Back in 2012, Danica Patrick was leading in the 2012 NAPA Auto Parts 200 in the now-defunct NASCAR Nationwide Series. Unfortunately, she had to retire from the race due to some bizarre circumstances. As it turned out, a random spectator lobbed a shoe onto the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
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Unfortunately, marshals could not clear the errant shoe away in time and race leader Patrick ran over it. Although she appeared unfazed initially, the No. 7 Chevrolet soon let her know that there was trouble.
According to Crew Chief Tony Eury Jr, “The shoe didn’t have anything to do with it. It was funny listening to everybody talk about the shoe. I’ve never done that before. It could have done something to the splitter or went through the radiator just as easy and took the radiator out, but as far as the problems we had with the car, it was no relation.”
Later on, NASCAR officials confirmed that the offender was escorted from the circuit and his footwear was confiscated. At the time of her retirement, Danica Patrick was riding on a high and closing in on a potential maiden victory. She doggedly held onto the lead for nearly 20 laps, when she struck the shoe on Lap 38 of 81.
Danica Patrick did not blame the shoe
However, Patrick did not pin the blame on the stray footwear but revealed that she noticed some issues before the race. It was worth noting that it definitely aggravated the situation, starting with her steering. In spite of the preventive measures on her car, a bracket fell from it during the race as she drove through a corner.
After destroying the shoe, Danica Patrick was able to coax out six more laps, despite dropping to third place. Finally, she elected to pit for repairs and fueled until the end of the race.
Unfortunately, an axle broke on her car, five laps later. The crew chief insisted that the axle issue was unrelated to the track bar issue with the show.
He concluded, “So it was two different problems. We actually had the first one fixed and were looking pretty good, but the final one kind of broke the camel’s back.”
