http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=36587

...apparently he's stepping down immediately and De La Rosa is taking over his seat.

If he wanted better 'racing' why left-turn only? He could have tried the DTM like Hakkinen and Alesi. I'd rather still see JPM in F1, and that newb Villeneuve get a kick in the *** instead.

 

Stepping down from F1 and joining the NASCAR scene?!?! I never thought of Montoya as being so whipped! The decision to do this has to be influenced by his better half!!!

Either that or the pay is better in NASCAR... which I find hard to believe... but you never know...

It's a shame what's happening to the racing scene nowadays. Did anyone bother watching the Champ car race over the weekend?! It seems all the interesting race series are taking a dive. Drivers having to pay to drive??? What's going on?!?!

This is a sad blow to the F1 scene.

I wish Montoya all the best, but there's no way I would ever watch NASCAR!

Lates,

 

you have got to be kidding me, haha.
i really wonder what the motivation behind that move is.

 

He's changing his name to Jimmy Pete Mo.

 

He didnt really have a choice... he's an expensive driver and didnt have a good ride for next year. He's huge in the states and he's good on ovals so it's a no-brainer. Nascar needs more drivers like him... it would make it more interesting, maybe even worth watching. Maybe not.

The last few Champ car races have been great! It's nice to see the series get back on its feet and to see atlantic/star mazda drivers actually wanting to move up to Champ cars instead of F1 or IRL.

 

Anyone who saw JPM in Champ Car back in 1999 or 2000 knows that he never came close to reaching his full potential in F1. It's just not the right environment for him. By getting back together with Ganassi he's going back to what worked. I'm not a big Chip Ganassi fan, but hopefully they can convince Mo Nunn to come out of retirement to work with JPM.

 

Yeah, this was a decision that has been festering for a while, and one that makes sense for him. A few quotes from him really show why. He said (and I'm paraphrasing here) "In F1 all the passing happens in the pits and the races are one big parade. If by chance you have a good battle with someone and bump wheels you are an animal." "I want a change. I want to go to a friendly atmosphere where not everything requires a press release. I want to be where you can bang wheels and be agressive." He also said "It's not just about leaving F1 either. If that was the case I would have called Chip and said I wanted to go to the IRL. They have a top team there and I could be instantly competitive. That's not what I want. I've done that already. I want a new challange, one that I have to work at and develop. NASCAR offers me that."

If you saw the amount of Colombian flags at the USGP you'd realize how big he is in the states. Add that to his relationship with Ganassi and NASCAR's desire to break the latin market and this is a natural fit. A weird one, but a natural one. He'll make easily the same money in NASCAR (if not more) than he did in F1 and he will be back in the states where he wants to be.

Of course some Americans will hate the fact that a "furiner" came into "our" series, but what are you going to do. More people will watch because of JPM than not watch because of him.

 

Oh, and Danica Patrick will be the next to get onto the NASCAR train.

 

i guess it does make a lot more sense than it seems at first glance. there are definetly a lot of JP fans in the states.
it's odd because he is not exactly the first person on the list when you think of drivers who have poor job security in F1, but the cost issue does make sense. i guess teams would rather spend that sort of money for a driver who has produced results recently, or develop whatever "promising" talent is up and coming (or rather one of the various test drivers floating around).

Danica eh?
funny how NASCAR just keeps getting more popular, haha.

 

Poor hillbilly rednecks...first a furriner now a woman!!

Speaking of, anyone going to watch that 'Driving Force' show with John Force's hawt daughters (well, 2 of them are anyway)...

 

I'll probably check it out. I saw them in Chicagoland a few years back, and lets just say they have matured since then!

Ahhh yes, and the filthy old men show themselves.


First a Jap manufacturer, then a Latino guy, now maybe a woman.... what's next - a black guy or a gay guy? Let's start a pool! lol. The rednecks are gonna ****!

 

An import manufacturer?? An ex-F1 Latin driver?? And now cutie Danica is going to NASCAR?!?!

You know, I think it might be time to watch NASCAR! LOL
When I was channel surfing 1 day I ran into NASCAR on TV. The thing is broadcast in HD!!! So far it's the only series I'm aware of that broadcasts in HD!

Ummmm, Danica in HD!! Just like being right beside her...

Lates,

 

I'm coming for yoo Ricky Booby.

I can't wait till Talladega Nights opens.

 

I used to think NASCAR was lame. I accually watch it now and its the most exciting form of racing I've watched. Its anybodys game really.



I love 'Back in the Day'. I can't get enough of old NASCAR when it was real cars.

 

i noticed that too! how come the redneck sport gets full high-def glory? haha.
i actually watched it for a few minutes because it was in HD. even 5.1 sound, so that you can hear the cars go by in circles as if you were really there

 

As much as i hate Nascar you have to give em credit. They always know how to bring in the fans and sponsors. A few more years and you will see a Mazda Nascar and more imports.
On a side note there will no longer be a CART race in Montreal after this season.
Nascar perhaps in the next year or so? And what ever happened to their interest in racing at Mosport with the Busch cars? Or is that why Cayauga is being renovated this year????

Villeneuve has expressed a lot of interest in Nascar as well.

 

NASCAR wont get any imports, as the first line of their rule book states that the series is only open to "American Cars". Toyota got around that by building its Camrys in the states. There are a lot of people who think that loophole will be closed next year. We'll see. Besides not many people want in because it is such antiquated technology. Honda have said "Why would we want to develop a carburated pushrod engine that runs on leaded fuel?" (although the ridgeline screams Truck series!) Toyota is there 100% for marketing, while other series are for technological development.

Villeneuve and Hakkinnen have both expressed intrest in NASCAR, but when push comes to shove the motivation might not be there especially if a top team isn't interested!

When NASCAR comes north, it wont be out in the boonies like Mosport, Tremblant or Cayauga. It will be in Montreal (thanks for nothing Mr Legault). Just like they did in Mexico. Go to an urban location with big crowds.

 

Wow, what a bunch of Nascar haters! Lets look at some facts:
In ANY other major pro series there are only 2-3 teams that are capable of winning when they race. In Nascar there are 20 cars that could win each week.

Nascar has close racing, and thats what fans want to see, not cars winning by minutes or laps....in Nascar 2 seconds is a huge lead....in F1 35 seconds is considered close.

Montoya has nothing to lose in Nascar, if he stays in F1, he will be another Jacques, running in the middle or rear of the pack. If he fails in Nascar, everyone will say "I told you so" If he doesnt he will be a god.

Nascar is where the money and competition is right now, I dont how long it will last, but for now it is the place to race.

For any of you that have run on an oval, you understand how much harder it is than a road course, our friend who went for a ride in turn 2 at the Solo 1 would have written off his car if he did the same on an oval! I have driven on both, and a road course you can be forgiven for your mistake, on an oval-----YOU LOSE!

Just my opinion!

 

I don't see how driving in a circle is 'harder' than having to brake, shift, turn in, hit the apex, and accelerate at the exact same spot and all that other stuff that road course drivers do to perfection lap after lap. Sure, an oval might be more dangerous because speeds are higher, you are surrounded by more cars and a concrete wall is always closer. But harder, in terms of requiring more skill? I doubt it.

Also, the current restrictor-plate racing, where the cars circle en-masse for lap after lap isn't that exciting.

 

01Racing is just expressing his opinion because he owns a Mustang!! LOL!!

I honestly don't see the appeal of NASCAR. Who wants to see a bunch of rednecks go around in circles?!?! Now there's gonig to be a bunch of rednecks, a latin guy, and cutie Danica go around circles...

I think it's a waste of talent really... but the man has to put food on the table (granted, Montoya is making a killing so he's not exactly hurting..)

I wish ALMS would get better coverage! There's a lot of action in that series!!

Lates,

 

Do you guys accually watch NASCAR? Thats some of the most nail biting racing there is. One touch could be all over. Those cars travel so fast and the drivers require so much skill and concentration. They are looking everywhere at all times. One tiny mistake could lead to tragedy.

Pit stops are a frenzy. Accidents galore.

But the one thing that I like about NASCAR is the teamwork. Its like survivor. You can't win unless you work with the enemy. Drafting is the key there. Your team-mate could be 10 cars behind you. How can you move up the grid when hes that far behind you? Call the guy in front and ask for a bump draft. I've seen guys come from the back and win.

That and they put 800HP to the ground with nothing more than throttle control. No traction control. No stabability control. All car and All driver. F1 is not this anymore.

I donno about any of you other guys, but after accually watching a NASCAR race and paying attention, I was converted in no time.

 

Neo, ALMS??? When the come to Mosport there are like 4 or 5 P1 cars, 3-4 P2 cars and 4 GT1 cars.......The GT2 cars are like watching regional racing. ALMS is like watching a lapping day. Like i said before oval track racing is a zillion times harder than a road course, and when I rented Sunset Speedway, no one from here came because they were afraid if wrecking their cars???Because its so easy to do??? I think not. Until you try driving on an oval by yourself or with a bunch of other cars, dont pass judgement.

 

I used to really enjoy watching CART races (before the split) on short track ovals. Never got into watching NASCAR though. The only NASCAR race I remember was on May 1st '94 - I was just moping around the house and had the TV on. I was surprised when Earnhardt won the race and dedicated his win to Senna.

 

Not that long ago Champ Car had most of the same appeal (eg. when Montoya was there), but it was more compelling. He's not well suited to F1 because of the environment and the cars. They're on a razors edge. Montoya's strength is being able to balance a car on either side of that edge. IMO he has the greatest car control of any active driver. What is truely odd about him is how he's able to go over the limit and yet not lose time. How many other drivers can slide a car on an oval qualifying lap and grap poll?

I don't really enjoy watching Nascar races, but I will watch to see how Montoya does. I have a feeling if he can succeed, he will be stunning. It's also possible that due to the skinny tires and their limited life span that he may not be suited to Nascar.

If you want to talk about drafting, remember the Champ Car races with the hanford device? Remember when Montoya had that battle with Michael Andretti at MI?

 

well, in terms of the top F1 drivers, i don't think it is easy to say that one of them is significantly greater than others. at that level it comes down of course to the car and team a driver has beneath them.
there are other drivers that have just as good car control on/over the limit as Montoya. Michael does really well when the conditions push the cars over the limit, such as in the rain for example. actually there is a quote somewhere that he can feel car movement down to a tenth of a second or something, but who knows what that is all about...