NASCAR surely dulled (demolished, as one bookmaker put it) most of the Indianapolis 500′s luster a good deal of moons ago, but, thanks partly to pinup girl Danica Patrick, the fabled Brickyard event is making a bit of a comeback.

Put the special importance and significance on bit.

“People just aren’t that interested,” said Stratosphere Tower Race and Sports Director Robert Jaynes, adding, “but they will be a little more so right before the race.”

Indy employed to be a Memorial Day staple as people walked around with transitor radios glued to their ears excitedly listening in on the action.

I do not forget going to the movies and seeing the best crashes, in black and white, on the weekly news.

Now the Indy is run on the Sunday (May 28 this year) before the Monday Memorial Day holiday and folks, who fundamentally don’t give a damn with regards to the race anymore, now have cell phones attached to their hearing organs.

Patrick, 24, who has yet to win an IRL event but finished fourth in last year’s 500, has brought the circuit a lot of sorely-needed name acknowledgement that has been missing out since the likes of Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones and A.J. Foyt ruled the roost.

“People are remembering other drivers’ names because of her,” brought up Hilton oddsmaker Jeff Sherman.

“They recognise the name Dan Wheldon and that he won last year because they were watching to see how she did.”

What she did was turn in the most eminent finish ever by a female while earning Indy Rookie of the Year honors and leading for 19 laps.

The Stratosphere posted a pair of Patrick props just regarding the time March Madness crowds were sweeping through Las Vegas.

One asked if Patrick, who started karting when she was 10, would win an IRL event this season and the other whether she’d prevail at Indy.

“There just hasn’t been any interest,” Jaynes said.

“I’ve had them up for months and I have possibly $100 in bets.

“But with the 500 in May, I’m expecting more soon.

“People are asking with regards to her, but aren’t putting down their money.

“NASCAR and the IRL are two very dissimilar things.

“I thought there’d be more interest now that the IRL has been on TV the last few weeks, but I haven’t seen it.”

Jaynes has no qualms when it comes to Patrick’s qualifications or the fact she’s a woman.

“Anyone who may get in a car and drive like that is legitimate,” Jaynes declared.

“Being male or female has not one thing to do with it.”

Jaynes is convinced the day will come when women triumph behind the wheel and likewise on the World Poker Tour.

“Say I’m a poker pro, we play 99 hands and I win them all,” he said.

“Odds are you’ll win the next one.

“That’s just the way it is.

“Anyone may win anything.

“Look at what Buster Douglas did to Mike Tyson and humans said he had no chance.”

The Hilton lists multiple Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves as a 4/1 choice, followed by Wheldon at 5/1 and Tony Kanaan and Sam Hornish Jr. at 6/1.

Patrick, Dario Franchetti, Scott Dixon and Michael Andretti are next at 12/1.

Patrick is 15/1 at the Stratosphere.

Among other drivers of interest, Buddy Rice is 15/1, Al Unser Jr. and Scott Sharp are 25/1 and Buddy Lazier is 50/1.

Ed Carpenter is the long shot at 100/1 and the field is 8/1.

Al Unser Jr Racing Image

Al Unser Jr Racing Pic

Al Unser Jr Racing Photo

Al Unser Jr Racing Picture