I'm speechless........Is this April? :freak: :confused: :freak: :confused:

http://www.racingone.com/article.asp?artnum=29315

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/07/09/jmontoya_ganassi/index.html

I'm speechless........Is this April? :freak: :confused: :freak: :confused:

http://www.racingone.com/article.asp?artnum=29315

http://www.nascar.com/2006/news/headlines/cup/07/09/jmontoya_ganassi/index.html

Confirmed!

He'll be begging to go back to F1 by this time next year.

'doba

Many have tried but few have succeeded. It will be nice to see a little international flavor in the Bubba McRib racing series.

WEEEE, I can't wait to see him tank, my brother "Mr. Indy car" always puts Nascar down saying any retard can turn left, floor it, turn left, floor it, ect.
Not that I have anything against Montoya or anything, just nice to see a little different skill/flavor in the nascar mix.

Should be a hoot, Montoya has th etendency to grab a bad car by the scruff of the neck and shake it around a bit.. Should bring a international flavor to the term Boot and scoot.. lol.. Plus rumor now has it that Danica wants to go to nascar also..Guess she'll stop calling Eddie Cheever a idiot and have some pleasant terms for Juan when he puts her into the wall..

Dave

This would be a huge get for Nascar.

JOLIET, Ill. -- Danica Patrick's father is exploring the possibility of the popular Indy Racing League driver moving to NASCAR as soon as next year, the Orlando Sentinel reported Monday.


Barry Taylor/WireImage.com
Danica Patrick's father says she could be leaving IRL for NASCAR as soon as next season.

The Sentinel reported that T.J. Patrick, who has managed Danica Patrick's career since childhood, was in exploratory talks with some NASCAR teams at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday.


"I'm trying to get her here [into NASCAR]," T.J. Patrick told the Sentinel.


T.J. and Bev Patrick, who formerly lived in Roscoe, Ill., attended NASCAR's USG Sheetrock 400 because "we've had some inquiries" from NASCAR teams, T.J. Patrick told the newspaper.


The Sentinel reported the couple was in the Nextel Cup garage area as guests of Roush Racing, which fields drivers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Jamie McMurray and runs Fords on the Nextel Cup circuit.


Danica Patrick's contract with Rahal-Letterman Racing team ends after this season and the Patricks are negotiating with other IRL teams as well as NASCAR teams, the Sentinel reported. The newspaper said team co-owner Bobby Rahal declined comment through a spokesman.

Patrick, who became IRL's most recognizable driver by leading part of the 2005 Indianapolis 500 and finishing fourth, has yet to enjoy similar success in 2006, as Rahal-Letterman has endured a frustrating season.

Rahal-Letterman, which enjoyed a power advantage by running Honda engines in 2005, lost that advantage when the entire league shifted to Hondas for 2006. It was the last team to use a Panoz chassis and struggled to adjust when it finally switched to a Dallara, used by every other team in IRL, after the Indy 500. And the team lost one of its drivers when Paul Dana was killed during practice before the IRL's season-opening race in Homestead, Fla.

NASCAR doesn't need another spokesmodel. It's already got Michael Waltrip.

Montoya in Nascar should be very interesting. The guy's a proven racer. As for Danica coming to Nascar, why not? She can't win in the IRL. Let her come not win in Nascar.

So Patrick led for a few laps at Indy and came home with a top 5 finish one time. Is this not a career defining moment for any race car driver? If Jimmy Spencer did the same thing at Daytona would half of America be gushing over his "major achievement" and speculating about a possible move to F1? C'mon Jimmy, show those flimsy elitists how a real man can drive a vehicle built to standards and with a budget that even NASA can only dream about.

Look at NHRA, look at the #24 car, and tell me who doubts that a woman can drive a race car.

Why not go to Nascar? Look at the money, the longevity! Try driving F1s for 20 years. Maybe Montoya will be a little more successful than previous F1 drivers that tried to make the crossover. As for Danica, it just proves what I've suspected, modern Nascar is as much about appearance as ability. Major sponsors are looking for spokesmen with camera appeal. Would Carl Edwards, Casey Kahne, or Jamie McMurray have made it to cup as quickly if they looked like Junior Johnson, Dale Sr, or Mark Martin?
Dale Jarrret hasn't been a serious contender for the championship in eight seasons. ( I know because I'm a fan, any driver that could hold off "The Intimidator" for 2 Daytona wins deserves my respect) However UPS is going to Toyota w/ him. Why? Whenever my son sees the brown truck he says,"there goes Dale." You can't think about Napa parts w/o thinking about Mikey.
Erin Crocker has been trading paint in the truck series for several seasons and has received no quarter from other drivers. If Danica does make the jump let's compare ability and appeal and see who makes it to cup sooner.
I'm not bashing Danica (I'd rotate her tires anytime) I just think that maybe the commercial aspect of Nascar has become more important than the actual racing.

Before anyone jumps on my typo DJ won the championship in '99. It just seems like eight years! He's finished in the top ten a couple of times w/ UPS racing but I don't think that he's been near the points lead since he's been w/ UPS

I don't care what you drive, but clearly just being at the level of racing that Danica and Montoya are proves they are amazing drivers. I know all of us can pull a trigger on a slot car but do you really think any of us could drive those cars.. I think not. I feel confident saying that yes, both of those drivers will have adjustments to make, and both will go through a learning curve, but saying they will fail is not something I would bet on. I agree- being a Nascar fan myself (and not caring much for the point and shoot open wheel cars), Nascar has evolved from the "red-neck racing" stereotype and is mainstream now. I think any driver in the world would have to seriously consider an offer to move to Nascar. Too much money, recognition, and future opportunities surrounding Nascar. Nascar might be a men's soap opera every weekend with a little racing mixed in.

But as some of you knowingly expressed- ask anyone on the street to name 5 Nascar driver's or better yet their favorite Nascar driver, and you will get an enthusiastic response. Ask the same about F1, or the other open-wheel series' and you might get a blank stare. I am NOT a Danica fan, actually I was pretty sure a female driver in Nascar would happen after we elected one as the President, but the simple fact that we have devoted this thread to the topic shows how much interest Nascar has.
Should most definitely be interesting...

you know if you remember montoya and a fellow named gordon traded cars at indy one time and if i remember correctly montoya didnt do half bad in the number 24 dupont chevy

The key for Danica or Montoya to have any success in NASCAR is they are going to have to get in with one of the top teams. If not, they might last one but definetly not more than two seasons. Montoya might if he signs with Ganassi. But Chip's patience will run out if he doesn't do well.
Montoya isn't coming to NASCAR for the money. Michael Schumacher makes more money racing F1 than the top 10 in NASCAR. They sign contracts like basketball, football, and baseball players do. Montoya's was around 12 to 15 million a year.
Danica won't be the first female in NASCAR if she does make the commitment. from the 1940's through 1960's women raced in NASCAR. The first one of the 1970's was Janet Guthrie ( 12th place finnisher in the 1977 Daytona 500). Shawna Robinson just a couple of years ago.
If they race in NASCAR that would be alright with me. I'm not saying they will do bad. They both have talent and know how to drive a car.
I find it funny when people write off Danica, this board in particular. We are grown adults playing with toy cars. She's a grown woman driving the real thing and making a great living doing it, even if she hasn't won a race yet.
I say good luck to both of them. Randy.