Longtime Roush employee hired as Patrick's car chief

Credit: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

As Danica Patrick prepares for her Sprint Cup debut, her team continues to come together. Stewart-Haas Racing has hired Roush Fenway Racing veteran Todd Ziegler as car chief for Patrick’s No. 10 GoDaddy.com team, Fox Sports’ Lee Spencer reported Friday.

Ziegler will manage the No. 10 crew and oversee the setup of Patrick’s cars. He will report to competition director and interim crew chief Greg Zipadelli.

Ziegler comes to Stewart-Haas Racing after 13 years at Roush Fenway, most recently working with Greg Biffle’s No. 16 team. Ziegler was offered the opportunity to rebuild the team, but he turned it down to take the job with Stewart-Haas Racing, according to the report.

“This opportunity came up and it seemed perfect for me,” Ziegler said. “I went to Stewart-Haas with an open mind and everyone was so welcoming. I’ve never been treated like that before. I feel their enthusiasm and with Danica just starting out in Sprint Cup the timing was right.”

Ziegler sees the potential in Patrick, who is making the full-time move to NASCAR this year after seven years on the IndyCar circuit.

“I haven’t met her yet, but she’s made great strides over the last year,” Ziegler said. “It’s going to be great for the sport. I’m really excited to get started.”

Patrick will make her Sprint Cup debut at the Daytona 500 on Feb. 26. In addition to a full-time schedule in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports, she will run 10 races in the Sprint Cup Series for Stewart-Haas Racing.