Montoya completes first NASCAR season as top rookie

Schwartz Fan · 11-19-2007, 01:03 PM

Montoya completes first NASCAR season as top rookie
SCENEDAILY - 09:06AM ET MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2007 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year award after finishing 15th in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The former Formula One driver earned one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes in his debut NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, he finished the year 20th in the standings.

"I think it went pretty good," he said of his season. "It's a bit of everything, you know. Off and on, I think that everybody at Ganassi did an amazing job. It's one of those deals ... I think it was more ours to lose than win. So I think [it] came out pretty good.

"I think more important, we had a race win. ... For record books and stuff, it's pretty good that I won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year."

While Montoya has won the Indianapolis 500 and Formula One races, as well as rookie honors in other series, he admits it felt a little odd to come into NASCAR and be as experienced a driver as he was, but also to truly be a rookie.

"Being a rookie with the experience I had, is very different," he said. "I had no stock-car experience, but from my open-wheel background, I've raced about everything you can race in."

He says that it's important that his team improved over the course of the season and that will boost them heading in to 2008. Crew chief Donnie Wingo says that Montoya has adapted to the series quickly and has learned to drive cars that aren't handling well.

As to the team, he says that they enjoyed winning the rookie honor - again.

"It's pretty much the same group that won it with [Jamie] McMurray [in 2003], so we're still hanging in there," Wingo said with a smile.

Montoya completes first NASCAR season as top rookie

Scooters · 11-19-2007, 09:06 PM

Congratulations, Juan. Its going to piss off a few people but hey, you earned it!

admin · 11-19-2007, 09:40 PM

I feel like he did a good job going from a F1 car to a heavy stock car, and feel like he will only improve next year and after.

revvinjim · 11-20-2007, 04:02 AM

Originally Posted by admin

I feel like he did a good job going from a F1 car to a heavy stock car, and feel like he will only improve next year and after.

He learned more quickly than I would have thought. I noticed that Hornish, Jr. and Villeneuve are having problems getting used to the fact that the NASCAR machines don't slow down as easily when coming up behind traffic. I know they will learn, but will the learn as quickly as Montoya?

wopher · 11-20-2007, 04:41 AM

Congrats to you Montoya, you did a heck of a job. Look out next year!

Scooters · 11-21-2007, 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by revvinjim

He learned more quickly than I would have thought. I noticed that Hornish, Jr. and Villeneuve are having problems getting used to the fact that the NASCAR machines don't slow down as easily when coming up behind traffic. I know they will learn, but will the learn as quickly as Montoya?

Two or three 'lessons' from the other drivers should get the point across nicely.

admin · 11-21-2007, 04:27 PM

If you will remember, Montoya had to have a few of those lessons also.

Scooters · 11-21-2007, 04:59 PM

Don't most rookies?

11-19-2007, 01:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
Schwartz Fan Co-Administrator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The flatlands...Where dirt is for farming, clay is for racin' and asphalt is for gettin there!!! Posts: 7,439	Montoya completes first NASCAR season as top rookie Montoya completes first NASCAR season as top rookie SCENEDAILY - 09:06AM ET MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2007 - BY SCENEDAILY STAFF REPORT HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year award after finishing 15th in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The former Formula One driver earned one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes in his debut NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, he finished the year 20th in the standings. "I think it went pretty good," he said of his season. "It's a bit of everything, you know. Off and on, I think that everybody at Ganassi did an amazing job. It's one of those deals ... I think it was more ours to lose than win. So I think [it] came out pretty good. "I think more important, we had a race win. ... For record books and stuff, it's pretty good that I won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year." While Montoya has won the Indianapolis 500 and Formula One races, as well as rookie honors in other series, he admits it felt a little odd to come into NASCAR and be as experienced a driver as he was, but also to truly be a rookie. "Being a rookie with the experience I had, is very different," he said. "I had no stock-car experience, but from my open-wheel background, I've raced about everything you can race in." He says that it's important that his team improved over the course of the season and that will boost them heading in to 2008. Crew chief Donnie Wingo says that Montoya has adapted to the series quickly and has learned to drive cars that aren't handling well. As to the team, he says that they enjoyed winning the rookie honor - again. "It's pretty much the same group that won it with [Jamie] McMurray [in 2003], so we're still hanging in there," Wingo said with a smile. Montoya completes first NASCAR season as top rookie __________________

11-19-2007, 09:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Scooters VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,444	Congratulations, Juan. Its going to piss off a few people but hey, you earned it! __________________ Have you ever felt like doing this to someone?

11-21-2007, 04:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
Scooters VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,444	Don't most rookies? __________________ Have you ever felt like doing this to someone?

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11-19-2007, 09:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
admin Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4,364	I feel like he did a good job going from a F1 car to a heavy stock car, and feel like he will only improve next year and after.

11-20-2007, 04:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
wopher Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,178	Congrats to you Montoya, you did a heck of a job. Look out next year!

11-21-2007, 04:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
admin Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 4,364	If you will remember, Montoya had to have a few of those lessons also.

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