Support » SCENE-please remove inappropriate photos of the dead/horrific
What has flowers got to do with nascar?? Nothing !!! And no body wants to see wreck cars pictures. Like the ones that msp posted. But, what is really DISG...
Montoya completes first NASCAR season as top rookie
By SceneDaily Staff Report
Monday, November 19, 2007
JASON SMITH / GETTY IMAGES
HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Juan Pablo Montoya won the 2007 Raybestos Rookie of the Year award after finishing 15th in Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The former Formula One driver earned one win, three top-five and six top-10 finishes in his debut NASCAR Nextel Cup season. Driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, he finished the year 20th in the standings.
"I think it went pretty good," he said of his season. "It's a bit of everything, you know. Off and on, I think that everybody at Ganassi did an amazing job. It's one of those deals ... I think it was more ours to lose than win. So I think [it] came out pretty good.
"I think more important, we had a race win. ... For record books and stuff, it's pretty good that I won the Raybestos Rookie of the Year."
While Montoya has won the Indianapolis 500 and Formula One races, as well as rookie honors in other series, he admits it felt a little odd to come into NASCAR and be as experienced a driver as he was, but also to truly be a rookie.
"Being a rookie with the experience I had, is very different," he said. "I had no stock-car experience, but from my open-wheel background, I've raced about everything you can race in."
He says that it's important that his team improved over the course of the season and that will boost them heading in to 2008. Crew chief Donnie Wingo says that Montoya has adapted to the series quickly and has learned to drive cars that aren't handling well.
As to the team, he says that they enjoyed winning the rookie honor - again.
"It's pretty much the same group that won it with [Jamie] McMurray [in 2003], so we're still hanging in there," Wingo said with a smile.
Mentioned Drivers: Juan Pablo Montoya
2009 Sprint Cup Race for the Chase Standings
Driver Standings after the AMP Energy 500
| 1 | Jimmie Johnson | 6248 |
| 2 | Mark Martin | -184 |
| 3 | Jeff Gordon | -192 |
| 4 | Juan Pablo Montoya | -239 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart | -279 |
| 6 | Kurt Busch | -312 |
| 7 | Greg Biffle | -340 |
| 8 | Ryan Newman | -402 |
| 9 | Kasey Kahne | -414 |
| 10 | Carl Edwards | -437 |
| 11 | Denny Hamlin | -448 |
| 12 | Brian Vickers | -556 |
Popular News
-
Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr. eager for return to Texas Motor Speedway
Comments (138) -
Richard Petty Motorsports' AJ Allmendinger charged with driving while impaired
Comments (73) -
JR Motorsports continues work on bringing Danica Patrick to NASCAR
Comments (69) -
NASCAR says bump-drafting rules not to blame for single-file Talladega racing
Comments (67) -
Aggressive Brad Keselowski wins Memphis Nationwide Series race
Comments (62)
Recent Headlines
-
Jared Turner: Time can be the only missing link to success in NASCAR
Post Comment -
7 reasons to watch the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway: No. 7 - Reverse racing
Post Comment -
Nationwide penalty likely for opening-day violation by Kyle Busch team
Comments (8) -
Kyle Busch pulls off Texas two-step by winning Nationwide race
Comments (11) -
Oklahoma teacher named Dickies American Worker of the Year
Post Comment
Poll PositionView All
Which NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner from the past two seasons is most likely to earn his first victory of 2009 in the next three races?
Promotions
-
Play "WIX Filters' Pick 3" stock car fantasy and win prizes. Season 2 is now in session!
-
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.
-
Cast your vote for the NASCAR Illustrated 2009 Person of the Year, presented by Old Spice.
-
Make weekly pics for the Chase and be entered to win weekly SPEED Merchandise.
