Danica + Indy 500 = Déjà vu

Of her performance, Danica said, ``I made a hell of a point for anybody. I came through the pack twice.'' And she did! So why Danica, why the bikini shoots?!

One of my first blog posts was about the issue of using sex to sell women's sports. So when I started looking at the coverage on Danica Patrick, it was like staring at an issue that probably won't disappear in the near future.

Schizophrenia...on... While I’m thrilled that Danica Patrick is excelling in the male-dominated world of auto racing, the use of sex to market her is a bit bothersome. She posed in bikinis for men's magazines prior to the race to get some air time. I would think having David Letterman as team co-owner would open quite a few door...no?

Some would say, hey, if it advances women in sports and beefs up coverage, it's all for the greater good. I'm a PR person and I still wouldn't want to go there. It's hard enough for many female athletes to be taken seriously as it is.

Danica is talented. No doubt. She has been racing since she was a kid. She kicks A** on the track at more than 200 mph! And, despite a couple of rookie mistakes, she still managed to finish fourth Sunday, the strongest showing for a woman in the Indy 500’s race's 89-year history.

Patrick took over the lead from lap 172 to 194 of the 200-lap race, but was eventually beat by Dan Wheldon who, according to AP sports writer  Paul Newberry, has been the strongest driver on the circuit all year, winning for the fourth time in five races.

But I guess talent just isn't enough.

Jerry Sullivan of The Buffalo News and Kevin Blackistone of The Dallas Morning News  have done a pretty good job of addressing the hypocrisy and annoyance of appearance carrying more weight than ability and performance. Not an issue in men's sports.

Schizophrenia...off...

Newberry says, "Patrick has taken a major step toward shattering the gender barrier for good."

Considering the use of sex to sell, I just hope it's the barrier above and not the barrier below.