1. There's been some speculation that Danica Patrick could wind up in NASCAR next year. How might the world's most famous female driver fare on the nation's biggest stock-car tour?

David Caraviello: OK, first of all, she isn't coming. Let's get that straight right now. I know she's said she's considering it, but I'd be shocked if it happened. Which is a good thing, because if she tried to jump directly onto the Sprint Cup tour, without any stints in Truck or Nationwide, she'd risk embarrassing herself.

Mark Aumann: Well, I'm still not sold on the whole idea. The rumors seem to be floating from the same Silly Season pot that's been more wrong than right. There's just a lot of stuff that doesn't add up.

Raygan Swan: Well, if she thinks she can go straight to Cup and be competitive, I think she's wrong. She needs to go through the developmental ranks somewhat just like her other open-wheel counterparts did. She needs to think of herself as the rule, not the exception to the rule.

David Caraviello: True, Mark, but Danica herself has been rather coy on the issue, acting as if the option is there for her should she want it. Hey, nobody's saying she shouldn't try if that's what she really wants to do. But she had better be prepared. Like Juan Montoya said last week -- it isn't going to be easy.

Mark Aumann: After seeing a host of open-wheel guys like Dario Franchitti struggle to make the switch, why would Danica even bother? Because it's a bargaining chip, perhaps? And I use "Chip," as in Chip Ganassi, which is probably where she'll wind up -- in the IndyCar Series in 2010.

Raygan Swan: We did go through the same hype last time she was in a contract year, so maybe this is apart of her negotiations. But is she the best female in the sport? Maybe for the men.

Mark Aumann: But let's say she does make the leap. I'm with David. There's no way she goes from a Dallara to a Dodge without a year of seasoning. Or two. And is Danica willing to take what would be a career step backward to do that? Sam Hornish Jr. is just starting to show signs of figuring it out.

Raygan Swan: I don't think her ego could handle it, Mark.

David Caraviello: No question, she'd be a marketer's dream in NASCAR -- until she started that first race. I mean, it's taken Montoya two years to get the hang of this, and that guy won the Indy 500. Hornish, a former IndyCar champion, is just now coming around. Those guys were a lot more accomplished that Danica is.

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All the open-wheelers spent years and have many accomplishments in IndyCars before they made the switch. It is too early in her career to make a major move.

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RAYGAN SWAN

Raygan Swan: And according to her boss, Michael Andretti, she can't handle the NASCAR schedule. Too many races. And he's got a few more race wins and titles than Danica.

Mark Aumann: Now, does NASCAR need a female driver? Oh, most definitely. But they need to find one that comes up through their own ladder system. You can't tell me there isn't a female Joey Logano out there somewhere, waiting for the opportunity.

David Caraviello: Hornish came to NASCAR because he had basically achieved everything in IndyCars that he could, and was looking for the next challenge. Danica has far too much left on the table over there to even think about jumping to NASCAR.

Raygan Swan: I totally agree, David. All the open-wheelers spent years and have many accomplishments in IndyCars before they made the switch. It is too early in her career to make a major move. Unless she has a splash of "Smoke" in her, then she needs to stay put and win more open-wheel races.

David Caraviello: And Raygan, I'll be honest -- I don't know if she can do that. She has tremendous courage and knows how to go really, really fast, but her overtaking skills need some serious work. She seems to do most of her passing on pit road. That's not going to cut it in NASCAR, especially if you're starting from the back.

Mark Aumann: The real wild card is Tony George. Now that he's no longer fronting Indianapolis Motor Speedway or the IndyCar Series, do the new powers-that-be understand how important she is as a marketing tool for their league? If Danica leaps anywhere, it could be with the new U.S.-based Formula One team. But even that's a stretch. I'll give her the fact that she's put on some very impressive runs at Indy. That car she had two or three years ago was junk, and she made a top-10 out of it. But that's almost impossible to do week-in and week-out with the current NASCAR chassis. But wouldn't it be fun to see Danica go after Shrub just once?

Raygan Swan: And NASCAR won't tolerate the tantrums. Not to get on her about her bratty antics, but it's such a turn-off. I know she has talent, and Montoya seems to think she can cut it in NASCAR -- but not overnight. He said it will take a lot of time. If someone is willing to give it to her, then come on over, but leave your attitude in the IRL

David Caraviello: Yikes! Catfight!

Raygan Swan: I'm bigger than her David, maybe by just an inch, but still!

Mark Aumann: You go, daddy.

2. NASCAR's new double-file restart rule created plenty of action last weekend at New Hampshire. How will it affect Saturday night's restrictor-plate event at Daytona?

Mark Aumann: If anything, I'm waiting until we get back to the intermediate tracks to decide whether I like it or not. I do think getting the lap-down cars out of the way is a huge help. But at Daytona, where the draft is more important than starting position, I'm not sure that's going to be a huge benefit or detriment.

David Caraviello: Goodness, who knows. If they were forcing it three- and four-wide at the front of the pack at New Hampshire -- at New Hampshire! -- then they might be six-wide on Saturday night. No question, having all the leaders up front in double file can be fun to watch. But it's also going to create some havoc.

Raygan Swan: Jeff Gordon made some interesting points. He said it will give the leaders a chance to catch their breath and ride for a few laps. Or for a few corners, at least.

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Sunday was the best race I've ever seen at New Hampshire, a place where the leader usually checks out. But I wonder if this is going to be one of those things NASCAR is going to have to police a little bit going forward.

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DAVID CARAVIELLO

David Caraviello: Well, that's not what we saw Sunday. Sunday we saw the leaders shoving each other around every time they took the green. And these weren't slower cars that can be ordered out of the way with the blue and black flag. These were all leaders. It was intense stuff.

Mark Aumann: Like every other race, it's the late-race cautions that will be the deciding factor. When it's "go time," the guys in the back won't be very patient. And that's a big wreck waiting to happen. It won't be just eight cars at Daytona. It takes so long for the restrictor-plate motors to wind up, that may not be as much of an issue. Still, once the cars are at full song, watch out.

Raygan Swan: It could help with the drafting partner situation, since the leader can line up wherever his partner is in the mix. That could be a positive, but I agree, it could get crazy.

David Caraviello: No question, it takes a while for Daytona engines to get up to "full song," as the MRN guys would say. But we all know how hairy those pack restarts can be at Daytona, which is a lot narrower than people realize.

Mark Aumann: But I fear for a green-white-checkered. They may not get to the stripe before all heck breaks loose. Does one attempt include a yellow before they throw the green?

David Caraviello: It's going to be interesting to see how they manage this at places like Bristol and Martinsville. But I guess at the short tracks, where a certain degree of bumping and banging is expected, a little more aggression on restarts comes with the territory.

Mark Aumann: And can we drop the "shootout style?" I feel like we're watching Doc Holliday and the Earp brothers at the O.K. Corral.

David Caraviello: Yeah, I ordered my hash browns "shootout style" the other day at the Waffle House. Whoops, I meant smothered and covered.

Mark Aumann: Well, if they came side-by-side ...

David Caraviello: With bacon!

Raygan Swan: What is going on here, guys? I didn't know you two were so Western.

Mark Aumann: Get along, little doggie. One of my favorite John Wayne lines is "Let's go! We're burning daylight!"

David Caraviello: Listen here, little lady. Anyway, this new restart format is more fun to watch, no question about that. Sunday was the best race I've ever seen at New Hampshire, a place where the leader usually checks out. But I wonder if this is going to be one of those things NASCAR is going to have to police a little bit going forward.

Mark Aumann: I've been impressed at how the leader has pretty much been able to hold serve on nearly every restart. The problems are all in the middle of the pack. But that's not really much different than the "non-shootout style" restarts.

Raygan Swan: Police it how so? Does that mean Kyle Busch will be the one to get a ticket after every restart?

Mark Aumann: "Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you." Oh, that's a different Police.

Raygan Swan: Oh now we're in the '80s, Mark?

Mark Aumann: Did we ever leave?

David Caraviello: You are right, Mark, Jeff Gordon especially was able to hold off every challenge. But I'll tell you, guys sure weren't shy about trying. And I don't know if every race leader will have a car as good on restarts as Jeff's was on Sunday. As we saw -- somebody up front spins the tires once, there's going to be a melee behind them. Point the finger at Kyle, but all the guys up front were in the gas every opportunity they had.

Mark Aumann: Same with Kasey Kahne at Sonoma, which I thought was even more of a challenge.

David Caraviello: And Saturday, we'll get to see somebody hold off an eight-wide challenge at Daytona. That ought to be fun!

Mark Aumann: Remember, the yellow line is out of bounds. And you know somebody will get darn close to it.

David Caraviello: Oh, they'll get more than close to it. Combine this restart format with the yellow-line rule, and the post-race explosions in the sky won't be the only fireworks on Saturday night.

3. Joey Logano was having a trying rookie season before his rain-shortened victory at New Hampshire. Will that win create unrealistic expectations?

Mark Aumann: I think "unrealistic expectations" were placed on Joey long before last weekend. We're asking an amazing amount from a 19-year-old kid.

Raygan Swan: You know, I don't think so at all. Joey is very humble and he admitted he didn't have the car to beat and that he was happy to be more lucky than good that day. He knows that he still is in the learning process, as does his boss, Joe Gibbs. Maybe for the uninformed, it could create unreal expectations, but not the team surrounding Joey.

David Caraviello: I would think not. Joey's getting the benefit of something few drivers seem to get these days on the Sprint Cup tour -- patience. The Gibbs folks know he's young, he hasn't been able to test this year, and that his development is going to take time. None of that should change because he gambled his way into a rainy victory at New Hampshire.

Star power

It may still be a year or so away, but Joe Menzer says Joey Logano has plenty of time. And loads of talent. And obviously that winning smile.

• Complete story, click here

Mark Aumann: There are some folks who handed him multiple championships before he even made it to a touring series. The whole "Sliced Bread" moniker is a testament to that. There's a rush in this business to find the "next big thing." I just hope Joey gets the chance to progress at his own pace. The past is littered with shattered careers of guys who were the "next big thing." One that comes to mind is Casey Atwood. At 20, Atwood had a full-time Cup ride. By 22, he was "washed up." Yeah, he's still out there but he'll never live up to the hype.

Raygan Swan: Right David, and Home Depot seems to have patience with him as well. The start of the season was a bit scary, but look how much he has improved since Martinsville. Gibbs knows that, and he appreciates Joey's ability to overcome problems on the track and battle back.

David Caraviello: What it might change, though, is his profile. The kid has a great smile and a very likeable personality. For someone who won a lot of races growing up, he's still rather humble. That's the kind of thing people like to see, and now that he's a race winner his popularity may rise as a result.

Raygan Swan: Joe Menzer had a great column to that point, David. Joey will be the sport's most popular driver at some point in his career, sooner than later. He is a great role model for his age.

David Caraviello: But let's be honest here. Absolutely no disrespect intended to Joey, because a win on the Sprint Cup tour is a win on the Sprint Cup tour, no matter how you cut it. But that was as much Greg Zipadelli's win as anyone else. Getting back on the lead lap, improving the car after the spinout, staying out because of the threat of rain -- those were all crew chief strategy calls.

Raygan Swan: Good point David, but actually it was Tony Stewart's win -- the one that got away last year due to weather, as Tony said after Sunday's race. But seriously, Zippy made some great calls and the team worked hard as well.

Mark Aumann: I know the Gibbs folks would have liked to have given Joey a year of seasoning, especially when NASCAR banned testing. But we'll have to see. The talent's certainly there.

Raygan Swan: Then again, Joey the driver needs credit as well for putting himself in a position to be there at the end as well

David Caraviello: Yes, Raygan, no question. Joey was the guy behind the wheel, and he won the race. But that No. 20 team has been a little below the radar this year, and I think people might have forgotten just how good a crew chief Greg Zipadelli is. We're talking maybe top 10 all-time material.

Mark Aumann: Uh, I think the NASCAR rule book ought to get most of the credit for that one.

Raygan Swan: So what, Mark, you don't think Logano will be around in a couple seasons or what?

Mark Aumann: If not for the free pass rule -- twice -- Joey Logano's not even in this week's discussion.

David Caraviello: But Mark, that free pass has been around for so long now, that kind of thing isn't uncommon. I saw Jimmie Johnson get a third at Darlington earlier this year after falling a lap down. Other guys have won races from a lap down. That's not new.

Raygan Swan: I wish Joe was on today, he'd be singing Joey's praises! He is the president of his fan club these days!

Mark Aumann: When you look at drivers who won a race before they turned 25, it's an incredibly short list. And only a few ever went on to be what could be classified as a "star." For every Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch, there are dozens of guys who were busts.

Raygan Swan: Few of them had Joey's background. He's been racing since he was like 6 and has multiple championships in grassroots programs.

Mark Aumann: That pretty much describes every young driver in the garage area. They all have great pedigrees. Otherwise, they wouldn't be here.

Raygan Swan: Not like Logano's.

Mark Aumann: Brad Coleman won the 24 Hours of Daytona as a teenager. Landon Cassill was a multiple champion. Eric McClure? Top-notch open-wheel driver.

Raygan Swan: Mark, I'm sorry, but those pale in comparison to Logano. Otherwise, Coleman wouldn't be Logano's backup driver in the Nationwide Series. And Cassill couldn't even secure a Truck ride.

David Caraviello: Yeah, I think we're reaching a little bit there, Mark. Cup drivers weren't raving about Eric McClure when the guy was in middle school like Mark Martin was about Joey Logano.

Mark Aumann: Well, we'll have to disagree. I'm not buying bread today.

David Caraviello: Mark, maybe you can find a loaf that's unsliced!

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writers.