David Gilliland parked after tagging Juan Pablo Montoya
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Crew members and NASCAR officials look over Juan Pablo Montoya's No. 42 Chip Ganassi Dodge after he crashed during the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Geoff Burke
Getty Images for NASCAR
FORT WORTH, Texas - David Gilliland swore that he didn’t mean to tag Juan Pablo Montoya on lap 263 of the Dickies 500, but that didn’t mean that NASCAR didn’t penalize him.
NASCAR parked Gilliland after the accident, which left Montoya fuming and with a torn-up race car.
Gilliland didn’t tear up his race car, but NASCAR sat him for the rest of the race leaving him in 42nd while Montoya was 43rd.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director John Darby said there will be no further penalties although both drivers likely will be talked to again prior to practice at Phoenix informing them not to keep the feud going on the race track.
Montoya and Gilliland agree that Montoya had bumped Gilliland at least once prior to the accident, where Montoya was underneath Gilliland and Gilliland swerved down with his left front turning Montoya in the right rear.
“I had a good run off the corner and he runs me to the wall,” Montoya said. “I did all I could, but I still hit the wall. So I went into [Turn] 1 and just hit him a little bit to say, ‘Hey, I was there.’ Know what I mean?
“It was like he said, ‘I’m better than him, so I’m going to wreck him.’ The decent thing is not doing it, but if I had wrecked him, it would have been fine. It’s frustrating when people do things like that.”
Montoya had been running in the top 10 most of the day and was on the lead lap at the time his day ended.
“My spotter said I was clear,” Gilliland said. “I kind of slid up in front of him and he jacked my rear wheels off the ground going down the back straightaway and then got into me again going into turn 1 and 2 and jacked me way up the track.
“I was trying to let him go and got a good run off the corner and just kind of misjudged it coming down across him. I was going to let him go, so I feel real bad for those guys.”
Gilliland and Montoya have been involved together in other crashes this year.
“It’s a shame that it happened,” Gilliland said. “I hate that Juan’s got a tore-up race car. … It’s a disappointing end for both of us.”
It was incredibly frustrating as well as disappointing for Montoya who said his earlier bump was partially because Gilliland was “running like 50 laps behind.”
“He came out of [Turn] 4 and just wrecked us,” Montoya said. “It’s very disappointing. It has been great for everybody at Ganassi. We’ve got great cars now. It’s just frustrating to have that happen.”
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43 responses to "David Gilliland parked after tagging Juan Pablo Montoya ". Post a Comment.
Tom Jones said:
Nov 2, 2008 at 10:12 PMI think this was a fitting end for Montoya as he has been very agressive this season and has wrecked several drivers. He hit Gilliland several times before David took him out. It doesn't matter where the cars are ( laps down ) or not all of the drivers need to drive with more concern for the other drivers. Anyone getting wrecked could be injured or killed and all of the teams are having money concerns and repairing or replacing cars is costly. A little more patience should be a message sent to all drivers as a result of this incident.
ed gordon said:
Nov 2, 2008 at 10:39 PM"running like 50 laps down"...uh, no Juan he was the first car two laps down,racing to hang on to that spot.Whether Juans knows it or not everyone is out there racing for something,whether thats to stay in the top 35 or two remain the first car two laps down they have a right to be out there too.They got together at the exit of a corner when Davids spotter had cleared him.It happens,both cars were fine at that point but Juan wanted to express his displeasure with a couple "bumps'as Juan described it,so JP kind of brought it on himself.Your going to have that in bigtime stockcarracing.
Eddie Sutton said:
Nov 2, 2008 at 11:11 PMAm I missing something here? Because I watched the video in slow motion over and over, Gilliland's right side tires stayed right on the dotted line of the track and Montoya clearly came up the track and drug his rear end across David's front. Gilliland got robbed! And let's not forget what JP did to Kyle under caution this year!
Montoya has a temper and he would do that on purpose. Gilliland needs to watch the video closely himself, he did nothing wrong!
ace racer said:
Nov 2, 2008 at 11:25 PMThat was GRAET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
del brown said:
Nov 2, 2008 at 11:32 PMDidn't watch the race. But after reading the description two things come to mind. Glad Montoya hit the wall. Sorry DG was parked.
Michael Goins said:
Nov 2, 2008 at 11:48 PMTell me you guys are being smart a@#'s here? Go to Nascar.com and watch. What Gilliland did was inexcusable and for him to get off because of previous good behavior is a joke. This was flat out using the car as a weapon and JPM could've been seriously injured. Full speed paybacks don't belong in this sport... period. Ganassi should go straight to Roush/Yates and demand compensation. This was clearly not a racing incident.
Hey Del Brown....if you didn't see it don't comment on it. DG should be parked for the SEASON for that one.
ed gordon said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 12:08 AMHey Mike,using your logic can RYR go to Gannasi and get Compensation for the car JMP wrecked in the 2007 AllStar open challenge race,when JP wreck Gillliland and half the field in turn 1 with one of his patented bonzai moves.
If JPM doesn't want "full speed paybacks"then he shouln't initiate them and ifyou cant handle watching them then listen to PRN's broadcast instead.
L S said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 12:09 AMWhen I saw this I thought the announcers did a GRAVE disservice proclaiming something I sure was not sure of.
I never ever ever saw a left hand turn. NOPE. Gilliland was pursuing his line and Montoya the hot head went UP THE TRACK. Montoya has wrecked people over and over but it is politically incorrect to talk about the Hispanic.
I did not see any infraction by Gilliland...and Nascar parked him for no reason.
Shame on the announcers for making something out of nothing. They are awful announcers.
The announcers should be assessed a penalty and should apologize.
If Giililand had done a left turn..then he would have hit Montoya on the right side.. NOT so...Montyoya came across Gilliland and gilliland's car was stuck in front..going forward and hit Montoya in the left rear. the left rear bumper.
Montoya simply did not clear gilliland.
I've watched over and over and over.
From the instant I saw it. I demand an apology from those incompetent announcers and I want Gilliland's points restored.
This is bull.
Sheldon Miller said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 8:34 AMHe turned left for sure! The camera angle from the front shows it the best - there are like 10 cars that come of the corner and go straight, and then Gilligan makes a left into Juan's rear quarter panel.
Juan turning Kyle Busch under caution doesn't compare to wrecking someone at 190 mph... DG didn't do himself any favors as I'm sure drivers won't respect that move too much and make his life difficult on Sundays. There's agressive (Juan) and then there is dangerous... If it wasn't intentional he should be parked anyway for a lack of talent.
K H said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 9:21 AMWell I certainly don't care for JPM but Gilliland was completely in the wrong doing what he did, if anyone was "actually" watching the race. Gilliland was so full of it during his interview...it was completely obvious.
This isn't the first time Gilliland has "gotten revenge" so to speak on a driver out there during a race and wrecked them. This guy should be parked for as many wrecks as he causes.
As far as the JPM turning Kyle. Well I can't stand either driver and JPM is father down the list than Kyle but Kyle certainly deserved to get turned for what he did.
alex obara said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 12:32 PMi agree with sutton sorta. if u look closly at the video on nascar.com gillihand does follow a line but he should be higher up the track. montoya does move up but gilliland should have also moved up. It was both of there faults. gillihand should not have been parked montoya moved up but racing is racing.
G S said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 12:38 PMTo KH, DG may make mistakes at times but is known not to cause wrecks in retaliation. JPM on the other hand is known to have a bad temper and even said he bumped DG a couple of time. I don't think DG meant to wreck him. Looks like he shot down to get behind Montoya and misjudged.
To LS i agree with the comment about the announcers. I remember when kyle dumped Jr one of the announcers said i saw his wheels turn up. Then there are the times when it is so obvious to all us fans that a driver got dumped purposely and the announcers are saying something like oh he got loose and right into so and so.
Jack Keough said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 1:23 PMMontoya ia a punk
he has wrecked many people including himself
if you honestly believe that david g. hit him by accident you need laser surgery
well David if you are going to smash into somebody at 180 mph have the courage to say so
dont insult our intelligence
said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 1:32 PMHow did Gilliland who was 2 laps down and out of race at the same time as Montoya who was on the lead lap finish ahead or Montoya? Gilliland 42nd and Montoya finished 43rd.
Rob Turner said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 3:11 PMIt's really a shame that an idiot like DG has a ride next year while drivers Like AJ Allmendinger and Patrick Carpentier are out next year. DG should go back to Nationwide.. or even legends cars where he can compete at his own level.
Andrew Briscoe said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 4:39 PMIn my opinion, both are responsible. Yes, Gilliland hit Montoya and could have hurt him. The thing is, even if Montoya is right and Gilliland was "running 50 laps down" then why did Montoya race him so hard?
Montoya, in the two years he's been in Cup, has been the one at the center of many altercations. It's getting really old seeing him constantly wreck someone.
G S said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 5:15 PMDg was 2 laps down and racing for points like everyone else.I think a bump was meant by Dj not to put Montoya in the wall. A since when it it OK to bump at 180? Twice by Montoya
Missy Thomas said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 6:15 PMI was listening to Dale Jr.'s scanner and Jeff Burton's. They were right behind that wreck and they both said that Gilliland turned right into Juan. No matter who does it, Juan, Gilliland or Kyle, you just don't do that when you are running over 180 mph!
Paul Mariscal said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 7:57 PMBottom line, Juan is a hot head, and continues to use his car to take people out. Kinda reminds me of Johnny Benson... Oh where is he now? Give me the old days of a "discussion" in the pits...
Michael Goins said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 8:19 PMHey Ed....racing incidents are one thing. I can even look the other way with wrecklessness. However, turning someone at 180 is not "bonsai". It is dangerous. And yes if a driver causes that type of damage purposefully the victim should have some restitution. Btw...PRN sucks.
And LS, DG did hit his RIGHT rear quarter...did you see the same wreck. Oh and what does his Colombian heritage have to do with anything? What are you?
MS said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 9:04 PMTony Stewart, on his Sirius show, was just describing how JPM ran Tony down the backstretch at the Coke 600 this year.
Look, David is known for being a good guy, and not causing issues on the track. JPM has a really bad reputation. Even Tony said that David would not have done this unless he there was a reason.
BTW, David was jacked up three times, including in two of the turns. And since when does Juan rule the top line at that track? I have been there a couple of times, and it appears there are at least two or three lanes.
megan mccorkhill said:
Nov 3, 2008 at 11:24 PMNascar watched the tapes and has spoken. Any further brainless comments will further damage your crediblity! People die on the track wake up.
Cindy Anderson said:
Nov 4, 2008 at 11:51 AMDo you think that NASCAR would have parked the 18, 88, 20, or 48, basically any of the "big" name drivers due to rough driving ??? Ahhh, that would be a no....It's a shame that the 38 was made an example when we all know, there have been the same incidents happen all season long with the so-called "stars" of NASCAR with no penalties...
Scott Baker said:
Nov 4, 2008 at 1:23 PMMontoyo went up into DG. Dg was going straight, perhaps Montoya's spotter failed to tell him DG was there. Regardless where you some you think DG "should" have been, Montoya came across DG, not the other way around. Juan's fault.
William Puckett said:
Nov 4, 2008 at 2:12 PMI think nascar should allow fighting in the pits when this happens to anyone back when it was real racing you did not see much of this on the track.Nascar is getting to be a joke it is like a circus held in a bull ring with clowns.
James Mogseth said:
Nov 4, 2008 at 3:14 PMPistols at 20 paces. Loser goes home in the ground. Hope its a tie. Next, hang the announcers and find some that can actually do a good job.
James Mogseth said:
Nov 4, 2008 at 3:34 PMI haven't met anyone yet who actually roots for Juan Pablo. He drives erratically, gets into people in the corners, and causes more wrecks than he is given credit for. Kyle, let him wreck too. He has even said over his radio that he is willing to take people out. Kudos to David for holding his line in the corner. And to the "color" commentators, put away your whitewash and open your eyes. You have monitors right in front of you to watch the replays on. And quit saying, "when I was racing...", YOU AREN'T!!! We don't care about when you were racing. Try taking some diction and grammer courses so you at least SOUND intelligent.
bill thompson said:
Nov 4, 2008 at 4:52 PMthat's the first of what jp has been doing to everyone else and getting away with. the drivers are tired of it and are starting to show thier disapproval. jp said he wont be pushed around, so he needs to quit wrecking (or trying) everyone else and these things wouldn't happen. he needs to learn how to race with the big dogs or stay on the porch!!!!!!!!!
Bob Pomeroy said:
Nov 4, 2008 at 5:36 PMJP is an arrogant driver, and does not give what he demands from others. What I see was that DG made no effort to accommodate JP, but I that his spotter's reporting he was clear means something. Who veered from the path his spotter expected them to take? Another thing -- this was the second race in a row JP had an excuse to quit. He seems to like being able to portray himself as having been cheated, and there is no question he had been baiting DG for several laps. There seemed an extraordinary bit of posturing in JP's stomp back to the garage. I think he at least helped it happen or to have made it seem more dramatic than it might have been. Who started the game of chicken in the first instance? I think parking DG was right because playing chicken can't be tolerated, I just think JP deserves the same penalty as DG, beyond the parking of course because JP was out already. Putting it all on DG is as wrong as penalizing only the guy who threw an elbow back under the basket.
Werner Boehmert said:
Nov 4, 2008 at 6:29 PMwe didn't get to see the action prior to DG taking out Juan...DG was wrong for what he did, but Juan most likely deserved it..
Art Sheeler said:
Nov 5, 2008 at 12:35 AMI can not believe the Knot heads that think that DG was right and to call the anouncers stupid and incompitant is outragious.I am a FORD fan and definately not a DODGE fan but clearly DG was in the wrong and deserved the penalty and he should feel fortunate that he didn't get more
LaDonna Balzer said:
Nov 5, 2008 at 12:42 AMSpeaking from someone who was in attendance @ TMS and saw the incident first hand, Nascar made the right call. Actually, Gilliland should be parked for the remainder of the season. The minor "cat and mouse" game the two drivers were playing in no way excused Gilliland's stupendous retaliation. Perhaps none of you have listened to analysts and pit reporters who also were in attendance and reporting from the pits?
Gilliland is rather a hothead himself. He had retaliation issues @ The Glen earlier this year, so this isn't his first retaliation. He also was lying out of his rear during the post-incident interview. I have to agree totally with Rob Turner that it is a shame Gilliland, the one-race-win wonder, is even in a Cup ride.
PHILIP Birtwistle said:
Nov 5, 2008 at 9:53 AMMaybe the camera angles got a little distorted travelling across the Atlantic, but from my seat Gilliland clearly turned left and took JPM off.
Sky Sports analyst got it right by saying that if he did it deliberately it was incredibly dangerous, and if it was accidental then he shouldn't be driving anyway if he can't drive in a straight line.
Philip
g d said:
Nov 9, 2008 at 4:49 PMHave any of you looked at this frame by frame? Jp clearly comes from the first set of stipe lines up while Dg clearly keeps his right side tires on the second set of stipe lines. It looks to me like Jp tried to do a slide job on Dg and screwed up. Dg knowingly or unknowingly did not acommidate Jp and is not required to acommidate him. As for the anouncers, Lets face it they are corperate sell outs. NASCAR currently has a bias toward hispanics because they are trying to apeal to the hispanic viewer (about 25% of the US population acording to the census). The above mentioned "color" anouncers are paid to portray NASCAR in the best light. That means not angering 25% of the viewer market. By the way I think white washing Jp's reputation is a disservice to all of us hispanic people. A note to NASCAR: You are an officiating body. Call it like it is. Don't be afraid to admit your mistake and rectify it. You're not making points by white washing (lieing) to plakate us.
Eduel Atkins said:
Nov 10, 2008 at 12:36 PMGilliland was in the wrong. Please watch both angles. He intentionally turned down into Montoya.
g d said:
Nov 11, 2008 at 9:21 AMI did. Lines don't move. The optical illusion of the other angle is created by the fact that Dg is coming out of the turn. Look at any race car coming out of the turn. They all have a yaw rate. Again lines don't move.
Eduel Atkins said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 4:24 PMOh no, DG! Watch the angle coming down the stretch. EVERY other car stays to their line . . . EXCEPT Gilliland! He starts at the top then fades down the track into Montoya. It's clear from the stretch angle. The top angle appears to show Gilliland staying to his line, then speeding up into impact. Acceleration is defined as increase of speed OR change of direction. The change of direction had an optical illusion aspect of an increase of speed.
There is no question as to Gilliland's intentions and actions.
Gilliland should have had his post-altercation laps removed so that he finished 43rd, behind Motoya.
I am NOT excusing Montoya. Montoya, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Stewart, Edwards, Harvick,a nd Robby Gordon are all hotheads who drive carelessly and make stupid decisions on the track. Although Montoya has had more than his share of run-ins (I hated when he spun his own teammate to win in Mexico City), this appears to be similar to the time when Harvick mistakenly blamed Montoya for Truex's error on the road course last year--not his fault.
Eduel Atkins said:
Nov 12, 2008 at 4:28 PMBTW, Gilliland's lie in the interview kept him from more serious punishment (as Kyle Busch's did in an earlier altercation Montoya). Montoya tells the truth and suffers (rightfully) because of it. Why are we punishing the truth and rewarding liars???
g d said:
Nov 15, 2008 at 6:35 PMNo matter what you say, the white lines on the track don't move. Dg was running with his right rear on the second set of white stripes and never left it.
Eduel Atkins said:
Nov 16, 2008 at 6:57 PMActually, he DID leave it! Check out the stretch view (right before he came down). You're not arguing with me, you're arguing with facts and the entire NASCAR world (all but the biased Montoya haters and those who still think Jeff Gordon is gay).
:)
g d said:
Nov 20, 2008 at 12:44 PMWhat ever. Worng is wrong and you are.
Eduel Atkins said:
Jan 8, 2009 at 11:01 AMAlthough Gilliland doesn't admit it was intentional, he does finally admit fault after seeing both angles:
“I was trying to let him (Montoya) go and got a good run off the corner and just kind of misjudged it coming down across him. I was going to let him go, so I feel real bad for those guys.”
--David Gilliland
". . . coming DOWN across him . . ."
Get that, G D???
Eduel Atkins said:
Jan 8, 2009 at 11:02 AMAlthough Gilliland doesn't admit it was intentional, he does finally admit fault after seeing both angles:
“I was trying to let him (Montoya) go and got a good run off the corner and just kind of misjudged it coming down across him. I was going to let him go, so I feel real bad for those guys.”
--David Gilliland
". . . coming DOWN across him . . ."
Get that, G D???