Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Nationwide Series, Danica Patrick

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- All Danica Patrick wanted this blustery Saturday afternoon at NASCAR's most hallowed track was experience without expectation. So to that end, she may consider her NASCAR debut successful, even if her No. 7 GoDaddy.com Chevy finished the day a twisted wreck and her first NASCAR finish was officially 35th place.

After driving a careful and conservative early race, Patrick was collected in a 12-car accident that sent a fourth of the field to the garage on lap 68 of the 120-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.

The "story" of Speedweeks, Patrick chose to compete in the Nationwide Series race despite having only a few hours of practice in the car -- energized and encouraged instead by a sixth-place finish in a lower-level ARCA Series race last weekend.

She started 15th on Saturday, but opted for a more cautious strategy, falling back to the rear of the field to watch and learn. Unfortunately for her, the view was too good. Josh Wise and rookie Colin Braun collided several cars in front of Patrick and she was unable to dodge a track full of spinning cars.

 

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