At Road America, the first Nationwide race of the season, Danica Patrick was in fourth on the final lap before getting spun into the gravel trap by Jacques Villeneuve. At Watkins Glen on Saturday, contact was the main storyline for Patrick once again. Except this time, it was on the first lap rather than the last one. And not only was it on the first lap, it was on the first turn.
As the field went into turn one after taking the green flag, Ryan Truex got loose under braking on the inside and slid into the grass on the inside of the downhill right-hander. As he attempted to gather the car up, he slid back onto the track, right into the path of Patrick and the rest of the field. And that was that for Patrick's chances. The damage to her front fender and radiator forced her to take the car to the garage. She finished 43rd.
