Posted on 07/09/2006 9:35:58 AM PDT by TomB
Chip Ganassi and Juan Montoya will be reunited in 2007 but it won't be in open wheel racing.
In one of the most shocking career changes in recent memory, Montoya is leaving Formula 1 to drive for Ganassi in NASCAR's Nextel Cup series.
SPEEDtv.com has learned that Montoya will be named to drive the No. 41 car in a press conference this morning at Chicago.
Despite seven wins during the past six years, the 30-year-old Colombian found himself in F1 limbo because his contract with McLaren is not being renewed and no other good F1 seats were open.
The 1999 CART champion and 2000 Indy 500 winner has only driven a stock car one time and that was during an exhibition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with Jeff Gordon when they swapped cars.
"We'll run him in Busch and Nextel Cup next year to try and get him as much experience as quickly as possible," said Ganassi on Sunday morning. "We'll also try to work in some selected Busch events near the end of this season."
It's believed Frank Williams had offered his old driver a seat for '07 but that Montoya opted to turn it down.
By hiring Montoya, who has a residence in Miami, Ganassi fulfills NASCAR's diversity program for Hispanic-speaking people and greatly enhances the chances of a Cup event in Mexico City.
And please, let's not turn this into an illegal immigration thread.
Hey, sounds great to me. Good luck to Montoya!
MAN !!! I AM SHOCKED ! This is not a joke...Right?
Nope, I saw the live presser on Speed.
I couldn't believe it either.
A real coup for NASCAR and Ganassi in particular.
PING
Just more high speed paint swaping that Americans don't want to do.
Montoya has been rubbish in F1. Doesn't appear to be nearly as good a driver as he thinks he is.
He was lousy in F-1 with a lousy car.
"By hiring Montoya, who has a residence in Miami, Ganassi fulfills NASCAR's diversity program for Hispanic-speaking people and greatly enhances the chances of a Cup event in Mexico City"
F-1 is too political because the drivers not only represent a chassis manufacturer, a engine manufacturer, a tire company, but also a country. And don't forget team orders.
NASCAR is an American tradition, just like assimilating legal immigrants is a tradition.
I wish Montoya a lot of luck. He has a big challenge ahead because NASCAR is unlike the competition he has been involved with.
Juan Pablo will be good for NASCARO!
In his presser he said "there's not enough passing in F1, and if you touch wheels- you're an animal...Cracked me up...JPM is a perfect fit for NASCAR- he's a Racer First. In NASCAR you race every weekend, racers just wanna race...period.
Brilliant move by NASCAR....attract attention from the growing Hispanic market; possible expansion of the series into Latin America; draw some fans who knew JPM from CART and F1. I'll definitely watch more NASCAR with JPM there. The series suits his driving style more than CART or F1.
Juan! Why are you stepping down in competition. You've mastered the left turn already!! :)
Huh?
He won the CART championship (when it actually meant something) as a rookie in 1999.
Won the Indy 500 the next year.
Has 30 podium finishes and six F1 wins.
Finished 3rd in the F1 championship in 2002 and 2003 and never placed lower than 6th.
I'd love to know what you consider "good".
Plus, JPM and Chip Ganassi have a Mutual Admiration Society. He'll do well within the team.
7 wins in F1 is hardly rubbish.
Yep. Damn fine record for "rubbish"!
No.
He did run Jeff Gordon's ride at Indy on the F1 course a few years ago, but that's it.
And see my previous post for his "lousy" F1 record.
Are you nuts? The McLaren is one of the best cars out there. Kimi doesnt seem to be having Montoya's troubles keeping the pace. After the Renault and Ferrari, the McLaren is the best car fielded.
I said 6 earlier, I stand corrected.
It is especially impressive considering he did it during the complete dominaiton of Ferrari. With Schumi winning everything and Reubens picking up the crumbs, there wasn't a lot left for the other drivers.
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