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Ward Burton
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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AP) - In the high-stakes world of Formula One, relationships between teammates are rare. The competition is simply too intense for drivers to socialize, and beating one another becomes the primary goal.
So Juan Pablo Montoya was more than a little surprised when he moved to NASCAR and was warmly welcomed by new teammate David Stremme.
"He became a good friend," Montoya said. "He went out of his way to help me everywhere, at all the tracks. He'd get a car from NASCAR and take me on the track and show me where to go and where not to go.
"Things like that really, really helped me."
But Stremme is apparently out at Chip Ganassi Racing, where the team has yet to pick up his option for next season. It's believed that IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti will replace Stremme next year in the No. 40 Dodge, as Ganassi has been unable to find sponsorship to keep Stremme in the car.
It has put Montoya — the clear star of the three-car Ganassi organization — smack in the middle.
"It's a sad thing and it's really hard to talk about it because I really like David," the Colombian said. "But Chip is my boss, so what can I do?"
Montoya can count on one hand the teammates, past or present, that he's gotten along with. He only needs two fingers to tally the ones who have sincerely supported him, and he said Stremme is the first since CART teammate Jimmy Vasser.
But he became buddies with Stremme, who helped Montoya on and off the track. In addition to explaining the Nextel Cup circuits, Stremme took him to popular Charlotte eateries and offered a spare bedroom anytime Montoya was visiting the shop.
And after crashing out in a fiery accident Saturday in Richmond, Montoya waited for Stremme to finish racing so the two could fly back to North Carolina together. They spent Sunday attending to team business, then traveled together to the two-day test session at Talladega Superspeedway.
Montoya gets along with Reed Sorenson, the third Ganassi driver, but will clearly miss Stremme working out of the same shop. He said he never felt this way in F1, where he was teamed with Ralf Schumacher at Williams and Kimi Raikkonnen at McLaren.
"Every year you change in racing," he said. "When I went to Williams, I had four years with Ralf and then we both left, and I didn't care much for him anyway. And then I went to McLaren for two years with Kimi, and then I left.
"This is the first time I have come to a team and somebody else is leaving and somebody else will come. I am normally the one who leaves. So this is kind of weird for me."
Montoya hopes Stremme lands another Nextel Cup ride — it's late in the free-agent season, and most of the top seats have already been filled. But Montoya said Stremme deserves a chance.
"His season has been like everybody's — up and down — but I think he's done a good job. He's very good at motivating the team and he's always been a very good team player," Montoya said. "But I've got to separate the personal relationship from the professional relationship.
"Professionally, I've got to still drive for Chip. And whoever is my teammate, I've get to get on with him and do the best job we can. Am I still going to be a good friend with David? Yeah, for sure."
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Montoya's Q&A with Auto Racing Writer Jenna Fryer:
Q: So, what's the deal with Franchitti? Is he coming to NASCAR or what?
JPM: "You've got to ask Chip."
Q: I already did. Tell me what you know.
JPM: "If you already did, then tell me what Chip said because I don't know what's going to happen. I don't even know for sure what's going to happen to David. Is he completely out? Are they trying to find another sponsor for him? I am still hopeful that it works out and he finds a drive, because he's a great guy."
Q: OK, so then let's just work under a hypothetical situation. Assuming David is out, and assuming Dario Franchitti replaces him, what do you think?
JPM: "I think if it would happen, and Dario does the same thing I did to prepare, he would be OK. He's very good. You know, it's really, really hard to know exactly how he'll do, but I think he'll be OK."
Q: But he would have to do ARCA races and Busch races the same way you did, right?
JPM: "He's got to do it. If he plans to race next season in Cup, he's got to get some racing in now."
Q: Hey, I heard that two races ago, Michael Andretti and his partner almost got into a fight with Chip on pit road. Who would win between Andretti and Chip?
JPM: "Oh, Chip. No doubt. He's a big man. And remember, Chip wears rings."
Q: Rings?
JPM: "Yeah, an Indy 500 ring."
Q: Oh yeah, and Michael Andretti doesn't have one of those?
JPM: "You said that. I didn't."
