Thursday, June 9th 'What If' Question

One of the biggest stories in NASCAR the last year has been IndyCar star Danica Patrick trying her hand in the world of stock cars. Talked about more than her performance has been Patrick's media hype as fans feel that every broadcast she's given more airtime than other drivers on the track.

There's no denying though that with her in the field the rating and attention focused on the sport increases. Fans of IndyCar have tuned in just to see how 'their' driver is doing. NASCAR fans are interested to see if another open wheel star can make it in a completely different world. Since her debut in February of 2010 speculation has run wild on whether or not Patrick will one day make the move to NASCAR full-time with the a report late last month saying that she's already working on a deal for 2012. But the Patrick camp hasn't commented or make any announcements.

Meanwhile another racing star has come to NASCAR: Kimi Raikkonen. He too has brought much hype and attention after he announced he would be competing in a Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte. A week later he competed in the Nationwide Series race and has also tested a Sprint Cup Series car. Currently there is no other races scheduled for Raikkonen in 2011 but it hasn't stopped the buzz.

Making a name for himself in Formula 1 and Rally Cars, the Finnish driver has proved to be very versatile. When he arrived on the NASCAR scene and before he even hit the track there was already buzz circling the sport. What was he going to be like? How was he going to handle himself? Will he be any good? Again, attention was on NASCAR and the Truck race in Charlotte became a very popular viewing choice.

Yet, for all the fun they might have had in NASCAR, both Patrick and Raikkonen have gone back where they came from so to speak. Still running in IndyCar, Patrick will continue with her limited Nationwide schedule. Raikkonen has since dropped from the discussion and has gone back from Rally Car and until another announcement or race is put on his schedule, he might be quickly forgotten as quickly as he came.

But ...

What If Kimi Raikkonen came full-time to Trucks and Danica Patrick came full-time to Nationwide, which series would get the ratings? #NASCAR

@racinwithjason Nationwide by far. The mainstream sports fan has no idea who Raikkonen is, and neither does the NASCAR-only race fan.

@48hollywood depends on the fallout of people who aren't fans of theirs who turn away because 85% of coverage focuses on 1 driver...

@Racergirl83 I would have to say the Nationwide series would, only because she has a lot of followers. Danica Patrick will be good FT.

@MissNASCARNews Nationwide definitely... though rumor is that she is

@Ryan__OHara nationwide for sure. most foreign fans probably would go with trucks.

@jerracing7 The Nationwide Series.

@cruetten without a doubt, the Nationwide Series.

@Kimiforme both series.

@Cdn_CadGuy I think it would be great for both series. #NASCAR needs more women racers.

@StrokerAce90 Nationwide. If this really is @Kimi_Raikkonen he's not even close to @DanicaPatrick's 389,833 twitter followers w/his 37,497

Tim Kaufman (via Facebook) N'wide!!! :D Though, if there is an international market for NASCAR (dunno how regularly NASCAR is shown overseas), Kimi has the potential to blow it outta the waterr (heh @ pun) :)

Camille Jones (via Facebook) Nationwide would definitely get the great ratings here.... but like Tim said, with any international market, Kimi would boost that like crazy.

Matt Wenzel (via Facebook) N'wide. I'd venture to say that 90% of American NASCAR fans never heard of Kimi Raikkonen. I bet 50% have never heard of Formula 1.