Montoya goes to NASCAR!!!

RE30B#16 · Post by **RE30B#16** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:05 am

I just read on Speed Channel's website that in a shocking move, Juan Pablo Montoya has signed with Chip Gannassi to drive in the 2007 Nextel Cup series!

I thought perhaps a swap deal for SeaBass might have been in the works, but it seems Montoya has gotten tired of waiting for Ron Dennis. He apparently turned down an offer to return to Williams, which pretty much suggests that Mark Webber is bailing out on the Didcot team. Someone here posted that his Renault contract was a done deal. If that is so, then Kimi Raikkonen must be staying put. I can't see him going to Ferrari with Michael Schumacher as a teammate, and I don't believe Schumacher will retire now knowing that Fernando Alonso may be leaving the best engine chassis/situation around at the moment.

Hey, how about this for a twist: Michael Schumacher returns to Benetton/Renault on a one year contract, Raikkonen goes to Ferrari, Webber goes to Toyota, and Ralfie goes back to Williams!!

I could write bad screenplays for Hollywood, couldn't I?

Ed · Post by Ed » Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:41 am

Thanks RE30B#16 for the update, also thanks to Bryan R for alerting us via email.

Indeed Juan Pablo Montoya is leaving Formula One at the end of this season and is moving to Nascar. He will be driving the No. 42 Dodge for Chip Ganassi in the NASCAR Nextel Cup.

Ganassi believes Montoya has what it takes to compete at the top level of NASCAR. He said:

I have seen this guy adapt to car like no driver like I have ever seen. No question, he can adapt to a Cup car. He will be doing Cup and Busch. I know my team is up for it. Is it not going to be a walk in the park.

Montoya realises it will be tough but he believes it is a great oppurtunity, he said:

It is going to be a lot tougher than you think. I am glad to be here. I had a couple of options in F1, but coming here and knowing I am going to be a rookie again, to be here in America is exciting. I couldn't turn this down. I couldn't throw it away.

More from the NASCAR site

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:00 am

I refer everyone to the opening post in "Team Line Ups 2007"

mlittle · Post by **mlittle** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:13 pm

Julian Mayo wrote:I refer everyone to the opening post in "Team Line Ups 2007"

JPM prefers American burgers.

.........I'm assuming you were referring to the open-wheel and not the tin-top variety, hmm?

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 12:28 pm

mlittle wrote:
Julian Mayo wrote:I refer everyone to the opening post in "Team Line Ups 2007"

JPM prefers American burgers.
.........I'm assuming you were referring to the open-wheel and not the tin-top variety, hmm?

I just felt that he wished to be where a drivers wages could be spent on Ameican Burgers

jacfan · Post by **jacfan** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:23 pm

Monty goes to NASCAR... could be the next big Disney production. I wonder who they would get to do the voice of Monty.

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 1:33 pm

jacfan wrote:Monty goes to NASCAR... could be the next big Disney production. I wonder who they would get to do the voice of Monty.

The guy who does Homer Simpson ?

Amjad · Post by **Amjad** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:16 pm

Montoya - switch to NASCAR, what a big... VERY Big Lose to F1, even i'm not fan of Monty (i hate him) but you have to respect the good driver even when you don't like him, its just wast of talant, even im not expecting him to find a drive in top team but he may drive to MF1 or Tororosso,
I just can't accept that. and i'm realy angry

sgd · Post by **sgd** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 7:51 am

I 'm agree with Amjad -- it's very Big Lose for F1...
it's very sad. as a JPM fan i'm so sad and disappointed.
this is the worst news i've ever heard about F1.

While Giancarlo Fisichella gets a seat at (the WC team)Renault for 2007... this is just bu11 s#$% . what about is F1??

It will be interesting to look at him in NASCAR...

Julian Mayo · Post by **Julian Mayo** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 8:54 am

monty's F1 record :
was reported in the Mel Age

Ed · Post by Ed » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:17 am

Just a correction on those numbers Julian:

94 Races
7 Wins
13 Pole Positions
12 Fastest Laps
30 Podiums

Still impressive

RE30B#16 · Post by **RE30B#16** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 11:53 am

Ed wrote:Just a correction on those numbers Julian:

94 Races
7 Wins
13 Pole Positions
12 Fastest Laps
30 Podiums

Still impressive

JPM has these stats listed on UpdateF1.com:

F1 Starts: 94
F1 Poles: 12
F1 Fastest Laps: 10
F1 Points: 307
F1 Wins: 13
F1 Titles: 0

These are some darn good stats! I didn't know he had that many wins. That's as many as David Coulthard!

Ed · Post by Ed » Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:09 pm

Isn't it interesting how much different the stats are when it comes from the Internet!!

Our records show he won 7 times:

Italy 2001 (Williams)
Monaco 2003 (Williams)
Germany 2003 (Williams)
Brazil 2004 (Williams)
Britain 2005 (McLaren)
Italy 2005 (McLaren)
Brazil 2005 (McLaren)

jacfan · Post by **jacfan** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 1:36 pm

Monty will be sorely missed in F1.

RE30B#16 · Post by **RE30B#16** » Tue Jul 11, 2006 2:02 pm

Ed wrote:Isn't it interesting how much different the stats are when it comes from the Internet!!

Our records show he won 7 times:

Italy 2001 (Williams)
Monaco 2003 (Williams)
Germany 2003 (Williams)
Brazil 2004 (Williams)
Britain 2005 (McLaren)
Italy 2005 (McLaren)
Brazil 2005 (McLaren)

That does sound more correct to me. I think the other site has confused Coulthard's numbers with JPM's. In about the same career length as the great Gilles Villeneuve, Juan-Pablo Montoya has been about as successful with one more win! Impressive!!!

I hate to see good strong competitors leave the sport like that. JPM is a true racer.

What is all this

about this is another example of how NASCAR is a better series?