Monday, April 21, 2008

Please don't make her straddle the trophy

I'm excited, but of course my excitement comes with a clause. Danica Patrick is the first woman to win an Indy car race. She's been making waves since she burst onto the racing scene years ago. I'm proud of her.

The catch: the thing about Danica is that she - unlike her male counterparts - is marketed using her sex appeal. If one were to look at most ads with Danica in it, you would wonder what exactly she is selling. I wish wish wish that Danica could sell WD-40 or motor oil in her racing suit (zipped up, not down so you can see her bra) and not all glamed up with lip gloss and flowing hair. Nobody races cars that way.

So with this progress, which is worth celebrating, comes a small caveat: now that Danica has made certifiable history as a driver with proven skills, leave the bikini pics out.

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