11/21/24
July 13, 2006
Montoya to Nascar. Danica too?: I think Juan will make the transition to Nascar. He has more than enough talent to make him a contender to win soon. I just wish he was in a better car. Does anyone think Danica will make the jump as well?
posted by dbt302 to auto racing at 08:59 AM - 9 comments
On preview: damn you wingnut!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:05 AM on July 13, 2006
I just finished reading the Carpenter comments. That took a lot of guts. I'm suprised Danica is taking it so well, although it seems like they both like eachother.
posted by sublime4390116 at 11:58 AM on July 13, 2006
Wow! Is NASCAR trying to lock in every demographic in one year or what? Bringing Toyota (asian market), Montoya (latin american market) and Danica (female market) would be huge. Wait a second, they don't need Danica, they already have the female market with their male drivers.
posted by timdawg at 12:55 PM on July 13, 2006
its gonna be awesome with montoya racin in nascar..look out tony..the madman will be chasing smoke....as for danica i'd say in a couple of years will see ya in the truck races..
posted by ktown at 02:36 PM on July 13, 2006
I'm sad to see Montoya go from F1. He's had a lousy couple of seasons with McLaren, but he was one of the few truly interesting characters in the sterile world of F1. I mean it's great to see the great cheater being beaten finally, but Alonso isn't the most interesting guy around. Nor is Kimi. Monty bought some real fire to F1. If he does well in NASCAR, that's enough to get me back watching. He's gone from McLaren as of RIGHT NOW! They've dumped him. Rumour has it for breach of contract for announcing his NASCAR deal now. Bit rich given McLaren announced the Alonso deal a year in advance...
posted by Drood at 04:02 PM on July 13, 2006
drood--- I hadn't heard that about JPM losing his seat that soon, but that sounds like Ron Dennis getting his ego bruised just a tiny bit. I'm sure he holds NASCAR in such high regard! Perhaps they'll give Lewis Hamilton a crack at the big time for the next few races just to see how he handles himself. He looks like he's going to be a tremendous talent, still quite young though. I've got a feeling Danica and her dad are just looking for some leverage with her IRL situation. There are any number of NASCAR teams that would probably love to put her in a car, not to win races right away but for the sponsorship and attention she would certainly bring.
posted by eccsport78 at 04:36 PM on July 13, 2006
I am not a huge racing fan but while it would seem that Patrick is an obvious marketing draw she doesn't seem like much of a driver statistically (0 wins, 0 poles, 0 top fives in 8 starts)? Am I way off-base? Does she have to qualify to do that or can the team owner hire anyone if they feel that they would make them enough money?
posted by kyrilmitch_76 at 06:03 PM on July 13, 2006
In Danica's defense, the Rahal-Letterman team was using the inferior chassis until a few races ago, so they're playing catch-up with Penske, AGR, and Ganassi. As with most racing series, the driver is only as good as his/her equipment, and she's probably gotten as much out of the car as possible. Put her in a Penske and give her some test time, and she'd be challenging for poles like last year. She's a good racer, and tougher than a lot of people give her credit for. I think she'll stay in the IRL, but maybe with a different team.
posted by eccsport78 at 12:33 AM on July 14, 2006
I don't think that Danica will make the jump. From what I understood, it was her family that started the rumor. Although, Ed Carpenter sure did stir the pot with his comments in
this article.