The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2: Formula 1 Pit Passes, Michael Douglas

Date: November 21, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Recorded at: Fontainebleau Hotel, Las Vegas

Episode Overview

This episode, broadcast live from Las Vegas during F1 weekend, fuses sports talk, pop culture, and humor. Dan and the crew are joined by Academy Award-winner Michael Douglas, a passionate auto racing fan, for a rich discussion about his lifelong connection with motorsports—including F1, Monaco, and personal stories involving Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. The episode also takes lively detours into NFL analysis, social media quirks, Vegas escapades, and some comedic banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Formula 1 in Las Vegas, Viewing Experiences, and Pit Passes

• The crew discusses prime ways to watch an F1 race in Vegas—comparing grandstands, suites, infield areas, and rooftop views.
  • [06:36] Seaton: "If you could watch the race from one place, where would it be? A rooftop here, a casino balcony, maybe the grandstands…"
  • [07:16] Dan Patrick: "I'm a TV guy… I want to watch it on TV. Feels like TV captures it better."
• Paulie explains the exclusivity and appeal of F1's pit lane and paddock passes vs. NASCAR's "hot passes." He highlights the fast pace of F1 pit stops and the barrier separating fans from danger.
  • [09:19] Dan Patrick: "But wait, there's a pass where I’m allowed to walk around while they're changing tires?"
  • [09:22] Paulie: "Yes, but you're on the other side of the barrier... It's the best if you can get it."
• Jokes about whether Michael Douglas or Frank Caliendo could get them premium access.

2. Social Media Algorithms & Facebook Feeds

• The group riffs on how pausing while scrolling changes your feed and leads to unexpected recommendations—bodybuilding, cliff diving, etc.
  • [05:02] Paulie: "Don't blame your Facebook feed."
  • [05:55] Paulie: "If you slow down for even less than two seconds, it reads it and then starts feeding you more of that."
• Humorous confessions about strange feeds and interests.

3. Las Vegas Hotel Life & F1 Sounds

• Fritzi talks about enjoying Vegas from the comfort of his room, playing with the automatic curtains and eating KitKats.
  • [10:19] Dan Patrick: "I just can’t get it out of my head that you spend time in your room, eating KitKats and playing with the curtains."
  • [10:32] Fritzi: "It's a very cool feature…the view that you get to see when the drapes come open."
• Seaton describes hearing the F1 cars from his room and the thrill of seeing the track from his window.
  • [10:50] Seaton: "Last night I got back and I could hear…at the very end of the strip, you could see part of the track and the cars were going by. It was really cool."

4. NFL Analysis & Coaching Tenures

• Dan and callers debate the job security of long-tenured NFL coaches (McDermott, Tomlin, Harbaugh) amid playoff shortcomings.
  • [14:40] Dan Patrick: "You’re not getting rid of Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh… These guys’ll decide when they want to move on."
  • [15:20] Jake (Caller): "Have you ever seen a quarterback with this much talent get so little support?" (on Josh Allen)
  • [15:53] Dan Patrick: "Josh Allen’s being asked to be Superman every week…he can’t do it alone."
• Stats and playoff implications for the Rams, Seahawks, Chiefs, Cowboys, Buccaneers, and more.

5. Expressions of Compliment: “Thicker Than a Snicker”

• Fun, cross-cultural discussion of colloquial compliments:
  • [17:00] Fritzi: “This guy…said, 'Man, she thick as train smoke'...”
  • [17:22] Seaton: "If someone says she’s thick, yes, that’s a big compliment."
  • [17:30] Paulie: "Tonight, Marvin, I say to my wife, 'Hey baby, you’re thicker than train smoke.' That’s probably not gonna go well for me."

6. Feature Interview: Michael Douglas on Racing, Friendship, and Cars

Beginnings: Hot Rod Club & Steve McQueen

• Michael recounts his high school hot rod club (The Downshifters) and early racing interests.
  • [24:30] Michael Douglas: "In high school, I was a member of a hot rod club—the Downshifters…"
• Recalls Steve McQueen gifting him a Porsche after a film shoot, and their legendary Willow Springs driving sessions:
  • [25:01] Michael Douglas: "Steve held up these keys and said, 'Here you go, buddy'…and he gave me the Porsche…"
• Brushes with real racing: Michael drove at Jim Russell Racing School but realized during a crash, “these guys are serious and I’m going to get myself in trouble.”
  • [27:20] Michael Douglas: “…spun the car around and went into a wall under a yellow flag…that was the end of my racing career.”

Paul Newman, Racing Culture, Monaco & F1 Access

• Michael admires Paul Newman’s driving and charitable work, but notes his reserved personality.
  • [28:34] Michael Douglas: "He was an interesting guy—so talented, nice, but removed…"
• Name-drops the best place he’s seen a race: Monaco, even getting, thanks to special passes, to walk through the tunnel during the race.
  • [29:18] Michael Douglas: "Monaco is tough to beat…walking through the tunnel during the race was an extraordinary experience."
• Epic story of a lap around Barcelona F1 track in the pace car with King Juan Carlos.
  • [30:25] Michael Douglas: "I didn’t realize there was a camera…King Juan Carlos took off like a bat…G-force on braking, your neck is unbelievable…"

On Race Car Drivers as Athletes

• Michael vouches for the high level of fitness required in both F1 and NASCAR, referencing hand-eye coordination, endurance, and the physical closeness of NASCAR drivers.
  • [32:25] Michael Douglas: “Yes, the discipline…both, both races, I think need tremendous physical shape…”

Car Collections: McQueen’s Porsche, Leno, and Letterman

• Michael and Dan compare notes on car collecting, mentioning Jay Leno, Dave Letterman, and a mutual friend's Miles Davis’s Ferrari.
  • [38:02] Michael Douglas: "Have you ever seen Jay Leno's collection?"
  • [38:45] Dan Patrick: “If I gave you one car for the garage, you tell Catherine I got this car…”
  • [38:46] Michael Douglas: "The new Aston Martin is awfully nice..."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Michael Douglas, on early racing:
  • [24:30] “In high school I was a member of a hot rod club, the Downshifters…We had jackets.”
• On Steve McQueen’s generosity:
  • [25:04] “He held up these keys…‘Here you go, buddy.’ And he gave me the Porsche, you know, which is more money than I made in the whole movie.”
• Racing near-miss:
  • [27:20] “…went into a wall under a yellow flag…that was sort of what I realized…these guys…are pretty serious and I’m gonna get myself in trouble.”
• Monaco’s magic:
  • [29:18] “Monaco is tough to beat…I was able during the race to walk through the tunnel. An extraordinary experience.”
• On G-force with King Juan Carlos:
  • [30:25] “He took off like a bat...and the G-force on braking, your neck is unbelievable...I didn’t realize I was on screen the whole way around the track.”
• On car collecting:
  • [36:00] “I used to (collect), but no, that’s one vice I’m trying to (avoid)…”
• On drivers as athletes:
  • [32:25] “The amount of training they go through is staggering…Yes, the discipline…”

Segment Timestamps for Easy Reference

• [06:36] – F1 Vegas viewing spots & poll question
• [09:19] – Pit/paddock passes explained
• [10:50] – F1 sounds from the hotel room
• [14:40] – NFL head coach longevity discussion
• [15:53] – On Josh Allen’s struggles/support in Buffalo
• [17:00] – "Thicker than a Snicker"/using compliments across cultures
• [24:30]–[39:18] – Michael Douglas interview (racing stories, F1 culture, car collecting)
• [47:06] – NFL must-win games, poll results
• [49:09] – Fritzi’s “Rhyme Time” Vegas-themed puns

Tone & Style

• Conversational, fast-paced, playful
• Equal parts sports analysis, personal anecdotes, pop culture, and comic relief
• Michael Douglas's presence elevates the stories’ depth and “star power,” but the crew’s rapport and irreverence shine throughout

Essential Takeaways

• Formula 1 as a Vegas Event: There’s energy, exclusivity, and dizzying hospitality around the city, but up-close pit access is ultra-exclusive and highly valued.
• Michael Douglas’s Racing Passion: His love for cars is longstanding and personal, shaped by hands-on experiences, friendships with racing icons, and a front-row seat to motorsport history.
• Sports and Culture: The Dan Patrick Show deftly blends elite sports discussion with relatable, human moments—even when talking about luxury cars, social media quirks, or Vegas antics.
• Humor & Heart: Whether debating NFL coaching moves or joking about Facebook algorithms, the vibe is always warm and inclusive—a hallmark of Dan Patrick’s show.