Danica Patrick brushed off comments made by former Sprint Cup driver Kyle Petty that Patrick is "a marketing machine" and that fans have "bought into the hype of marketing, to think she's a race car driver." 

"It's funny how he said I can qualify but can't race," Patrick told espn.com. "Those of you that actually watch what I do would know that I can't qualify worth a crap, and in the race things go much better. So it's a little bit funny, but the most important thing to me is that I can keep my team happy. We're moving in the right direction. GoDaddy is happy."

"When you walk out into the garage or walk around the track and meet a little girl who wants to grow up to be like you, you're doing something right."

Petty offered his opinions during a three-part interview with Matt Clark on SPEED's "Race Hub" this week, reported espn.

 "The King (Richard Petty) always had that stupid saying, but it's true, 'Lots of drivers can drive fast, but very few drivers can race.' Danica has been the perfect example of somebody who can qualify better than what she runs. She can go fast, but she can't race. I think she's come a long way, but she's still not a race car driver. And I don't think she's ever going to be a race car driver."

When asked why, Petty responded, "Because I think it's too late to learn."

Patrick, 31, is 27th in points during her rookie season in the Sprint Cup Series. She earned the pole for the season-opening Daytona 500 and finished a career-high eighth, the best result for a female in the Great American Race. Patrick, who competes for Stewart-Haas Racing, also became the first female to lead a green-flag lap on NASCAR's top tour. Patrick finished 10th in the 2012 Nationwide Series standings.