Danica Patrick vows to be the "honey badger" of NASCAR

(CBS/AP) It's official. Danica Patrick is a full-time NASCAR driver now and her Daytona 500 debut is just six weeks away.

So what's her approach? Apparently to be like a certain carnivorous mammal that became an Internet sensation in 2011.

"The honey badger, he takes what he wants," Patrick said on Thursday. "And that's how I'm going to be this year, like a honey badger."

Patrick was referencing the popular YouTube video about a honey badger and its lack of regard for others as the approach she plans to take on the track this season. Patrick raced clean for most of the past two years, but tended not to push back when shoved on the track.

Of course, the mammal moniker has already been taken in the sports world. LSU's All-American cornerback and Heisman finalist Tyrann Mathieu was crowned the "Honey Badger" for his fearless play.

Patrick plans to emulate that gridiron fearlessness on the Daytona track. And she doesn't seem nervous about her lack of NASCAR experience.

"Obviously it's the biggest race of the year, I'd really like to run well and I don't just want to be here," she said. "I want to run well."

Like a honey badger.