Danica Patrick Talks Training, Superstitions, and Alanis Morissette

IndyCar star Danica Patrick joined FanHouse for a live chat trackside from the IndyCar Series' season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Friday afternoon.

Patrick answered a number of questions, ranging from thoughts on new rules, how she trains, when we can expect to see her in another GoDaddy commercial, and Alanis Morissette.

You can read a recap of the chat after the jump.

joe graphix: how often do you get time to yourself to just relax, or waste time on the computer? do you ever visit your fan sites or myspace page?
Danica Patrick: I try and take a little time each week, and I usually get a pedicure or go out to dinner or cook at the house.

Damon: Hey Danica, in one of your recent GoDaddy blogs you talked about how you and new engineer Eddie Jones went back and look at some tapes of past races and made notes, what was the thing that stood out most watching those races?
Danica Patrick: That we qualified well, but we just didn't have the car we needed for the first half of the race. I also need to push harder in the first half of the race because it's important to start up front and stay there.

Tom: Danica, I'm a big fan and I work at GoDaddy.com. I heard you have a new commerical coming out during the Indy 500. What can you tell us about it?
Danica Patrick: Well you never know what GoDaddy.com is going to run, but we shot some commercials in Vegas a few weeks ago and those turned out great -- one in particular is absolutely hilarious.

BiggDave: How confident are you about the upcoming season?
Danica Patrick: We are here at St. Pete to start the season and we're going to be working hard this weekend to start the season off right, but there are so many good road course drivers in the IndyCar Series and they make it hard.

sam: when did you start racing?
Danica Patrick: I was 10 years old and my sister did it as well, and she was 8. I started in go-karts, driving a Briggs and Stratton engine.

Adam: Do you consider yourself an athlete?
Danica Patrick: If you look up and down pit lane, all of the IndyCar drivers are healthy and very fit, and that's for a reason, because our races demand not only strength but endurance as well and that requires a lot of training.

ChrisTian: Danica, How tall are you?
Danica Patrick: 5-foot-1 and a half.

Hops55: My grandpa, dad and uncles have a lot of history at the track in Indy. You've broken a lot of ground being a pretty young gal taking on all the top gun egos of IRL. Do you think that the NASCAR boys will be a bit more aggressive to you on the track to "rattle your nerves and are you planning to race there?
Danica Patrick: Every time contract year comes up I make sure I weigh all my options, but I'll always go with my heart and where I want to be, so we'll see.

Brian Exparza: What is your favorite food, movie and music?
Danica Patrick: I loooooooooooove breakfast -- all breakfast. I love comedy, and music ... Alanis Morissette.

ronnie: do you have a twitter account or if not will you get one?
Danica Patrick: I do, should I use it?

Bill: Is your sister racing?
Danica Patrick: No, she stopped the first year and is now finishing up her doctorate to become a physical therapist

Andy: Since Tissot is one of your sponsors is there a new "Danica" watch this year that you inspired them to create?
Danica Patrick: Yes, there is. It's summer colors and the sort of size watch I like to wear -- big.

Bob: How do you prepare differently for a race on a road course and a race on an oval?
Danica Patrick: I get to sleep in a lot more on the oval weekends. Road courses require a little more peak physical fitness.

joe graphix: what advice would you give to a father of a little girl that looks up to you and wants to be a driver one day? how hard was it on your family to get you to your goal?
Danica Patrick: The most important thing is you let your child do something they are passionate about and then to not set any boundaries and let it go where it goes. It does require a little bit of money though, that's my only bit of forewarning.

JeffG: Do you have any pre-race ritiuals for good luck?
Danica Patrick: I wear the same underwear all year long. Just joking. Superstitions only exist if you believe in them and I don't.

michael: what is your basic training regiment?
Danica Patrick: Cardio five days a week and strength training five days a week -- which means I work out a lot.

Bill: Sitting here in Indy can't wait to see you in May. What do you think of the new mandatory tire rule this year.
Danica Patrick: I think that any time you introduce new rules it takes time to get used to them and it confuses the fans. I hope this one makes it interesting though.

stacy: are you in the one in clearwater
Danica Patrick: Yes, I'm here at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. This is our first race of the 2009 season. If you live in the area, come on out. It will be a good show, a good race. It's been awesome but I've got to run to an engineering meeting now.

Danica Patrick Photos

HOMESTEAD, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Danica Patrick drives the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during the IRL IndyCar Series Spring Testing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway February 25, 2009 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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HOMESTEAD, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Danica Patrick sits aboard the #7 Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during the IRL IndyCar Series Spring Testing at the Homestead-Miami Speedway February 25, 2009 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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HOMESTEAD, FL - FEBRUARY 25: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda, looks on during the IRL IndyCar Series Spring Testing on February 25, 2009 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images). *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

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Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage, right, teleconferences with IndySeries driver Danica Patrick during media day at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, February 25, 2009. (Ben Noey Jr./Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)

MCT

HOMESTEAD, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Danica Patrick, driver of the #7 Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during the IRL IndyCar Series Spring Testing on February 24, 2009 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Darrell Ingham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danica Patrick

Getty Images