Hot Wheels has struck a deal with the JR Motorsports team to begin sponsoring Danica Patrick's car during the Nationwide Series. Hot wheels will enjoy a primary sponsor placement in the race at Michigan International speedway on August 14th. As part of the deal, Danica becomes the first celebrity to co-design a Hot Wheels vehicle with the Hot Wheels team in El Segundo, California at the Mattel Design Center.

The new Hot Wheels ride will be called the "Danicar" (what a stupid name). The 1/64th scale car is partially inspired by an open-wheel race car and a dragster. The car looks as though those two mated, had a love child and then fed it nothing but steroids. The "Danicar" will feature "sprectraflame" paint, three different sized wheels, and adjustable wings. Look for it to hit stores in October 2010.

TheCD's Take: While this is a pretty cool initiative by Mattel and Hot Wheels to dive headfirst back into motorsport, couldn't they have made the car look a little better? What happened to the days of the Deora, Whatta Drag, and Twin Mill cars?

Photo:(AP Photo/Julie Fletcher) Source: Mattel