[simple simon]

time for Juan Pablo Montoya to have a fan thread here at GTG ...... as many of you know, i have been a fan of his since before the season started and i have cheered for him all along this year

last week he won at Sonoma and now he is starting 5th at Loudon .... on top of all of that it would seem he has Rookie Of The Year all locked up barring a melt-down

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

time for Juan Pablo Montoya to have a fan thread here at GTG ...... as many of you know, i have been a fan of his since before the season started and i have cheered for him all along this year

last week he won at Sonoma and now he is starting 5th at Loudon .... on top of all of that it would seem he has Rookie Of The Year all locked up barring a melt-down

Lots to like about the guy. To be honest, his driving style reminds me of a Latino Tim Richmond. (FYI Tim was the last driver I actually rooted for and came close to being a fan of)

Right now I'm holding my breath to see how this brad Coleman kid, in the Gibbs pipeline turns out. I think I see lots of potential there, also.

[LSC9901]

No question that ROY is virtually locked up for him. I don't think anyone else is even remotely close.

I'll be honest and say that I am still a bit skeptical. The Mexico race really sticks in my mind. That race made him look like Tony Stewart to me and if you've read any of my posts you already know I think Tony is a masterful driver but needs an attitude adjustment. Whether I like Juan or not is not really the point. I hate to see any driver get the Stewart attitude. It becomes no one.

[Nevadastars]

I like JPM quite a bit. He's a touch arrogant, but who wouldnt be if they were in his shoes. I like the fact that he is different than the new breed of cookie cutter, poster boy, sponsor spewing, walking advertisements that dominate the Cup ranks these days. He doesn't care who he makes mad and is not in it for the fame and glory. I hope he does well and sticks with it long enough to show what he is really capable of.

[NASCAR Gnome]

I was a JPM fan since he won Indy and when I learned he was coming to NASCAR, I got really excited because I realized that this is one guy who could really challenge the established drivers. (aka: Good Old Boys!)

I figured a guy like Pablo would not back down to anyone considering the level of competition he's faced. The only interesting thing was seeing the local driver's reactions to him. Pretty much what I expected - a divided camp between those who know of him and gives him the respect of a champion and those who don't and call him "lucky."

I really LOVED the Sonoma race especially when JPM challenged the big-named drivers and they didn't back down! Jimmie Johnson and Dale Jr. were both challenged and they didn't back down and that was awesome to witness! That's racing manhood! Dudes stepped up BIG TIME and now, I want to see how JPM responds when HE'S challenged by these guys on their turf (ovals)!

Also, I'm looking forward to the time Castroneves and Hornish Jr. move up to NASCAR...

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

I was a JPM fan since he won Indy and when I learned he was coming to NASCAR, I got really excited because I realized that this is one guy who could really challenge the established drivers. (aka: Good Old Boys!)

I figured a guy like Pablo would not back down to anyone considering the level of competition he's faced. The only interesting thing was seeing the local driver's reactions to him. Pretty much what I expected - a divided camp between those who know of him and gives him the respect of a champion and those who don't and call him "lucky."

I really LOVED the Sonoma race especially when JPM challenged the big-named drivers and they didn't back down! Jimmie Johnson and Dale Jr. were both challenged and they didn't back down and that was awesome to witness! That's racing manhood! Dudes stepped up BIG TIME and now, I want to see how JPM responds when HE'S challenged by these guys on their turf (ovals)!

Also, I'm looking forward to the time Castroneves and Hornish Jr. move up to NASCAR...

Hey, NASCAR Gnome, welcome to GTG. sounds like you're a real racing fan .. you'll fit in here just fine. be sure to put in your prediction for this week's race.

I hear Castoneves is looking for the tiniest reason to jump, but Hornish is wanting to have a foot in each camp. Maybe if he wins the championship he'll want to run "the big cars". time will tell...

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

I

Also, I'm looking forward to the time Castroneves and Hornish Jr. move up to NASCAR...

As am I. Hornish just hasn't shown the committment necessary to be successful at the Cup Lite level. If he drops IRL and goes NASCAR full time I think he'd do better.

Helio...? He'd be good for NASCAR. He gives good interview.

The one from IRL I think would do well in NASCAR is Kanaan.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

As am I. Hornish just hasn't shown the committment necessary to be successful at the Cup Lite level. If he drops IRL and goes NASCAR full time I think he'd do better.

Helio...? He'd be good for NASCAR. He gives good interview.

The one from IRL I think would do well in NASCAR is Kanaan.

yeah, Tony and Harvick have already bumped and mixed one's chocolate with the other's peanut butter. after that, spending 500 miles bumping each other around on the track should be down right entertaining!!!

[NASCAR Gnome]

Kanaan, Hornish or Castroneves... if any (or all) of these guys make the jump to NASCAR (Nextel Cup in particular,) the racing will just get all that much better!

Right now, I see a bunch of drivers like the Dale Jarretts, Kenny Wallaces and even someone with a heritage as great as, *gulp*, Kyle Petty just happy to be there on weekends. Those three open-wheel guys would come in with fire to prove something!

Honestly, even without those guys, I really enjoy seeing someone like Truex Jr. or even Casey Mears win because I think I'm looking at the future of what NASCAR has to offer and I really like what I see.

Oh, and thanks for the welcome, and btw, I've been a long-time racing fan of all types of racing including an occasional air race out in Reno, and IRL, CART, F1 and NASCAR are all stuff I enjoy but when it comes down to pure racing, nothing beats NASCAR! In stock car racing, you can bang and bump and still race. If you do that in open-wheel, it's over! Speaking of banging and bumping, I can't wait to see the draft bumping these guys'll be doing in DAYTONA next week! Fun, fun, fun!

Also, I'm looking forward to the time Castroneves and Hornish Jr. move up to NASCAR...[/quote]

I like that "moving UP to NASCAR"

[wingkey1]

JPM Points me ponders:

The Mexico "thing". Busch (Push?) win. It was ugly, that final pass(?), little question there. Done with premeditation, purpose, intent, disrespectfully - don't know.. Failed mind reading we did. Catalogue it for future reference.

The team he's with. Nothing to write home about prior to his arrival. Looked at times like like there were flickers of life/hope, but were just not making the last leap/step/hurdle. Have to see it we do as a bit of a + for JPM the way he has piloted the car, and the results to date.

Bumper car racing. Sure has done some of this. But he's gone from racing (comparatively) hummingbirds - dart, zip, zoom, to vultures - whoa, whoa, whoa --- back flap, back flap - turn coming - ouch, overshoot, bang - recovered - kinda - oops!. Little doubt he also saw and heard that his new endeavor included - rubbin' is racin'. To win, ya just have to be ready to do it. The good and experienced do it with finese. The new do it with flair, or should that be "flare"?

Rubbin' is racin'. At Sonoma, JPM's encounters with both Johnson and McMurray looked (to these eyes) good, right, entertaining, old school. Liked it.

Road course racing/winning. Expected? - sure. When one delivers to expectations, cannot see that as a minus.

Attitude - assured, confident, "cocky" - pick your word or sub similar other. He better be. He should be. He's earned a level of "right/priviledge" to be so. Do not see (personally) that he has crossed to the dark side of this as yet. Another angle on this is - he's not a "late teen - early twenties" rookie like many of the new comers. He's at the - perform now - age range.

Racing Skills - little question they are there

A "Racers mindset" - kinda a combo of the 2 previous. Yup. The guys definitely going for it.

Overall thought/feeling/opinion/rating at this point. He's fine/right at this point. Done some sloppy things, will do some more. Done some nice racing, will do some more. Making forward progress. Real point of determination - 3rd year in, no matter what year 1 and 2 produce.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Also, I'm looking forward to the time Castroneves and Hornish Jr. move up to NASCAR...

I like that "moving UP to NASCAR"[/quote]


Simon Montoya's the rookie of the year by the way unreigstered Hornish runs the Busch series when he is not running IRL

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

JPM Points me ponders:

The Mexico "thing". Busch (Push?) win. It was ugly, that final pass(?), little question there. Done with premeditation, purpose, intent, disrespectfully - don't know.. Failed mind reading we did. Catalogue it for future reference.

The team he's with. Nothing to write home about prior to his arrival. Looked at times like like there were flickers of life/hope, but were just not making the last leap/step/hurdle. Have to see it we do as a bit of a + for JPM the way he has piloted the car, and the results to date.

Bumper car racing. Sure has done some of this. But he's gone from racing (comparatively) hummingbirds - dart, zip, zoom, to vultures - whoa, whoa, whoa --- back flap, back flap - turn coming - ouch, overshoot, bang - recovered - kinda - oops!. Little doubt he also saw and heard that his new endeavor included - rubbin' is racin'. To win, ya just have to be ready to do it. The good and experienced do it with finese. The new do it with flair, or should that be "flare"?

Rubbin' is racin'. At Sonoma, JPM's encounters with both Johnson and McMurray looked (to these eyes) good, right, entertaining, old school. Liked it.

Road course racing/winning. Expected? - sure. When one delivers to expectations, cannot see that as a minus.

Attitude - assured, confident, "cocky" - pick your word or sub similar other. He better be. He should be. He's earned a level of "right/priviledge" to be so. Do not see (personally) that he has crossed to the dark side of this as yet. Another angle on this is - he's not a "late teen - early twenties" rookie like many of the new comers. He's at the - perform now - age range.

Racing Skills - little question they are there

A "Racers mindset" - kinda a combo of the 2 previous. Yup. The guys definitely going for it.

Overall thought/feeling/opinion/rating at this point. He's fine/right at this point. Done some sloppy things, will do some more. Done some nice racing, will do some more. Making forward progress. Real point of determination - 3rd year in, no matter what year 1 and 2 produce.

You might not have followed NASCAR long enough to remember, but every quality you mention above spells T-I-M R-I-C-H-M-O-N-D

[suedon70]

I'm not a huge fan of JPM's yet, but he definitely gives me some reasons to root for him: he's fearless, cocky without sounding smarmy (like Stewart can be at times) and he's been successful in a totally different racing league. I think he's great for the sport, and once he wins on an oval, he will instantly earn my respect (and others' too, I'm sure)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

Kanaan, Hornish or Castroneves... if any (or all) of these guys make the jump to NASCAR (Nextel Cup in particular,) the racing will just get all that much better!

Right now, I see a bunch of drivers like the Dale Jarretts, Kenny Wallaces and even someone with a heritage as great as, *gulp*, Kyle Petty just happy to be there on weekends. Those three open-wheel guys would come in with fire to prove something!

Honestly, even without those guys, I really enjoy seeing someone like Truex Jr. or even Casey Mears win because I think I'm looking at the future of what NASCAR has to offer and I really like what I see.

Oh, and thanks for the welcome, and btw, I've been a long-time racing fan of all types of racing including an occasional air race out in Reno, and IRL, CART, F1 and NASCAR are all stuff I enjoy but when it comes down to pure racing, nothing beats NASCAR! In stock car racing, you can bang and bump and still race. If you do that in open-wheel, it's over! Speaking of banging and bumping, I can't wait to see the draft bumping these guys'll be doing in DAYTONA next week! Fun, fun, fun!

Welcome, Gnome. Yep. Looks like you are an actual race fan. I'm originally from the Indianapolis area and remember attending the 500 when they still had the wooden pagoda and the front straight, from pit entrance to exit, was brick.

I go back to the days of the A.J. Watson chassis and the Kurtis roadsters. I started to lose interest in Indy when Jimmy Clark and his Lotus arrived. Then when USAC let CART take over, and Indy racing began to look like a bunch of F1 wantbe's, I gave completely up and didn't follow it again until Tony George told CART where they could take their over-priced and over rated primadonnas. However, Tony caved in and pandered to the driver fans, not necessarily race fans and now IRL is practically back where it was when it was still CART, only the team owners don't completely run the show but they're getting there. Now I've just thrown up my hand and decided it is what it is. Next to Silver Crown, IRL is still the best pavement open wheeled racing in the world.

The experience the IRL drivers get in running fast on pavement in close proximity, tire and fuel conservation, long distance racing, and patience puts any successful IRL driver in a good position to transition to NASCAR IF they can manage the change to heavier cars and softer braking.

Helio, T.K., Wheldon... They'd all make NASCAR an more interesting place (Plus, they'd make a Hell of a lot more money, I believe.