| August 2006 - Montoya Leaves Team |
(July 9, 2006) - In a press conference this morning, Montoya announced he would be
rejoining his former team owner, Chip Ganassi, behind the wheel of a Nextel Cup car for
next season. Montoya won a CART championship and Indianapolis 500 in successive
years (1999 and 2000) before heading to Formula One in 2001.
The only time Montoya has ever driven a stock car was in a made-for-TV event, Tradin'
Paint, in 2003. Jeff Gordon took the wheel of Montoya's Williams-BMW while Montoya
sampled Gordon's DuPont Chevrolet.
"We'll run him in Busch and Nextel Cup next year to try and get him as much experience
as quickly as possible," Ganassi said on Sunday morning. "We'll also try to work in some
selected Busch events near the end of this season."
Montoya will bring a distinctive Latin presence to a sport mostly devoid of one.
Two days after his announcement, McLaren disgruntably sent him packing, replacing him
in the rest of 2006 grand prix with De la Rosa.
rejoining his former team owner, Chip Ganassi, behind the wheel of a Nextel Cup car for
next season. Montoya won a CART championship and Indianapolis 500 in successive
years (1999 and 2000) before heading to Formula One in 2001.
The only time Montoya has ever driven a stock car was in a made-for-TV event, Tradin'
Paint, in 2003. Jeff Gordon took the wheel of Montoya's Williams-BMW while Montoya
sampled Gordon's DuPont Chevrolet.
"We'll run him in Busch and Nextel Cup next year to try and get him as much experience
as quickly as possible," Ganassi said on Sunday morning. "We'll also try to work in some
selected Busch events near the end of this season."
Montoya will bring a distinctive Latin presence to a sport mostly devoid of one.
Two days after his announcement, McLaren disgruntably sent him packing, replacing him
in the rest of 2006 grand prix with De la Rosa.
IndySpeedway.com