward position. As others have learned, loose lips at the copy shop can leave an F1 team with an expensive tab.”
The official announcement is expected to come early next week. As arrangements are still being made for LIVE coverage by SPEED Channel.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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