NASCAR notes: Danica headed to NASCAR full-time?

Danica Patrick finished 10th in the Indianapolis 500, which was hardly a surprise because it has been one of her better venues in IndyCar racing.

The hot topic there was also a hot topic at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where a growing number expect her finally to cast her lot with NASCAR in 2012. Dale Earnhardt Jr., of course, has provided her with equipment during her limited forays into the Nationwide Series.

“We’ll just see what she decides to do,” said Earnhardt. “I think she wants to have more success and doing it (NASCAR) all the time would be a good move. She just has to choose what she wants to do. What is right for her. What she thinks she will be happy doing. Just make the right choice for herself, that is what is important.

“She has been racing with us enough to know whether she is ready or not. It is really up to her. It is really not up to anybody else. My opinion on that deal really doesn’t matter. She is the one who knows the truth, and she’ll make the decision. I think she needs to make and that will be that.”