[disco stu]

Hi All,

I've just mentioned this in another thread, but I then thought "maybe it deserves it's own thread".

So here goes.

Juan Pablo Montoya - Rookie of the Year

What are your opinions on his first full season in NASCAR?

How do you rate his chances for 2008?

[LSC9901]

With the experience gained this year he will in all likelyhood do better in '08. A little reduction in the attitude would help increase his popularity also.

[Racer Duck]

I've marveled at how far he's come "converting" to fendered race cars. and, not being the top dog has subdued him a bit, though he still has hints of arrogance at times when on camera. hopefully that'll fade a bit more also. no doubt, he earned ROY the hard way: without any front runners on the team to help.

I'm also pleased he's taken an interest in helping the other open-wheelers who recently "transitioned" to NASCAR.

now we wait to see if he suffers the "sophomore slump"...

[Nevadastars]

Put him in a Hendrick or Gibbs car, and I think everyone would really be amazed.

[PenelopePitStop]

Well, Disco, I'm tempted to respond. However, I'm keeping my word to never mention "You know who", good or bad, on GTG ever again.

[SpaceCadet]

I've been a fence rider on this subject, but I do believe he has earned a little respect. I find him to be skilled and driven to win, which I like. His lack of humility sometimes gets on my nerves, but I think if he sticks with it he will do quite well.

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

Put him in a Hendrick or Gibbs car, and I think everyone would really be amazed.

But that would only prove that, just like in F1, in NASCAR there are top/dominant megateams.
Wouldn't that be bad publicity ?!

[simple simon]

well, as most of you already know ..... i was a total fan for JPM this season ...... i was not a bandwagon jumper .. my support started before the season .. and i stuck with him throughout ...... and he will continue to be my favorite driver until he walks away or pulls a Michael Vick (for those of you that never wander out of the NASCAR forum, have LSC explain that to you)

some of you may also remember that at the beginning of the season i laid out what i considered JPM needed to do for the season to be a success in my estimation

he needed to finish in the top 30 at Daytona for the 500 (which he did)

he needed to get a win (which he did)

he needed to finish in the top 20 in points (which he did)

so all in all i would say im happy and the season was a total success

next year i have new goals for him

finish in the top 20 in the Daytona 500 ..... win 2 races ...... finish in the top 15 in points (hopefully in the chase)

it will be interesting to see if all the open wheelers band together and help each other out .... i hope they do

[NASCAR Gnome]

I jumped "back" into NASCAR in 2007 BECAUSE of Montoya! I followed him in open wheel and when I heard he was making a jump to "closed wheel" (huh?) or stock cars - I thought: serious??? COOL!!! Here's a guy I KNEW had an ATTITUDE - talk about the Honey Badger-type attitude - that was going to come in and seriously RUFFLE some FEATHERS!!! I wanted to see how the "good-old boys" would react to him and how I knew he wasn't going to "lay down" and defer or concede ANYTHING to these guys! Just wasn't going to happen, sparky!

Sure enough, I got what I expected - and more! I expected tenacity and I got it from JPM... I expected stubborness - check, got that... I expected attitude - another check, just ask Harvick... I expected success - Mexico and Sonoma are obvious but he finished many more races than he didn't and does this guy LOVE Indy or what??? I admit I never thought he'd contend for the "ROY" - and in fact, didn't care one bit for that because I just wanted him to do well - but now that it's been awarded to him, I will say that this is one honor that time will never erase.. You can only be a rookie once and to win it means a lot, I'm sure.

As a professed Montoya fan, I look to better things from him in '08. I'd like to see him in the chase and I think his attitude, although remaining competitive, will "mellow" a bit because he's getting to know the most important aspect of racing stock cars: the CARS themselves!!!

To quote Montoya from NASCAR.com: "When you think you have a good car, you're still miles away, and other times when you're so loose you're about to kill yourself, you're competitive."

That quote says a lot of someone who was used to the best equipment money, science and engineering could buy on the face of the Earth!

[disco stu]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Well, Disco, I'm tempted to respond. However, I'm keeping my word to never mention "You know who", good or bad, on GTG ever again.

Hahaha....there must be more to this!

Do tell, what's your gripe with "the unmentionable Colombian"?

[disco stu]

Originally Posted by NASCAR Gnome

I jumped "back" into NASCAR in 2007 BECAUSE of Montoya! I followed him in open wheel and when I heard he was making a jump to "closed wheel" (huh?) or stock cars - I thought: serious??? COOL!!! Here's a guy I KNEW had an ATTITUDE - talk about the Honey Badger-type attitude - that was going to come in and seriously RUFFLE some FEATHERS!!! I wanted to see how the "good-old boys" would react to him and how I knew he wasn't going to "lay down" and defer or concede ANYTHING to these guys! Just wasn't going to happen, sparky!

Sure enough, I got what I expected - and more! I expected tenacity and I got it from JPM... I expected stubborness - check, got that... I expected attitude - another check, just ask Harvick... I expected success - Mexico and Sonoma are obvious but he finished many more races than he didn't and does this guy LOVE Indy or what??? I admit I never thought he'd contend for the "ROY" - and in fact, didn't care one bit for that because I just wanted him to do well - but now that it's been awarded to him, I will say that this is one honor that time will never erase.. You can only be a rookie once and to win it means a lot, I'm sure.

As a professed Montoya fan, I look to better things from him in '08. I'd like to see him in the chase and I think his attitude, although remaining competitive, will "mellow" a bit because he's getting to know the most important aspect of racing stock cars: the CARS themselves!!!

To quote Montoya from NASCAR.com: "When you think you have a good car, you're still miles away, and other times when you're so loose you're about to kill yourself, you're competitive."

That quote says a lot of someone who was used to the best equipment money, science and engineering could buy on the face of the Earth!

You just summed up why I support the man right there NG.

He's far from perfect......great ain't it?

The man is, though, a RACER.....like Nigel Mansell was.

Attitude is everything I think.

[disco stu]

Thanks everyone for responding to my post.

I really appreciate you all taking the time.

[Phils20]

I think he has done a good job, and will improve greatly next season. I want to like him, but some of his comments have plucked a nerve or two of mine.

Even though I'm not a big fan of athletes who talk themselves up, I think he can back up the talk, so that is just something I'll have to deal with!

I hope he stays with Gannassi, and gives us another "mega-team" to deal with. That would be great for the sport, on many levels!

One thing he MUST do next year is win on an oval. A short track win like Bristol would do wonders for his credibility. A cookie cutter track would be better for his career, since that is what most of the races are run on, but he would really show us his talent to take Bristol or Martinsville.

It's just a matter of time for him!

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by disco stu

Hi All,

I've just mentioned this in another thread, but I then thought "maybe it deserves it's own thread".

So here goes.

Juan Pablo Montoya - Rookie of the Year

What are your opinions on his first full season in NASCAR?

How do you rate his chances for 2008?

I thought he'd tire of things around the Brickyard 500 time frame. He proved me wrong.

I think he did a far above average job, making the transition to full bodied cars. He won a Cup race and Cup Lite race. He had multiple top ten finishes. He was in equipment not on a level with the Hendrick cars. He was rubbed on and rubbed back. He make Ganassi money and got some good endorsement contracts (Texaco and SIRIUS, to name two.) he finished in the top 20.

What more would you expect out of a rookie?

[lilsexy08]

I know I'm going to get my butt kicked but I just don't like the man. He's arrogant and self centered, needs to go back to Columbia!