Juan Pablo Montoya’s decision to leave Formula One for NASCAR next season was unprecedented, and probably didn’t sit well with Europe’s largest auto-racing series.
That became apparent Tuesday when Montoya and Team McLaren Mercedes agreed to part ways immediately. Montoya, sixth in this year’s F1 standings, previously was scheduled to complete the F1 season before joining Chip Ganassi Racing, which has the Colombian pegged to replace Casey Mears in the No. 42 Dodge next season.
“I know that it will be a tough transition, but I’m really excited about the opportunity to move into the NASCAR championship,” Montoya wrote on his website Tuesday. “I have enjoyed most of my time in Formula One, and I’m grateful for this opportunity to settle my personal life and concentrate on my future.”
Montoya, who has seven victories in 95 career F1 starts, has a home in Miami, where his wife, Connie, is expecting the couple’s second child in September. Within a month, Montoya likely will begin driving in the Busch Series for Ganassi.
“We have agreed that with so many things happening in Juan Pablo’s life right now, he should take some time out of the car and prepare professionally and personally for the future,” Ron Dennis, CEO and chairman of the McLaren Group, said on Montoya’s website.
Giant plus for NASCAR
The significance of Montoya’s decision to compete in Nextel Cup was felt immediately. NASCAR not only inherited one of the world’s most educated and talented drivers, it gained countless South American and European race fans.
“He’s a world-class driver,” Cup veteran Mark Martin told reporters at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “From F1 to come to NASCAR is a real compliment to all of us.”
Montoya, 30, will become the first F1 driver to compete full-time in NASCAR, but he is no stranger to American motorsports. Racing for Ganassi, Montoya won the CART championship as a series rookie in 1999 and captured the 2000 Indianapolis 500 in his first start at the Brickyard. He won his first CART race, the 1999 Long Beach Grand Prix, in his third career start.
“Everybody knows who he is and how talented he is, so I think that will be really great for the sport,” NASCAR’s Matt Kenseth said from Indy. “Everybody’s reaction, from who I’ve talked to, has been really excited about it and thinks it’s really cool.”
A different feel
Montoya knows he has a lot to learn about stock cars to become competitive.
“I will need to learn the limits of the car … learning to time yourself and slow yourself down,” he said on the Speed network. “I’m used to cars with a lot of grip and a lot of tire and you have your foot to the ground.
“In (stock) cars, I think timing is very important and it’s a lot about the tires and being able to hook up with the tires. In a way, I think (NASCAR) racing is very technical. It’s very competitive. One week you can be running in the top 10, the next week you’re 30th and you don’t even know why. NASCAR by itself is such a big challenge.”
That challenge could attract other big-name open-wheel drivers such as Danica Patrick of the Indy Racing League and Champ Car’s A.J. Allmendinger, who lives in Thornton.
“There’s a great demand for drivers that can get it done and right now,” Martin said. “When you look around, the litter is picked over pretty well.”
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
