Montoya won't defend Mexico City victory

By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor

Sunday, April 06, 2008

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FORT WORTH, Texas – Juan Pablo Montoya won’t defend his crown when the Nationwide Series visits Mexico City in two weeks, instead opting for the rare weekend off with his family.

While the Chip Ganassi Racing driver won’t be there, several road-course veterans will be, including Sam Hornish for Penske Racing. Hornish is a rookie in the Sprint Cup Series and has run select Nationwide Series races the last two years.

“Obviously I haven’t ran one of these cars on a road course before competitively in a race so it’s a good idea for us to go down there and get a race in before we go out to Infineon in June [for Cup] and just try to do it without having any of that experience,” Hornish said Thursday. “While I’d enjoy the weekend off, we’re not going to get it so we’ll make the best of it in Mexico.”

Mexico native Michel Jourdain is in negotiations to drive the No. 32 car for Braun Racing.

“We’re looking at him,” team owner Todd Braun said. “The conversation has been had but nothing has been finalized yet.”

Braun is one of several teams opting to go with different drivers for the road-course event scheduled for April 20 in Mexico City.

Jourdain won’t be the only prolific Mexican driver in the field. Adrian Fernandez, one of Mexico’s most well-known athletes, will drive for JR Motorsports but will not be able to practice or qualify because the American Le Mans Series is in Long Beach, Calif., that weekend. Hendrick Motorsports test driver David Green will practice and qualify the car, Vice President of Competition Steve Crisp said Saturday.

Carlos Contreras, another native of Mexico with significant NASCAR experience, also could drive in the race as he has driven for Fitz
Motorsports the last few years and that team is using a variety of drivers in its No. 22 car.

As previously announced, Boris Said will drive in place of Bobby Hamilton Jr. for Team Rensi Motorsports. Patrick Carpentier will step into the No. 9 Gillett Evernham Motorsports car.

Driving for the current leader in the owners standings, the No. 33 car of Kevin Harvick Inc., will be truck regular Ron Hornaday.

Veteran road-racer Scott Pruett, who drives for Ganassi in Grand-Am, will drive one of the Ganassi cars while Kyle Krisiloff will pilot the other, team officials confirmed.

Driving for Front Row Motorsports will be Brian Simo instead of Eric McClure, McClure said.

Mexico City will be the site of Erik Darnell’s Nationwide Series debut for Roush Fenway Racing as he will drive the No. 17 car, while Craftsman Truck Series rookie Colin Braun, who has extensive road-course experience, will drive the No. 16 Roush car, according to team officials.