IRL Will Live Another Year

The IRL (Ignored Racing League) will live to race another year now that series sweetheart Danica Patrick has signed a new contract that will keep her in open-wheel racing:

Danica Patrick signed with Andretti Green Racing on Tuesday, deciding to stay in the Indy Racing League instead of switching to NASCAR.

Patrick will start driving for her new team in 2007. Her current contract with Rahal Letterman expires at the end of the season. Though she toyed with joining NASCAR, Patrick said last week she was leaning toward staying in the IndyCar series.

"My heart and soul is in IndyCar racing," Patrick said at a news conference. "NASCAR is not out for good. It's out for right now."

I still think she'll eventually end up in NASCAR. That's where the good drivers want to be (see Montoya, Juan Pablo).