Danica Patrick Confronts Fan Who Booed Her For Not Signing Autographs: ‘I Have Feelings Too’

Danica Patrick has been racing professionally for over a decade, solidifying herself as the the most successful woman in the history of American open-wheel racing. For much of her adult life, she has gracefully combatted the challenges of being one of the only women in racing culture that is male-dominated. You can’t be triggered easily to succeed in that environment.

But, following Friday’s qualifying for the Pocono 400, Patrick had had enough. She was booed by fans after her security turned fans away for autographs. While walking back to the garage from pit road, the 35-year-old Patrick stopped to address the booing fans, urging them to empathize with her celebrity.

“Since I’m old, instead of taking the booing, what I want to tell you is like, I’m doing the very best I can. If you’re a real fan, you know that I’m not just like…my job is not to sign autographs, right? My job is to drive a car and to tell the crew chief what’s going on. I don’t appreciate the booing. It hurts my feelings. I’m a [expletive] person, you know what I mean? I’m a person, too. I have feelings. When you boo me, it hurts my feelings.Okay? Please just be supportive fans. I’ll do everything I can.”

Yo, Danica. You’re worth like $60 million. Most racing fans don’t have a pot to piss in. If they’re mad at you for not signing their pit stained t-shirt so they can sell it at their next garage sale to buy a 12-pack, just let it go. I know you said your feelings are hurt, but at least you can wipe away the tears with hundred dollar bills. No one feels bad for you.

[h/t For The Win]

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Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.