Well if you haven't heard... Juan Pablo Montoya will be leaving F1 at the end of the year to race in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. He will be taking over the #42 Dodge/Texacoo car for Chip Ganassi. He's going back to Ganassi after he was his original team owner over in the INDY racing league where he won a 1999 Championship and then the Indy 500 in 2000.

This is the first time that F1 Driver will change to be a FULL TIME NASCAR driver.

It's kinda shocking but I think it's going to be a GREAT thing. I began to follow F1 after JPM went from Indy to F1.... so to now have him going to NASCAR which i watch regularly.. is going to be interesting. I'm going to have a 'new fave' driver to add to my list. It's also i think might help NASCAR open up the doors to other Hispanic drivers and fans. It's a very good thing.

So next year we'll see a Hispanic Driver (driving Full time and not just a couple races in Busch Series), a Black Driver/Bill Lester; driving a couple more races and *maybe* going full time in the NEXTEL CUP series (not just Busch) and a Japanese car (Toyota) starting out.

The other rumor going around is that Jaques Villanueve is also coming over to NASCAR from F1.

Anyway what do you all think? I know Tommy's as shocked as I was!!! Maybe I can finally make you like NASCAR! LOL Daytona 500 in Feburary anyone???

 

He must have been really practicing those left turns.

 

I really don't know how much more can Juan Pablo make in Nascar and I really doubt this is true by any way but I could be wrong. I don't think they would degrade that much. (MY OPINION)

 

Montoya was never in the Indy racing leage as a full time driver . He just raced in the indy 500 one time. he was a full time driver in champ car series which was known as Cart, which is the championship he won. But i think its a great thing for nascar. only time will tell if he will be good or not. Ganassi is already setting up dates for him to race in a bush car later this year and they also want to get him into at least one nextel cup race this year but neither will happen until F1 season is over. I think he made the best choice by leaving F1 because Mclaren Mercedes was never going to keep him even with the almost certain departure of raikkonin to either ferrari or renault Mclaren has made it pretty clear they would rather take their chances with their new upcoming star Lewis hamlton from gp2 and his only other options would have been maybe Team Red bull racing or possibly a drive with Williams again. But neither of those teams would give him a realalistic chance of winning.

 

IMO NASCAR is anyone can do that. Pull any trailer trash redneck that knows how to drive slap on a sponsorships, helmet, chevy car and away you go .F1 is where its at you gotta really know how to drive to do that. Thats real racing if you ask me

 

Shocked, dismayed, disappointed, disbelief, sadness.

I've been a big fan of JPM and to see his career take a nosedive from F1 into NASCAR makes me want to cry.

 

Well, that's the expected reaction from a fan's point of view. From a driver's point of view, however, after a while it gets boring for your race results to depend 98% on your equipment. Formula 1 is far too dependent on what happens during winter testing and Fri/Sat versus what happens when the "star" driver is at the helm on race day.

JPM leaving F1 is the start of the demise of what we consider the "highest level of racing in the world". NASCAR has brought to attention the importance of competition in the world of racing. F1 in it's current format HAS NONE.

NASCAR offers FAR more competition and excitement (again, from the driver's POV) and more racing (50+ races). Formula 1 drivers are like Hollywood movie stars, and they're often blamed for stuff they have no control over. Ever think JPM just wants to get back to real racing?

Alex's take on what would fix F1:

1) Go to one tire manufacturer. (Fixed in 2008)
2) ELIMINATE TRACTION CONTROL
3) Remove restriction on tires (width and ribs).
4) Severly restrict aero and enforce split rear wing design.
5) Remove all engine guidelines/restrictions except induction and capacity.
6) See #2

F1 cars need more power, more mechanical (tire) grip, and LESS AERO, that is how passing occurs. Those who can use all 900hp will win the race, not those who can keep their foot planted in the corner while the electronics does all the work.

 

Wow, I can't even understand what your saying AND I'm impressed.....

Fu@#ing race car drivers.....

 

I think JPM would whether stay in F1 then NASCAR, if he found himself a ride. After what happened in Indy last weekend, he probably got blackballed by the F1 teams. I see this move as JPM's final option.

And regarding your F1 improvements, I agree. F1 used to be about technological advances, not cost savings. Screw costs and let the engineers invent and innovate.

 

1- Yes sorry i meant to say CART when in reality i typed out Indy. My bad.

2- The actual interviews have stated and I quote fromFoxSportNet.com

Quote:

His real education might begin later this year, as Montoya may enter a few Busch Series races after the conclusion of the F1 season. He also will drive in the majority of Busch races next year to gain additional experience.