Juan Pablo Montoya not surprised he's in top 12 approaching halfway point
By SceneDaily Staff
Friday, July 03, 2009
Earnhardt Ganassi Racing's Juan Pablo Montoya is 12th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings heading into Saturday's race at Daytona International Speedway.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Juan Pablo Montoya is inside the top 12 as the halfway point of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season arrives this weekend.
At this time last year? He was 20th.
So when he was asked if his cars at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing were better than the ones he had last year, Montoya didn't blink.
"Oh yeah, of course," he said, then turned the interview into a discussion of how much cars really matter in racing.
He used Formula One as an example, where last year's champion Lewis Hamilton has plummeted in the standings this year, while surprising Jenson Button has won seemingly every race.
"Do you think Lewis Hamilton that won the championship last year just forgot how to drive or do you think Jenson Button just out of the blue just learned how to drive?" Montoya said. "Drivers at this level – all the drivers are good. The good drivers are good whether they are here or Formula One, whatever, you name it.
"You need to have good equipment to win, it’s that simple. Is our equipment better than last year? Yeah, it’s a lot better. Can it be better? Yes, of course and we’re learning."
Montoya continues to points-race every week in hopes that a high average finish will be good enough to get him into the Chase For The Sprint Cup. Not many pundits viewed him as a serious contender before the season, but as Montoya said, the team is "shutting a lot of mouths that were saying that we were going to struggle and we’re going to suck.
"We’re good, you know," he said.
That swagger for a team that previously may have lacked confidence should only help carry the momentum as the Chase cutoff point looms closer, Montoya said – especially if the No. 42 car can survive this weekend's race at Daytona.
"Everybody is pumped up that we’re running well and really pumped up that we have a realistic chance of making the Chase – not by luck, but by pure speed," he said. "I think that’s very important and I think that if we can run a little bit better then people can start smelling wins. Then they are going to get even more excited.”
Popular News
-
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS: Which Sprint Cup star will snap his long winless streak first?
Comments (186) -
For Dale Earnhardt Jr., life as an Earnhardt is not easy, especially when you're not winning
Comments (139) -
Jeff Owens: Should RCR’s black No. 3 return to NASCAR’s Cup series?
Comments (119) -
Hendrick Motorsports’ Mark Martin more prepared mentally and physically for 2010
Comments (105) -
Dale Earnhardt Inc. plans for Jeffrey Earnhardt still in flux
Comments (96)
Recent Headlines
-
SEASON PREVIEW: Mike Skinner optimistic about 2010 prospects
Post Comment -
SEASON PREVIEW: Camping World Truck Series top-20 rankings
Post Comment -
Josh Wise to drive in Nationwide Series for Specialty Racing
Post Comment -
HBO’s ‘24/7 Jimmie Johnson’ documentary series expected to shift into high gear tonight
Comments (2) -
SEASON PREVIEW: Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards hungry to regain place among Sprint Cup’s elite
Comments (1)
Poll PositionView All
After qualifying and the Budweiser Shootout, who is the favorite to win the Daytona 500?
Promotions
-
Tweet your thoughts about each race and join the conversation with other fans.
-
Drive an authentic NASCAR Sprint Cup car at the NASCAR Racing Experience.
Comments
4 responses to "Juan Pablo Montoya not surprised he's in top 12 approaching halfway point ". Post a Comment.
NickDizzle7 said:
Jul 3, 2009 at 3:44 PMPretty remarkable that he's in the Chase despite no top 5's all season. But I think he'll get one on Saturday night. He better, i'm keeping him on my fantasy team this week.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Reportbthompson133 said:
Jul 3, 2009 at 8:40 PMsee jpm when you quit wrecking all the time you get points. lol
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jul 3, 2009 at 9:37 PMJuan you may not be supprised that you are in the top 12, but I'm sure supprised.
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse ReportLaurieW said:
Jul 5, 2009 at 8:20 AM#2- that's SOOO what I was thinking!
Report as AbuseReport Abuse
This feature is intended to allow you to report comments that are abusive in terms of foul/vulgar language, harassment, racial/religious prejudice and any words/phrases of a related nature. This feature should not be used to report users who simply make a comment about your favorite driver, with which you do not agree. Commenting is a forum in which we can all express our opinions. Reporting abuse of others should be done with this in mind.
» Confirm Abuse Report