Montoya set to quit F1 for Nascar

[smokie]

Juan Pablo Montoya will leave Formula One at the end of the season to drive in the American Nascar series in 2007.

The rest is here. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5163488.stm

[chop456]

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.  After being a big fan in his CART days, it was hard to watch him struggle in F1.  Though he's won his share of races, he's never really been able to put things together and hot-headedness has taken it's toll.

But NASCAR?

Blech. 

[knetter]

Good riddens! All he did lately was to put other people in the walls of gravel traps

[Bob U]

Surely you will miss seeing his wife in the pit lane

[Ferrari Spider]

Surely you will miss seeing his wife in the pit lane

no thanks Bob, looks like a stick-insect to me.  Bumper car roundabout racing should be right up his street.  You never know he might be invited along to the Houx Friday night bash-up.

[Fax]

This ought to be interesting if for no other reason than to see how he's greeted by NASCAR fans.
I'm certain NASCAR will give him some cheesedick good 'ole boy nickname, can't see any Busch swilling, toothless, shirtless dude at Bristol or Talladega cheering for someone named Juan Pablo.  In the grand scheme of things it does actually make some sense because NASCAR has been trying very hard for several years now to establish a foothold in the Hispanic-South American market and the presence of a household name down there like Montoya will be a huge boost to the exposure of the sport.  Can also see him doing the Memorial Day double (Indy 500 and Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte).  Can't say that I'm very fond of JPM though, my nephew tried to get his autograph in the paddock at Mid-Ohio once during the Champcar weekend and he acted like a complete pompous ass.  He's going to have to do a hell of alot more flesh pressing and public appearances than he ever did in F1.
Fax

[chop456]

Bet ya' a dollar it'll be "J.P Montoya". 

The word on the street is that this deal will be paid for by Toyota yen.

[Lorry]

From what I know of Nascar, it'll be "J P Montana"

If its announced now, serious money must be involved.

Shame he's going.  He seemed to have some talent, but never in the right place at the right time.

[Fax]

The "Mouth of the South" (DW) will have to learn what Boogety! Boogety! Boogety! is in Spanish
Yeesh! The apocalypse is truly upon us.
Toyota in Nextel Cup, Juan Pablo joining guys named Dale, Darrell and Buckshot.
Fax

[Nordic]

Bet ya' a dollar it'll be "J.P Montoya". 

The word on the street is that this deal will be paid for by Toyota yen.

Toyota and Montoya at Le Mans with a hybrid?

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns17096.html

No great fan of Montoya's, but a least he has the bottle to to his reputation on the line and race with the good ol' boys, they may as well paint a giant target on his rear bumper.

I suspect there is more to this than is being spoken about at this stage and JP will also be racing something else as well.

[Fax]

Nordic,
There could very well be a big target on his bumper...
One of Ganassi's primary sponsor's in both NASCAR and IRL is the Target department store chain. The cars are painted red & white with a big bullseye on the them.  Like Chop said, there's a big pile of Toyota money behind this, and sounds to me like Toyota wants to sell a bunch of cars in South America.  NASCAR has started to become popular with the South American crowd...Who knows.
Fax

[termietermite]

It has just been announced that Montoya will partner Scott Pruett in the Rolex 24 at Daytona

[Boorish Grobian]

Oh Christ, look out Daytona!  It'll be full of pissed up Columbians all week.  I won't miss that bunch over at IMS.
They would invade the upper deck of the pit straight stands at IMS for the GP, and the Columbian flags and air horns got old real fast.  The girls at Lollipops ought to make on fortune on this lot.
Fax