MONTOYA TO NASCAR

I would think another reason he made the switch is because he is based out of Miami and is expecting his second child soon. All that traveling around the world is tough for someone with a young family. It's a win-win for him in the end.

 

Sorry to pick on you Will BUT;
The skill level in NASCAR is the same as F1, don't kid yourself. Its just a different skill set.
Technology ? Nascar purposly limits it to keep competitiveness (interest) high. Costs (expenses) low .
Status; World wide no, USA ? Nascar dominates.

Maybe Rossi knows something we dont.

Dont get me wrong; I love F1. But as far as real racing, passing, and entertainment; Nascar has it all over F1.
In my formative years I just couldnt identify with " the good ole boys". Time to take another look ?
Lets all put JPMs # in the back window of our pick-em-ups, or Ferraris as the case may be.

 

So did Christian Fittipaldi, who 'went nascar' a few years ago, was going to do the entire season with Kyle Petty, then Christian disappeared into oblivion about 4 races into the season.

Imagine JPM on the road courses...

 

Since I live in the Bay Area, it would be cool to watch JPM at Infineon...

Should be interesting to see him and Jeff Gordon road race! Maybe Villeneuve will join in too.

 

amazing driver...you watching him race now? First place!!

 

On second thought maybe not. Quite possibly JPM may be part strategic move by NASCAR to try to lure more Hispanic/ethnic viewers. If this works and there becomes a fan base other than the traditional groups then he could represent a golden boy for NASCAR. If JPM cracks a Hispanic/ethnic market this could prove a very savvy move for both.

 

Nascar has a large mexican fan base Id say they even have a bush series race there.

 

now for the fun part

Ron Dennis said he will keep one of his current drivers to partner Alonso in 2007 If Montoya is out - who will can it be ? )))

 

I'd love to see JV in NASCAR. Heck, I'd like to see all the F1 drivers come here and just take over the series, lol!!!

Seriously, though, the racing is very competitive. The only flaw that I find the largest is the pit stop windows and the cautions near the end of the race. Someone who was running in 1st for a while could be sent to the back because someone wrecked and he didn't know when to pit or if there would be another crash near the end.

 

This is great news for F1, he has ruined too many races this season..

 

Damn, K. You beat me to it. Could not have said it better myself. The boys in the garage are welcoming JPM with open arms and are smart enough to realize that it's good for NASCAR to have him there.

 

Agree with you on the skill set issue. Put Gordon, Jr, or even Stewart in an F1 car and you'd have a disaster. Likewise, put Alonzo or MS in a Cup car and you will also have a disaster. Its a different skill set and a steep learning curve either direction.

As far as the technology, you are half right. NASCAR keeps it simple to also maintain control. As soon as you introduce any sort of electronics such as ABS, FI, Traction Control, etc., into the equation you invite creativity (OK, cheating) and things get out of hand.

 

Tony Stewart will kick both their butts. You didnt happen to catch the IROC race on the road course at Daytona last weekend did you??

 

Montoya's services were terminated at McLaren for 2007. I would have thought he would have landed at Renault or Red Bull. He has a terrific ability to drive, except his totally pathetic arrogance, and his never improving immaturity get in his way of being a champion. He was a definite F1 contender. I do not care for him, never have, but I find this news to be disappointing for F1. He brought the Columbian fans to the track, which despite being the most obnoxious, still added to the spectacle of F1. Possibly his wife had something to do with this decision.

Driving a NASCAR car is totally different than driving F1, or IRL/ChampCar. It is more driver intensive than F1, quoting Sir Jackie on that one, requires man handling the car on the verge of disaster 99% of the time. I just do not see JPM doing well at all in NASCAR. I predict he will go the route of a Max Papis.

 

Sorry LightGuy, but I strongly disagree!
NASCAR on the same skill level as F1? To quote one of your compatriots: "YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS, MAN!"

I am not having a pop at stockcar drivers or saying none of them can't graduate to F1, but the skills are NOT on the same level at all!
Apart from a very few road circuits (Watking Glen), the races are all on ovals with no right turn, no change of elevation, no adverse camber, no gear change and no braking. The vehicles, whilst fast (I'll give you that) are technically outdated.
I know that in NASCAR you have to master the technique of running a car which is staggered, learn about drafting, be ready to close racing (door-to-door & bumper-to-bumper), but in terms of skills used that's not comparable to F1 where you have do deal with many different road configurations, different corner radii, an enourmous amount of G forces, constant gear changes, etc... plus they race when it rains! That's another skill in itself.
To quote Jim Clark (who WON Indy and did some stockcar races): "Racing on ovals is mostly taking hundreds of left turns flat out".

NASCAR, by definition (like you said) limits technology, to the extend of being comical at times: tubular space frame in the 21st century, archaic rigid rear suspension, refuelling with churns, tire changes with trolley jacks (only one side at the time, please). Come on! Where is the sense in that?

The success and popularity of NASCAR seems to have really taken off when Tony George and CART split. There was great uncertainty for the sponsors and advertisers (both on the cars and on TV), and NASCAR got a lucky break; suddenly more TV coverage, more sponsorship, and more advertisers desoriented by the US single-seater chaos ready to pump their money in NASCAR. From being a local series for good ol' boys, the public interest across the States grew from that: it's well supported, cheap to run, easy to follow, plus it's spectacular at time. The massive pile-ups are legendary. Rescue services first class in my book - FIA take note.

NASCAR on the same level with F1? No way, although I admit that F1 is in crisis now.

 

You are so correct. NASCAR has the best and most creative cheaters in all of motor sports. If I could afford an F1 team, I'd be talking to some of those NASCAR boys about the art of rule interpretation and certainly the talent of fast pit stops. If they allowed technology, it would be too hard to catch and control. They have a formula that works very well, so if it ain't borke, don't fix it.

 

You are thinking that because it is on a road course, it must require more skill to drive?

No way. I would think that driving a 3500 pound vehicle on a high bank track at average speeds of 180 MPH+, for over three hours straight, on the verge of losing control, in a constant front and side high speed drafting situation (in NASCAR the draft is all around), potentially three abreast for laps on end, is a bunch more difficult than any road course achievement.

LightGuy was right, same if not higher driver ability level required to be a winner in NASCAR, just very very different than F1. JPM will find Daytona in February to be quite scary compared to F1. Talledaga will make him soil his suit.

 

William, I'm in total agreement with you!

When Juan first appeared on the F1 scene I didn't much care for him - I remember one year at Spa his race ended right in front of us just a bit beyond Pouhon - I thought great, the arrogant ass is out. The last year or two I actually found myself thinking this guy isn't so bad afterall - he has a very definite different style than the others. I'm not a NASCAR fan but I do hope that Ganassi car #42 will do well in the Nextel Cup. I'm sure that to leave Monaco (tax free environment) and all the fanfare to retreat to Miami and also near the Ganassi HG in NC will be a whopper of a change . . but then it may not be so bad afterall!

Good luck Juan Pablo.

Carol

Too bad this couldn't be "Tradin' Paint" for real and Jeff moves to F1 where he recently said he'd like to race!

 

If you haven't watched NASCAR in a while, I'd highly recommend the Bristol race in August. You'll see plenty of braking and gear changing on the short track. The Sonoma road course race was a great show - Watkins Glen is coming up. For an entirely different type of racing, check out the Talladega superspeedway race that is also on the schedule ahead.

The differences in track layouts make each NASCAR race a different animal. Viewed with an open mind, they can be a load of fun - even for us Euro-snob owners.

 

HOOOORAY, that is where I always thought he should race. He drives into other cars on the F1 circuit as if he were already in NASCAR. Better to ruin the races there than in F1, where that kind of driving destroys everyone's chances to race. At least people are used to it there & I hope a lot of people smash him right out of every race!! Then maybe he will recognize what he has done to so many good F1 racers.

 

Its a wonderful thing that JPM is going to NASCAR! Now he can feel what it is like to be hit. he is such a loser he will most like load up his pants and pee himself the first time one of those good ole boys open up a can of Woop A$$ on him. If you liked him crying in F1, wait till they send him into the wall in a NASCAR event.

 

Regardless of how you feel about NASCAR, you have to admit that every US F1 fan, including myself, will be watching NASCAR next year just out of curiosity.

07 will bring in new aero rules NASCAR to allow for more side by side racing and you can't discount Toyota stiring up the good ol boy yankee pot.

 

It's basically like UFC - everyone comes from different disciplines. One martial art is not necessarily better than the other. The person with the most complete package wins.

Jeff Gordon is an excellent road racer. Even if you let him drive the Renault in the French GP this weekend, he will not do well just because he is not fit enough. His neck would probably give less than 15 laps. Once again it's all about how complete a driver is.

I'm a huge F1 fan, but I think the BEST drivers in the world are the WRC guys. Now those guys are GOOD!

 

Some thoughts...

-I agree with the other guy who said this is a fantasic coup for NASCAR. Good job - I will definitely be watching some races in which Montoya is in. NASCAR is growing much faster than any other racing sport, and this will do very well for South American fans.

-Regarding NASCAR being "neck car" and low brow... well, I wonder how many here have been on a road course and on a banked oval? I've raced both (not professionally, but on track days and amateur events). While I agree that there is more innate talent required for road courses, I think there is a LOT more intensity required for the oval races.

-Regarding technology, what major innovations have there been in F1 recently? They are trying to outlaw almost everything with spec tires, spec ECU's, and spec wings (if Max gets his way). Theres probably as much engineering/tech (or more) in Audi's LM effort as there is in Williams F1 effort.

-As far as the racers being better in F1. Come on - you have to be joking as a blanket statement. I'd venture a guess that guys like Gordon would put guys like Sato to shame and would easily give guys like Button and Weber a run for their money, if not beat them handily.

Now about the skill required in F1.... maybe it requires a fair bit, but how many times do the drivers actually have to RACE for more than a few corners? Basically, someone gets in the lead, it turns into a parade, then the leader throttles back to 7/10ths and cruises home. In NASCAR its balls-to-the-wall 100% of the time. You can't let up at all.

And like it or not, two other truisms are apparent. First that there is more excitement in a single NASCAR race than a whole season of F1, and second that NASCAR is growing by leaps and bounds whereas F1 ain't. NASCAR is also picking up steam outside the USA and for good reason - its ENJOYABLE to watch. It gets boring watching 20 drivers dash for the first corner in an F1 race and that pretty much sets the finishing order, save for a couple of on-track passes and a crash here and there. F1 could learn a thing or two.

I think this is a major loss for F1 and a great win for NASCAR.

 

I agree 100%. I've never been a NASCAR fan, but will definitely be tuning in to see how JPM fares. HUGE win for NASCAR. As much as it hurts hearing it, JPM spoke the truth about getting back to true racing by leaving F1.

Good on ya, JPM! I hope he indeed is the first driver to win in multiple series. If he does take some wins in NASCAR, watch for him in ALMS...