Final chapter of this Danica diary

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- This is my final Danica Patrick column or blog. Call it Patrick Part 35.

The number is fitting since Patrick finished 35th Saturday in the Drive4COPD 300. Had she finished as high as 34th, I probably would write Parts 36 and 37.

For months, newspapers and Internet sites have been writing about, and ESPN and radio and fans have been talking about, Patrick's NASCAR debut. Although she had no chance to win, she dominated the publicity.

You can blame the media. At the Automobile Racing Club of America race at Daytona International Speedway last weekend, Patrick finished sixth. Yet, according to Joyce Julius & Associates, Inc., her name was mentioned 25 more times than the winner's. I would name the winner, but I can't remember who it was.

You can blame fans. Because of Patrick the ARCA race attracted 87percent more viewers than the same race in 2009.

Also, as Patrick was introduced, the sun, which had felt like a myth all week, finally emerged. All right. The sun came out about 10 minutes before she was introduced. Still.

Or you can blame NASCAR. Television ratings and attendance have been falling for four years.

NASCAR has amended its rules to become less predictable and more appealing. But those changes will not have the impact Patrick has during this week.

Although ARCA was run on a NASCAR track, Saturday was Patrick's NASCAR debut. She came out so tentatively that her green, black and orange Chevrolet might have had a sign on the back that read, PASS ME.

But Patrick became more confident as the race wore on. On Lap 68, she was running 26th. And then there was a crash in front of her, and she nicked two cars and smacked into the wall and the impact knocked her backward across the track and over an A in the DAYTONA infield.

Her car was towed to the garage, Stall 26. The scrum standing outside was such that you would never suspect NASCAR had attendance problems. Photographers, reporters and fans groped for the best view.

We stood there for three minutes, five, 10. Security would shoo away fans and they would sneak back.

Meanwhile Patrick's crew operated on the damaged car. It looked like surgery. Nurse, get me a scalpel, scissors and a saw. Wait, there's no time. Get me a public relations rep.

Suddenly, Patrick emerged. She talked first to the group at the front, the photographers and electronic media.

As she finished, her crew began to push the damaged Chevrolet out of the stall. But our group didn't want to give up its position, and we didn't move until we were about to be run over.

Suddenly, a security man began to shout. In the back of the crowd and in the path of the car was a man in an electric wheelchair. He didn't move and none of the fans or reporters near him offered to move him. The security guy pushed through and pushed the man out of the way.

Then a public relations rep began to shout. Give Danica room or she'll leave!

Only Patrick was calm.

She said the race would give her a head start when she returns to Daytona next season. She said she became more comfortable as the race went on.

Saturday "just proves how hard it is and how much there is to learn and how good these guys are," Patrick said.

As she talked, the scrum around her grew.

A man walking past said, "What a circus."

My man, you are mistaken.

A circus has honor.