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08-15-13, 12:13 PM
Juan Pablo Montoya's options include sports cars, IndyCar
Former CART champion is looking for a 2014 seat after losing his Cup ride with Ganassi
It wasn't supposed to be this way, eight years after Chip GanassiChip Ganassi surprised just about everyone in NASCAR by signing a Formula One driver for a Sprint Cup Series ride.
Sure, there would be a learning curve for Juan Pablo Montoya, also a former Indianapolis 500 winner. Sure, there would be struggles like that of his ominous debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2006 when he exited the race after a crash set his car ablaze. But over time, Montoya's skill behind the wheel would translate to success.
At certain moments it did. He won his first cup series race within his first six months on the job at Sonoma Raceway in June of 2007. He qualified for NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff system in 2009 during a season that was filled with 18 top-10 finishes. And in 2010, Montoya won his second career race at Watkins Glen.
But in many others, Montoya's performance continually lagged. His qualification for the Chase in 2009 was followed by three consecutive seasons where he finished no better than 17th in the point standings. In 72 starts in 2011 and 2012, he scored just two top-five finishes. He failed to finish some 37 of his 239 starts.
Now, after losing his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride with Ganassi Racing, Montoya is looking for a new challenge for 2014.
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130814/nascar01/130819925#ixzz2c3T8l7sZ
Follow us: @AutoweekUSA on Twitter | AutoweekUSA on Facebook
Former CART champion is looking for a 2014 seat after losing his Cup ride with Ganassi
It wasn't supposed to be this way, eight years after Chip GanassiChip Ganassi surprised just about everyone in NASCAR by signing a Formula One driver for a Sprint Cup Series ride.
Sure, there would be a learning curve for Juan Pablo Montoya, also a former Indianapolis 500 winner. Sure, there would be struggles like that of his ominous debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2006 when he exited the race after a crash set his car ablaze. But over time, Montoya's skill behind the wheel would translate to success.
At certain moments it did. He won his first cup series race within his first six months on the job at Sonoma Raceway in June of 2007. He qualified for NASCAR's Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff system in 2009 during a season that was filled with 18 top-10 finishes. And in 2010, Montoya won his second career race at Watkins Glen.
But in many others, Montoya's performance continually lagged. His qualification for the Chase in 2009 was followed by three consecutive seasons where he finished no better than 17th in the point standings. In 72 starts in 2011 and 2012, he scored just two top-five finishes. He failed to finish some 37 of his 239 starts.
Now, after losing his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series ride with Ganassi Racing, Montoya is looking for a new challenge for 2014.
Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130814/nascar01/130819925#ixzz2c3T8l7sZ
Follow us: @AutoweekUSA on Twitter | AutoweekUSA on Facebook