While we all immerse ourselves in the NFL Combine and the Pacers’ surge to near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, it warrants mentioning that Danica Patrick is starting first in Sunday’s Daytona 500.

Yes, first.  Danica Patrick.  The same driver who had never qualified better than 23rd for a Sprint Cup race, and has one top twenty finish (Phoenix, 2012) in ten tries.  While this is a huge deal for her career, and for the NASCAR marketing machine, is it resonating with you?

I consider myself an IndyCar and (gasp) a NASCAR fan.  While IndyCar would top my list, I’ve branched out to stock car racing over the past few years and enjoyed it.  I have a Fantasy NASCAR team, and have attended the Brickyard 400 as a fan for the past six years running.  It's not the 500, but I enjoy watching the Sprint Cup's lone trip to the world's greatest racetrack.  I don't see why being an IndyCar fan and also being a NASCAR fan has to be mutually exclusive.

I was going to watch the Daytona 500 anyway, but now will have an added interest with Danica in pole position.   I’m not sure how many people are with me on that limb, though.  Vote in our poll below: