A season’s worth of setbacks and upcoming free agent status has IRL IndyCar Series driver Danica Patrick thinking about something she never gave that much thought to — NASCAR.

“It’s important for me to know what’s out there and who is interested in me and who will give me the best chance to win,” she told USA TODAY in a phone interview from Los Angeles, where she will be presenter at the ESPY Awards being taped Wednesday night. “NASCAR is so big, how can you ignore it?”

Patrick, 24, says it’s been a “frustrating” and “confusing” season as Rahal Letterman Racing has struggled mightily. A year after capturing three poles and leading the Indy 500, Patrick has struggled along with her team’s two other drivers who only have two top-five finishes among them.

“My priorities haven’t changed,” says Patrick, whose contract is up at the end of the season. “I still want to be a winning IndyCar driver. If I’m given an opportunity to drive for an IndyCar team and win races, I’m going to do it.”

But if the right opportunity isn’t there, she has her eye on NASCAR.

“I think I’m capable to taking on the challenge, but it would have to be with the right team and with the right deal,” she said. “Then I would consider it. Until then, I’m investigating what the interest level is.”

USA Today