LOUDON, N.H. — Juan Pablo Montoya will have a hard time playing the role of dark horse if he keeps driving like this.
The former Formula One star will make his debut in NASCAR’s Chase for the championship from the pole after setting a track record at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday.
Montoya turned a lap at 133.431 mph on the 1.058- mile oval, breaking the mark of 133.357 set by Ryan Newman in 2003. It’s a good way to start the 10- race Chase, but Montoya cautioned it’s just a start.
“If it was a 10-lap shootout, I’d say ‘Hey, we’re pretty good,’ ” Montoya said.
The Earnhardt Ganassi Racing driver will have plenty of company from his fellow Chase drivers for Sunday’s Sylvania 300. Tony Stewart, who won the regular-season title, will start second. Kurt Busch, who started his run to the 2004 title with a win at New Hampshire in the inaugural Chase race, is third.
Montoya said he’s not going to take any unnecessary chances Sunday. There are nine races to go and one major mistake would leave him playing out the string.
“You’ve got to be very smart,” he said. “Most of cars in the Chase are going to be there. To gain points is going to be really hard, but to lose points to them is very easy.”
Footnotes.
Mark Martin, in his 27th season of NASCAR, and Hendrick Motorsports agreed to a contract extension through 2011.
• Crew chief Pat Tryson is leaving Penske Racing at the end of this season to work for Martin Truex Jr. of Michael Waltrip Racing.
The Associated Press
