WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- Juan Pablo Montoya and Kevin Harvick staged a WWE moment after the two tangled with 15 laps remaining in Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Watkins Glen International.
by far the most entertaining occurrence was the Harvick-Montoya clash. On the first turn after a restart, Martin Truex Jr. got into the back of Montoya, who climbed the track and got into the side of Harvick to send both into a spin.
As Montoya's car came to a rest, Harvick drove the front of his car to block him from continuing to the garage.
Harvick, unaware that Truex instigated the incident, then gave Montoya an inappropriate gesture that Montoya obviously didn't appreciate. The two climbed out of their cars and met on the track, with Montoya grabbing the bottom of Harvick's helmet like a football player would an opponent's face mask.
The two then had an in-your-face verbal exchange that continued until Montoya shoved Harvick in the chest.
NASCAR officials and Harvick's teammate, Jeff Burton, eventually separated the two.
"I went to Kevin and said, 'It wasn't my fault. I got hit from behind,'" Montoya said. "He started shouting and grabbing me and I don't appreciate that. I have a little respect for the guy. Well, I used to have a little respect for the guy like that, because he helped me out a lot to start with."
Felix Sabates, the co-owner of Montoya's car, visited Harvick in the garage to explain what happened and tell him he too didn't appreciate the gesture.
"I don't think Harvick wants to school him," he said. "Montoya is a kung fu expert and he would kick his ass from here to kingdom come."
For the record, neither is expected to be fined.
"I don't think they were fighting," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. "They were discussing things."
Said series director John Darby, "I thought it was cool as hell."
But this one may continue. Harvick took a shot at Montoya even after learning what happened, saying NASCAR's first Colombian driver has been running over people all season long.
Montoya still has unfinished business with Truex.
"He's p---ed at the 1 car," Sabates said. "He'll get his ass before the year is over. And if he doesn't, I will. That boy ain't got no brain, anyway."
by far the most entertaining occurrence was the Harvick-Montoya clash. On the first turn after a restart, Martin Truex Jr. got into the back of Montoya, who climbed the track and got into the side of Harvick to send both into a spin.
As Montoya's car came to a rest, Harvick drove the front of his car to block him from continuing to the garage.
Harvick, unaware that Truex instigated the incident, then gave Montoya an inappropriate gesture that Montoya obviously didn't appreciate. The two climbed out of their cars and met on the track, with Montoya grabbing the bottom of Harvick's helmet like a football player would an opponent's face mask.
The two then had an in-your-face verbal exchange that continued until Montoya shoved Harvick in the chest.
NASCAR officials and Harvick's teammate, Jeff Burton, eventually separated the two.
"I went to Kevin and said, 'It wasn't my fault. I got hit from behind,'" Montoya said. "He started shouting and grabbing me and I don't appreciate that. I have a little respect for the guy. Well, I used to have a little respect for the guy like that, because he helped me out a lot to start with."
Felix Sabates, the co-owner of Montoya's car, visited Harvick in the garage to explain what happened and tell him he too didn't appreciate the gesture.
"I don't think Harvick wants to school him," he said. "Montoya is a kung fu expert and he would kick his ass from here to kingdom come."
For the record, neither is expected to be fined.
"I don't think they were fighting," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. "They were discussing things."
Said series director John Darby, "I thought it was cool as hell."
But this one may continue. Harvick took a shot at Montoya even after learning what happened, saying NASCAR's first Colombian driver has been running over people all season long.
Montoya still has unfinished business with Truex.
"He's p---ed at the 1 car," Sabates said. "He'll get his ass before the year is over. And if he doesn't, I will. That boy ain't got no brain, anyway."
