NASCAR

Danica Patrick on Twitter trolls: 'They’re very unhappy people'

Brant James
USA TODAY Sports

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Danica Patrick has tried to ignore Twitter trolling as much as possible.

Danica Patrick participated with Vonn Miller, Michael Phelps and other sports stars in a 'mean Tweets' video.

But the Stewart-Haas Racing driver had no misconceptions that this video would solve the problem. Patrick, the popular but polarizing figure, still participated with Vonn Miller, Michael Phelps and other sports starts in a “mean Tweets” video produced by athletes affiliated with The Players’ Tribune.

“Anything that gets to put people who are mean on social media on blast a little is always fun for me,” Patrick told USA TODAY Sports.

A message from her younger sister, Brooke, from the previous night showed her how much work is left. This wasn’t like most venom-laced screed she’s found on social media timelines before, but it illustrated the freedom online posters exploit. A story linked on Facebook detailing Patrick’s history of concussions and her likelihood of retiring if she suffered a major one drew out two former competitors.

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Patrick reads the headline from her phone.

“Paul Tracy said, ‘She should retire then,’ ” Patrick reads, quoting the former Champ Car champion. “And then another guy that I used to race with, Matt Sielksy, like when I was a kid in go-karting said ‘And not because of concussions.’

“So my sister had to chime in. She wrote, ‘Have some class people. Pretty easy to critique someone from the sidelines.’ Blah, blah, blah, and she was so protective of me.

“I told her, ‘It’s tough to not want to go nuclear on these (expletive), but just know that they’re very unhappy people. For instance, would you ever say that to someone, especially someone you know? No. Because you’re a decent and happy human being. Gotta let it go. Maybe even slip in a little sympathy prayer for them.’ … And she said ‘Very well said.’’’

Another poster defended Patrick, prompting Sielsky to reply: “Oh, relax, we’re just envious. I wish my concussions wouldn’t have put me out of racing.”

“So he has a little bit of a soul,” Patrick said. “Imagine how unhappy they are that they feel like that’s what they should do or can do or get away with doing or what’s in their soul. Sad. I honestly feel bad for them more than anything.”

PHOTOS: Danica Patrick's career in NASCAR