Juan Montoya knocked down another hurdle in his quest to successfully transition from open wheel to NASCAR this weekend on the road course in Mexico. Unfortunately, with just eight laps remaining he knocked out his teammate Scott Pruett in the process. The heightened drama at the finish was just a capper on a day that saw Montoya dominate early then later struggle with fuel problems. But, the Columbia-born driver rallied and claimed his first career NASCAR win by taking the checkered flag in the Telcel Motorola 200.
"It was a great day. It's big. We got this one out of the way now the next one we need to win on an oval. That's where we need to be good," he said.
Of his contact with Pruett Montoya added,"I felt really bad. Both of us needed a really good finish. He stayed wide, I went for the inside. When I was there he just turned. I feel really sorry for it."
Sunday's event in Mexico was the seventh series start for both Pruett and Montoya. While Pruett got the pole on the 2.518-mile road course, Montoya got the win. He can now add his new hardware next to seven Formula One trophies, a CART title and an Indianapolis 500 trophy.
Montoya started third on Sunday but by lap three took the lead from Pruett. On lap 44 the Chip Ganassi Racing teammates hit pitroad for what was to be their final pitstops of the day. Laps later, Montoya’s crew chief Brad Parrott radioed to his driver that there was a problem during the stop and that the No. 42 Dodge that he was piloting would have to make yet another trip down pitroad. Under the previous stop the crew was only able to get about eight gallons of fuel into the car. At the time, Parrott suspected a connecting tube broke loose.
On lap 52 Montoya was anticipating one more lap before making his stop but the first yellow flag of the day fell, giving him the break that he needed. Pitting under yellow flag conditions, Montoya’s No. 42 Havoline team spent over 30 seconds on pitroad fixing the fuel issue and putting fresh tires on their machine. Montoya took the restart in the 19th position.
With new tires Montoya, the Colombian star who jumped from Formula One to NASCAR late last season, was able to quickly move through the field. A series of textbook perfect passes found him marching to the front. By lap 70 of the scheduled 80 he was able to pass road racing ace Boris Said for the second position. Then he committed the big sin.
Two laps later, trouble for team Ganassi. Montoya showed the aggression that caused such a stir in his Formula 1 career. Or was it impatience? Whatever it was, entering turn one, Montoya dove deep to the inside in an attempt to get the favored line and instead got into the right rear quarter panel of Pruett’s machine, spinning his teammate out and very nearly wrecking himself in the process. However, while Pruett spun, Montoya continued with minor left front fender damage taking the lead 72nd lap. Montoya then held off Denny Hamlin to win the Telcel-Motorola 200 on Sunday for his first NASCAR Busch Series victory.
"I'm very sorry with what happened to Scott," the Colombian-born Montoya said. "I was there. I thought he saw me. I had nowhere to go. I thought, 'Oh, my god.' I tried to back off but it was too late."
Scott Pruett got out of his car and stumbled for words. With less than nine laps left, he’d seen his chances for victory go up in smoke South of the Border, and the creator of said “smoke” was none other than his own teammate.
Pruett was angry with the former Formula One star after the race. "There's 15 laps to go, he's faster, we'll work it out," Pruett said. "Better to have two cars at the front than to even take a chance. He just tapped my corner and spun me. It wasn't even close to having the line or not having the line.
"It was just getting in over his head, getting anxious, and making a bad mistake. Of all the people to take you out -- your teammate,'' Pruett said. "That was just lowdown, nasty, dirty driving.'' That was G-Rated compared to the swear words he used later to describe how politely Montoya left him hanging.
Hamlin, right behind the two Chip Ganassi Racing drivers at the time, said it was a tough call. “I wouldn’t call it dirty driving, but it was a bit aggressive,” Hamlin said. “Juan had the fastest car and he would have taken the lead sooner or later." Hamlin said it was a little too much aggression at that time of the race. "He was overzealous.”
Montoya, the 2000 Indianapolis 500 winner, said he would apologize to Pruett once he could talk to him, while his owner tried to toe the line. "I probably need to take a good look at that before I make a comment," team owner Ganassi said. “I’m really glad we won, but really upset that we took out a teammate,” said Parrott.
One month ago Montoya and Pruitt were smiling, happy teammates who shared the winning car at the Rolex 24 but today it was a much different story. I’m betting it was a fun ride home on the Ganassi team jet.
“I think everyone in NASCAR has been really good to me and the fans have been amazing. First off, I’m just really happy to be part of NASCAR. I’m enjoying myself a lot and enjoying the racing,” Montoya said.
Well, Scott can agonize over it all he wants, but that bad driving was rewarded with a trophy in Victory Lane. Montoya could apologize till the cows come home, and his crew can cry themselves a river (Parrott was so emotional he looked like he was about to bawl after the contact), but the bottom line is the win-at-all-costs mentality Montoya represents left him shining in the spotlight. Of course, in the winners’ circle the driver uttered all the usual apologies you get out of a scenario like the one that was caused; I didn’t mean to do it, I feel bad that it happened, and I wish things could have turned out differently. Well, you can draw your own conclusions, but one look at Montoya facing a crowd that seemed ready to charge the track and form a giant mosh pit in the man’s honor and it hardly seemed he was apologetic. Perhaps ecstatic and relieved were more appropriate words to use for those defining moments in which Montoya basked in the glory of his own popularity.
“I’ve never met a driver that puts so much pressure on himself like he does,” said Ganassi’s minority owner Felix Sabates of his driver on ESPN’s NASCAR Countdown. “He’s so competitive. Yesterday, he missed the pole by just a fraction and he was very upset after that. Threw his glove down on the ground. I like that; I like to see someone with a fire in him. He wants to win, he doesn’t want to lose.”
That’s not a surprise, for after years of success in every level of motorsports he’s competed in, Montoya’s developed both the attitude and understanding that he’s the best. It’s the ego most superstars possess in order to advance themselves to the next level; some keep it under wraps, others like Montoya wear it like a proud badge, but rest assured, all the top athletes need to have it to make sure they stay head over heels on top of everyone else. Defying expectations quicker than Al Gore could get applauded at the Oscars last week, Montoya has taken a laundry list of goals and gone full speed ahead as if he’d skipped from kindergarten straight to high school graduation.
Race competitively in NASCAR’s version of baseball AAA, the Busch Series, with minimal experience in stock cars? Check. Lead laps extensively in a race as a rookie in Nextel Cup? Check (Montoya paced the field for much of his Gatorade Duel 150 at Daytona). Win a race in one of NASCAR’s top three series? Check, effective Sunday afternoon.
"Pruett admitted Montoya had the fresher tires and faster car and would have been able to get by before it was all over."
Maybe he should have admitted it in turn one and given Montoya more room. You see what's missing from all the analyses I have cut and pasted in this post from the sources noted below is that Montoya is an F1 racer. F1 is a gentleman's sport. If someone has the inside, you give them room.
NASCAR fans will have a hard time understanding this, but that is where Montoya is coming from. That is why Schumacher hated Montoya. Montoya would not bow down to Schumacher. Montoya would make contact in F1 where most drivers fear contact.
Some questioned whether or not Montoya would mix it up in NASCAR. I had no doubt and now he has shown it.
Now we will see how much class NASCAR fans have. Get ready. I can see the double standard coming.
In the sport that revered Dale Earnhart, NASCAR nation will be all over Montoya. Dale was "The Intimidator." And more were for him than against him. But Montoya will not be seen that way. Why?
Race. NASCAR fans couldn't stand Yankees. Then they got used to Alan Kulwicki, Jimmy Spencer and Matt Kenseth. NASCAR fans still hate Californians. They are getting used to Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. NASCAR fans can't stand open wheel Drivers. Tony Stewart finally won many over.
But where is the core? In the Dale Jr. camp. Hey this isn't a bash on either Dale, its just facts. Both Dales have shown class. But both Dales are good old North Carolinians, southerners, good ole boys.
Now here is the clincher. NASCAR isn't ready for a Columbian. That's a shame. Because my former favorite F1 driver is one hell of a racer and was undoubtedly the best driver on the track today. But it is going to be really tough wearing Jackie Robinson's shoes into the NASCAR arena from this point on.
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