Montoya gets first crack at NASCAR competition
Busch Series Notebook
By JIM UTTER The Charlotte Observer
The waiting is just about over.
Former Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya has run Automobile Racing Club of America races and tested in NASCAR cars, but Saturday he will attempt to start his first official NASCAR race.
Montoya, who is planning to drive Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 42 Dodges in the Nextel Cup Series next season, will attempt to qualify for Saturday's Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park in Millington, Tenn. (2 p.m. Eastern, NBC).
Montoya tested a Cup car with Ganassi teammate David Stremme two weeks ago at the track.
"Memphis is a really tough race track. When I tested the Cup car there the first thing I learned was that it is a really small race track," Montoya said.
"It is difficult and tricky. I was surprised at how hard on the tires it was; it killed the tires."
Montoya qualified second and finished third in the ARCA race at Talladega, Ala. In the ARCA season finale at Iowa, he started third and finished 24th after an early race accident.
"I'm out here to learn and get ready to take over the (No. 42) in 2007," Montoya said. "Hopefully, we can bring this car home in better shape than the car from Iowa."
Busch Series Notebook
By JIM UTTER The Charlotte Observer
The waiting is just about over.
Former Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya has run Automobile Racing Club of America races and tested in NASCAR cars, but Saturday he will attempt to start his first official NASCAR race.
Montoya, who is planning to drive Chip Ganassi Racing's No. 42 Dodges in the Nextel Cup Series next season, will attempt to qualify for Saturday's Sam's Town 250 at Memphis Motorsports Park in Millington, Tenn. (2 p.m. Eastern, NBC).
Montoya tested a Cup car with Ganassi teammate David Stremme two weeks ago at the track.
"Memphis is a really tough race track. When I tested the Cup car there the first thing I learned was that it is a really small race track," Montoya said.
"It is difficult and tricky. I was surprised at how hard on the tires it was; it killed the tires."
Montoya qualified second and finished third in the ARCA race at Talladega, Ala. In the ARCA season finale at Iowa, he started third and finished 24th after an early race accident.
"I'm out here to learn and get ready to take over the (No. 42) in 2007," Montoya said. "Hopefully, we can bring this car home in better shape than the car from Iowa."
