Chip Ganassi is crazy
Pretend for a moment that your Chip Ganassi. You've just signed one of the best drivers on the planet, Juan Pablo Montoya. Guy has an Indy 500 trophy, an Indy Car season title and seven of those oversized champagne bottles you get for winning an F1 event.
So what do you do with your hot new driver?
Why, you put him behind the wheel of an ARCA ... car is not the word I'm looking for here. You know, quote-unquote cars like these right here.
In case you're counting at home, seven cars died on the track right then and there.
Comments (8)
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ARCA plate races are the only way to get experience so NASCAR will let him run the entire schedule next year. The list of development drivers that have competed at Talladega and Daytona in ARCA is too long to list.
Posted on September 28, 2006 12:49 PM
If NASCAR wants to see JPM on a plate track before it gives him his racin' license, well, then, that makes sense. Otherwise, it's nuts. There's too much risk, especially on that track with those cars.
Still: What sort of resume do you need to get a NASCAR license? I mean, winning the Indy 500 is a little different than, say, the limited late model crown at Ace Speedway.
Posted on September 28, 2006 1:05 PM
Granted, I don't think Juan'll set NASCAR on fire, but at the same time I wouldn't classify him as a development type driver in light of the fact that he did win at Indy and a F1 title. In my book, that's an indication he has some talent.
He definitely should go to the front of the line.
Ganassi might consider sidelining some of his "outstanding" drivers and at least get him a Busch ride.
Did you see the embarrassing number of main grandstand seats that were vacant at the Dover Cup race? This league needs some new attraction, and since Danica Patrick and her "girls" haven't shown up, Juan oughta be the man of the hour.
Posted on September 28, 2006 1:22 PM
I think Tony Stewart went from the IRL directly into a Cup car. Don't believe he went the junior varsity path while making the transition.
Ganassi's decision is puzzling, of course, unless Juan wants to start out conservatively and requested an ARCA ride. Dunno, but the choice is odd in light of Juan's past accomplishments.
Posted on September 28, 2006 1:40 PM
Tony ran a partial Busch schedule in '98 I believe before jumping to Cup in '99.
Posted on September 28, 2006 3:12 PM
Dustin Long checks in by e-mail:
" I talked to NASCAR officials before Sunday's race at Dover and was told that Montoya already is approved for all tracks in all series. ARCA cars more closely resmeble Cup cars (they're basically old Cup cars), so that's probably why Chip is doing this. Plus, Montoya got to test at Dega on Monday and will do so at Iowa Speedway on Friday, so that gives him time in the car and also a chance to be on the track with others."
And on the issue of Stewart going from IRL to Cup:
1996: Stewart ran 9 Busch races for Ranier/Walsh Racing; was IRL rookie of the year.
1997: Stewart ran 5 Busch races for Joe Gibbs Racing; was IRL champ.
1998: Stewart ran 22 Busch races for Joe Gibbs Racing.
1999: Stewart made Cup debut at Daytona 500.
Posted on September 28, 2006 3:26 PM
I couldn't remember if he ran in '97 or not... somehow I was thinking he did a bit. Matt Kenseth won his first career Busch race by doing a little bump and run on Tony at Rockingham in '98.
Posted on September 28, 2006 4:09 PM
And the way Tony ran in Busch early on you would have never thought he would be a 2-time Cup champion now.
Granted those ARCA crashes can be scarry, but it can't be any worse than Kathryn Legge's (I butchered the last name) crash at Road America last weekend. Montoya is much better off in an ARCA car.
Posted on September 28, 2006 4:46 PM