Danica Patrick kicks off a busy month in Iowa

Associated Press

NEWTON, Iowa

Danica Patrick spent last weekend checking off one of the most important things on any maid of honor’s to-do list.

The bachelorette party.

One of Patrick’s best friends is getting married in September, so Patrick used the IRL’s off week between Texas and Iowa to celebrate. While that might seem a tad early to round up the bridesmaids for a bash, the auto racing superstar had a valid excuse.

“I don’t have a weekend off until then,” Patrick said.

Patrick’s ambitious IRL/NASCAR Nationwide summer slate kicks off today with the IRL’s Iowa 250. Then it’s off to the Nationwide race in New Hampshire on June 26, the open-wheel road course event at Watkins Glen on July 4 and the Nationwide race in Chicago on July 9.

The next month will mark the first time Patrick is juggling open-wheel and stock car racing simultaneously. She made her much-hyped debut in the Nationwide series before the IndyCar season started, but she put aside stock car racing to focus on the IRL in March.

Patrick’s IndyCar performance has been somewhat shaky so far. Despite a promising second-place finish in Texas two weeks ago, Patrick sits 11th in the points standings through seven races after finishing a career-best fifth in 2009.

But Patrick believes spending more time in race cars can only help her navigate the difficult schedule ahead.

“I find myself in a car all the time now. I find myself out there on race weekends every weekend, and then testing during the week. I’m doing so much more driving than anything else, which is a definite shift in the schedule, so it’s fun,” Patrick said.

“It’s hard though. You’re always on the spot, you’re always trying to be faster and up against the clock. But it makes you a better driver. It’s helping me be able to adapt in more situations.”