Danica Patrick slams NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. for 'insensitive' and

Former IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick publicly criticized Martin Truex Jr. for the way that he addressed the death of his former partner, Sherry Pollex.

Pollex passed away on Sunday after a lengthy battle with ovarian and lung cancer that began in 2014.

Patrick, who is now an analyst with Sky Sports’ F1 coverage, lambasted the tone of Truex’s statement as being ‘insensitive’.

‘I avoid negativity on social at almost all costs. Almost…’ Patrick wrote in a post on her Instagram story on Monday.

From the very minute of her diagnosis, Sherry was determined to not only fight ovarian cancer with everything she had but also make a difference in the lives of others battling this terrible disease,’ Truex wrote.

‘Sherry’s passion for making a difference in the lives of others was inspiring to everyone. Through her tireless charity work for so many years, her legacy will live well beyond our lifetimes and continue to help countless families who are battling ovarian and childhood cancer.

‘I would like to extend my deepest condolences to her entire family, who have shown incredible strength and resilience throughout her battle.’

NASCAR fans were not happy with Patrick’s handling of the situation – or the timing of her comments. They expressed their displeasure on social media.

‘To anyone who knows Danica Patrick personally. Be a GOOD Friend, go to her house, take her cell phone, and smash it with a hammer so the stupid can finally stop flowing from her fingertips. What an absolute a**hole,’ wrote one Twitter user.

‘Ok in case if anyone had any remaining doubts, Danica Patrick is just straight up a bad person,’ another wrote.

‘Danica Patrick is f***ing insufferable man,’ another user said. ‘What a weird thing to stick your nose into and post about somebody less than 24 hours after their ex has died of cancer.’

After initially getting into NASCAR through the efforts of her father Greg Pollex – who owned ppc Racing, a team in the sport’s second-division circuit – Sherry began using her business acumen to promote charities and causes close to her heart.

She was instrumental in founding ‘Catwalk for a Cause’ – an annual charity fashion gala in the sport that has raised more than $4million to battle childhood cancer since it was founded in 2010.

NASCAR released a statement saying, ‘NASCAR is saddened to learn of the passing of Sherry Pollex, whose fight against cancer and determination to help others through the Sherry Strong Foundation was an inspiration to all who knew her.

‘NASCAR and the NASCAR Foundation’s thoughts and prayers are with Sherry’s family and friends.’

Sherry’s father Greg had been racing at dirt tracks in their native Michigan before eventually transitioning into the national circuits. ppc Racing won what was then-known as the Busch Series – now the Xfinity Series – championship in 2000 with driver Jeff Green.

After moving to Florida in Sherry’s middle school years, she went on to graduate from Florida State Universit