Juan Pablo Montoya

I was present for JPM's first drive in a NASCAR event. I had purchased tickets months ago and and vagaries of airlines meant that I was actually home for the race so I went deciding not to waste the $55 I had spent for the experience. I had just sat down for the beginning of qualifying when the announcer announced that JPM was attempting to qualifiy for the race. It was an exciting race won by Kevin Harvick in a last lap pass of Carl Edwards but I spent most of the race watching to see how JPM would perform. He qualified well and was fast but it looked like he was having a tough time passing on the short and narrow track at Memphis Motorsports Park. He actually caused two spins (one by J.J. Yeley) trying to force the issue in turn four (where most of the wrecks occurred). He was spun out and ended up 36th with about 100 laps to go. He was slowly picking off cars, usually passing when the car in front of him did by staying close and controlling the inside lane. Then with about 60 to go, he seemed to get it. He passed 10 to 15 cars in the closing laps of the race by beginning his move a little later. He had been trying to get under a car going into three and completing the pass coming out of four. This had not been working. He instead got the inside position coming out of turn four, maintaining it down the frontstretch and then completing the pass going into turn one. I suspect that it was his road course experience from CART and F1 that helped out here. On road courses there are often limited passing zones and passes are often set up far in advance. This is what he did.


It was interesting to watch him change his style to fit the track and the competition and be successful. If he can keep this up he will be a big success in NASCAR.