Sunday, July 09, 2006

Juan Pablo Montoya to NASCAR


Rob Good: I am disappointed to learn that Formula 1 will be losing one of my favorite drivers to NASCAR next year. Juan Pablo Montoya has secured a deal to drive for his former boss Chip Ganassi in NASCAR for the 2007 season, and may even be in #42 car sometime this year after the F1 season is finished.

Montoya’s only stock-car experience came in June 2003 when he and four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon “exchanged” race cars for an exhibition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Montoya drove Gordon’s Chevrolet while Gordon took a spin in Montoya’s F1 car.

Juan Pablo's switch to NASCAR comes on the heels of reports that former Formula 1 World Champion and another of my favourite F1 drivers Jacques Villeneuve, an Indianapolis 500-winner himself, has expressed interest in driving in the series. Both the newly-married Villeneuve and Montoya are at the end of their current F1 team contracts with the conclusion of the present year's campaign. Most veteran observors did not feel Montoya was being courted to continue at McLaren/Mercedes with reigning F1 champ Fernando Alonso coming to the team in 2007. imagine Jacques and JPM in the same NASCAR team.....


2007 is going to be an interesting year in motorsport that is for sure.


Good luck to him.

3 comments:

Aaron Bhatnagar said...

From F1 to Nascar? Am I right in thinking that's a drop in prestige? Is Montoya so lowly rated he couldn't get a single seat ride in Indy? I only say this because I think its very rare for people to go from Saloon to single seater - F1 usually head hunts F3000 and Indy for drivers, not Nascar.

Rob Good said...

Well I agree, that is why I am disappointed. Having said that, NASCAR is massive in the USA, JPM has a good background with Chip Canassi, and JPM and his wife have a child. By going to NASCAR although it will be a pay and technology cut from F1, he will be able to spend more time at his Miami home with his family.

Anonymous said...

WTF JUAN PABLO MONTOYA IS GOING TO NASCAR THATS RIDICULAS AND I DONT KNOW HOW TO SPELL.


P.S.- MICHEAL SCHUMACHER IS GONNA WIN THE F1 CHAMPIONSHIP