Bravo to Juan/Connie and all involved: from Autosport NASCAR shows support for Montoya NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France and a number of executives from his company visited Cartagena, Colombia in support of Juan Pablo Montoya's Formula Smiles Foundation. France spent two days in Cartagena, where he visited one of the sites where Montoya's charity is helping children in need, teaching them sports and providing them with the facilities and resources to develop their learning. As part of NASCAR's support, France presented Montoya and his wife Connie a cheque for US $25,000 coming from the NASCAR Foundation, to help the efforts of their Formula Smiles charity. "It's important for us to support Juan Pablo and the things that are important to him and his Foundation," France said. "That's why we're here. He loves his home country and he knows there's a lot of children that need to get a smile on their face as he says. So if we can play a little part in that, that's just terrific." Montoya and wife Connie said they were amazed by the support shown by NASCAR to their charity. "It's important for us to show that NASCAR cares about (the Colombian) community," Montoya said. "We've been trying to grow our charity in Colombia and we have already three projects in different cities and our plan is to have more. "NASCAR's support to our Formula Smiles Foundations shows that they're not only about racing, that they're also about people and their needs. I'm just very happy to have their support." Chip Ganassi was also in attendance, making his first visit to his driver's home country, accompanied by his partner Felix Sabates. "I'm amazed," Ganassi said while visiting the charity's project. "What Connie and Juan have done here is just incredible. God bless them and everyone that's involved in those kind of projects. We're blessed to have those kind of people. "I came here because what's important to Juan is important to me." Kyle Petty and his Victory Junction Gang Camp charity were another party involved in NASCAR's visit to Cartagena. The Petty Enterprises driver said he was impressed by the social work done by the Montoyas in their home country. "When Juan and Connie invited me I thought their Formula Smiles was an incredible program, an incredible charity," Petty said. "To have Brian France, to have Chip Ganassi, to have Felix Sabates, to have Connie and Juan as our hosts, that was a big deal for me." At least five other executives from NASCAR, including Chief Financial Officer Todd Wilson and Public Affairs manager Marcus Jadotte also took part in the visit to Cartagena. * * * * * Carol
Very well stated, I totally agree with you. Too bad there aren't more like him - I like what Kyle Petty does too. Carol
I've been a fan of Montoya's since watching him race in the Skip Barber Pro Series. Unfortunately on this board, prejudices run deep especially against drivers who challenged Schumacher...
or, in the case of Sao Paulo 2001, who seriously rattled Schumacher Michael never tried to pass Juan Pablo on the inside under braking that year and later, he always did it, when he could, by taking a different line and getting by on corner exit momentum, I noticed that countless times.
Montoya is a great man and super driver, too bad he was such a baby in F1. I miss his interviews, ummmm
