Juan Pablo Montoya to leave Formula One to join NASCAR

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Juan Pablo Montoya leaves Formula One to join NASCAR

Written by www.latinosportslegends.com

July 10, 2006 -- Colombian race car driver, Juan Pablo Montoya, is leaving the elite Formula One series at the end of the season, bringing star power and international appeal to NASCAR.

The 30 year old driver will reunite with team owner Chip Ganassi, with whom he had considerable success in Indy-style racing before moving up to Formula One in 2001.

Montoya joined Ganassi at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday morning, meeting with his new crew members and attending a closed-door meeting with NASCAR president Mike Helton and other series officials.

Ganassi said Montoya will drive the No. 42 car full-time next season, but may enter selected Busch Series this year after he finishes the F1 season with the McLaren-Mercedes team.

Montoya, who won a CART series championship in 1999 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 with Ganassi, will replace Casey Mears, who will drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season.

"We are thrilled to be getting a driver of this calibre to put into the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge," added Ganassi in a statement. "Juan Pablo is one of the best race car drivers in the world. "He is a former CART Champion, Indy 500 winner and Formula One driver that will bring a much needed veteran presence to our team."

Several open-wheel drivers who have tried to move to NASCAR have struggled with the adjustment. Tony Stewart left the Indy Racing League to become a two-time NASCAR champion, and Robby Gordon has three career victories. But others haven't fared as well.

The list of open-wheel drivers who flirted with NASCAR in recent years but haven't established themselves as top-level Nextel Cup material includes established drivers such as John Andretti, Christian Fittipaldi, Scott Pruett, Paul Tracy, Max Papis and Jimmy Vasser.

Ganassi said Montoya might be available to drive in selected NASCAR races, perhaps in the Busch Series, after he finishes the Formula One season with the McLaren-Mercedes team.

"He's bound by contract right now until the end of the Formula One season," Ganassi said. "We have some opportunities to do some things after that."