How true are the allegations of racism and sexism in the highest ranks of stock car racing?

I don't know how many of you have been following the Mauricia Grant case.  She's the black, female NASCAR inspector who has filed a  $225 million dollar lawsuit against NASCAR over allegations of on-going sexism and racism that she endured during her two-plus years of employment with the sanctioning body.

Author Dave Zirin opined on it over at The Huffington Post, and you can get the factual details from the Associated Press coverage.

I don't want to get into the merits of the case, since it appears that both Grant's complaints and NASCAR's defense have merits, and as the case goes on, legal disclosures and hopefully some good investigative journalism will shine a spotlight on where the truth lies.

I know none of the players personally, but I do have some experience as a racer and a crew member, as well as 25 years as a journalist, and hopefully my thoughts here will encourage you to view this case rationally and in a modern context.

Today at the Indianapolis 500 Danica Patrick, IndyCar's premiere Female Driver, insisted that she would keep driving around the track affectionately known as the Brickyard even if she lost today's race.

"You can't win it unless you are in it," she said. When questioned on what was the point of driving around a track after you've lost the race Danica responded,  "Well, see the race isn't over until all the cars cross the track at 550 miles." Then she insisted that the Indianapolis 500 was actually the Indy 550 according to crew chief, Terry McAuliffe's own map of the racetrack.

"You know a lot of people want me to get out of the race," Danica Patrick said, "I can't really figure it out. I don't know why...In 1995 Jacques Villeneuve didn't win until the last lap of the race and in 1974 Swede Savage died before he could finish the race. So I couldn't answer -- Couldn't tell you why people want me to get out."

Danica Patrick refused to answer speculation that she would be joining Team Alegre - MYDD Racing next year.

We interrupt this political blog to bring you some amazing news from the world of sports.

Danica Patrick has just become the first woman ever to win a major open-wheel automobile race, a spectacular achievement for women in sports.

Patrick gambled on fuel mileage late in the race, took the lead with three laps to go and hung on to beat Helio Castroneves at the Twin Ring Motegi course in Japan

Never again can she be derided as the Anna Kournikova of auto racing -- all looks and no wins.

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