In a stunning move today Chip Ganassi Racing has announced that Juan Pablo Montoya he's leaving F1 to race full time in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series in 2007. Montoya, a Columbian driver, will draw not only a world-wide audience to NASCAR but also will give more of an air of credibility to the American series that it dearly needs. And should drive in the Mexican Busch Series race, a ratings bonanza for NASCAR. Also this move fits well into NASCAR's drive to get a more diverse audience, one wonders how much $$$ the series itself dumped into getting the popular driver to come and race here. One of the reason Montoya sited for wanting to make the jump was his family being able to stay with him in the trailer the day of the race. The importance of this can't be underestimated, this is an important day in racing history and not only for US racing history, and will totally overshadow today's race in Chicago. Ganassi and Montoya alluded to Montoya racing in some Busch Series races maybe even this year. I'm predicting a successful season next year for Montoya who should place highly within the first few races.
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DaveK
Publisher, Slot Car News
Worth a look but no news, Montoya's official site
