[simple simon]

MONTOYA'S 2007 SEASON A SUCCESS ON AND OFF THE TRACK


CONCORD, N.C. (December 31, 2007) -- Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) driver Juan Pablo Montoya has completed his first full year of racing in NASCAR and his impact was felt on and off the track. Aside from his two wins, one in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and one in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, and the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title, Montoya made a successful transition into the NASCAR community.


Notes of Interest:

* Three Wins and a Rookie of the Year Title -- Montoya visited victory lane three times, in three different series in 2007 and captured the Cup Rookie of the Year title.

* Community Service -- Montoya and his wife Connie co-hosted a charity gala in Miami, Fla., to increase awareness about their home country of Colombia, and raise funding in conjunction with five other Colombian charitable foundations.

* Global Marketing -- The Colombian born driver came to NASCAR with a globally recognized name. After spending seven years on the international Formula One circuit, Montoya's sponsors were able to market him outside the United States.

* Media Appeal: Montoya has piqued the interest of the sport to several new media outlets during the season, and the addition of several foreign-born drivers in 2008 should continue to attract new media. Several tracks on the NASCAR circuit, including Texas, California, Chicago and Miami held special events for the Hispanic media who recently took more interest in the sport upon Montoya's arrival.

-credit: cgr

Motorsport.com: News channel

[Bob Tanner]

I heard a discussion the other day which gave me pause. In thinking about it a bit I can see logic in it though it will cause a lot of gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair with a lot of fans...

Juan Pablo is ac knowledgeably a great driver. If he starts winning the self assured personality which many see as arrogance will make him a polarizing figure. He's shown he'll put a fellow racer in the fence to win (Ask Scott Pruitt). He's shown he's not afraid to get out of his car and engage in confrontation (Ask Harvick). He drives a black car.

IF he can start winning regularly we might have the makings of a new, Earnhardt-type (love him or hate him, no middle ground) figure like Dale?

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

IF he can start winning regularly we might have the makings of a new, Earnhardt-type (love him or hate him, no middle ground) figure like Dale?

wow did you kick a hornets nest

i see the potential but it will be a few years before it comes out imo ..... i hope he sticks around that long

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I heard a discussion the other day which gave me pause. In thinking about it a bit I can see logic in it though it will cause a lot of gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair with a lot of fans...

Juan Pablo is ac knowledgeably a great driver. If he starts winning the self assured personality which many see as arrogance will make him a polarizing figure. He's shown he'll put a fellow racer in the fence to win (Ask Scott Pruitt). He's shown he's not afraid to get out of his car and engage in confrontation (Ask Harvick). He drives a black car.

IF he can start winning regularly we might have the makings of a new, Earnhardt-type (love him or hate him, no middle ground) figure like Dale?

I dunno on this one. Mind you now I never have cared for Sr.'s style of driving and that pretty much says that I was never a big fan of his. Death has a way of making us see things in a different light and I will acknowledge that Sr. was a dominating driver. Most of his intimidation came from behind the wheel while Juan is doing it from several different venues.

Comparisons will always bring about discussion as I'm sure this subject will do. I just don't see Dale & Juan as a good comparison. I have been convinced to see things from a different view before and it may well happen again .... just not yet.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Comparisons will always bring about discussion as I'm sure this subject will do. I just don't see Dale & Juan as a good comparison. I have been convinced to see things from a different view before and it may well happen again .... just not yet.

Herein lies the dilemma. I'm NOT comparing JPM to Dale. I'm comparing how the fans will react to him.

Sports need polarizing figures; you know, the kind you either love of hate. The kind absolutely no one one says are, "so-so." Dale Sr. filled this hole. Before Dale it was DW.

Jeffie made a rotten villain. Too clean cut and preppy. Junior doesn't do it. He's too likable. Junior's biggest problem is his fans. They are the ones most "anti-Jr." folks dislike.

JPM's a natural, the more I think about it. He has the talent and the attitude. He comes from a foreign country. He portrays the absolute desire to win. The WWF has made an empire out of such people.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Herein lies the dilemma. I'm NOT comparing JPM to Dale. I'm comparing how the fans will react to him.

JPM's a natural, the more I think about it. He has the talent and the attitude. He comes from a foreign country. He portrays the absolute desire to win. The WWF has made an empire out of such people.

youre right .. i didnt see your point clearly

though i cant really ever see it coming to that .. unless you include fans outside the US ..... i think within American NASCAR fans the JPM "haters" will always outnumber the JPM "lovers" at least 10-1

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by simple simon

youre right .. i didnt see your point clearly

though i cant really ever see it coming to that .. unless you include fans outside the US ..... i think within American NASCAR fans the JPM "haters" will always outnumber the JPM "lovers" at least 10-1

Compared to the "DW Haters," and the Earnhardt Haters," I have yet to see any real "JPM Haters." People who don't care for his F1 history, yep. A few who dislike his ethnicity, sure. Some who find his attitude objectionable (usually these same people feel the exact same about Robby Gordon, who also would be a great villain IF he'd just pass more people) But, I just haven't personally seen or heard the hatred for JPM that I've seen and heard in others.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

Compared to the "DW Haters," and the Earnhardt Haters," I have yet to see any real "JPM Haters." People who don't care for his F1 history, yep. A few who dislike his ethnicity, sure. Some who find his attitude objectionable (usually these same people feel the exact same about Robby Gordon, who also would be a great villain IF he'd just pass more people) But, I just haven't personally seen or heard the hatred for JPM that I've seen and heard in others.

it'll come .. when he starts winning regularly. it's amazing how the simple act of winning suddenly starts polarizing folks.

I"m sure there are people who don't like Ward Burton, but then he hasn't won in a long, long time so it's not a big deal...

Now, Robby, on the other hand .. Robby's a winner .. it's just his wins are separated by periods of stubbornness punctuated with an "in your face" attitude towards the powers that be. But then Robby doesn't live for NA__AR like many of the drivers do... Dakar anyone? or maybe Baja is more to your liking? or how about Indy?

(I'm sure it irks some folks in the "Daytona Towers" that Robby doesn't "need" NA__AR .. he's already got more on his plate than most drivers ever dream to have and can run just about anything, anywhere & anytime he chooses.)

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Racer Duck

it'll come .. when he starts winning regularly. it's amazing how the simple act of winning suddenly starts polarizing folks.

I"m sure there are people who don't like Ward Burton, but then he hasn't won in a long, long time so it's not a big deal...

Now, Robby, on the other hand .. Robby's a winner .. it's just his wins are separated by periods of stubbornness punctuated with an "in your face" attitude towards the powers that be. But then Robby doesn't live for NA__AR like many of the drivers do... Dakar anyone? or maybe Baja is more to your liking? or how about Indy?

(I'm sure it irks some folks in the "Daytona Towers" that Robby doesn't "need" NA__AR .. he's already got more on his plate than most drivers ever dream to have and can run just about anything, anywhere & anytime he chooses.)

Can I get an "AMEN!," Brother Duck?

Unfortunately Robby doesn't play well with others, especially team owners and fellow team members, and in this era that is a MUST. If you aren't a "team player," you fail. Period.

It kind of amazes me that so many criticize Robby Gordon vehemently yet say they are long time NASCAR fans and long for the "Good Old Days?"

Having experienced those days I see either Robby or possibly Smoke as being the only drivers out there today who would not have been out of place racing against Junior Johnson, Freddy Lorenzen, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarbrough, Bobby Allison, or the young DW.

BTW, did you read the entire Lisbon-Dakar Rallye has been canceled this year, thanks to terrorist possibilities by our peace-loving Muslim friends in Mauritania?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

It kind of amazes me that so many criticize Robby Gordon vehemently yet say they are long time NASCAR fans and long for the "Good Old Days?"

Having experienced those days I see either Robby or possibly Smoke as being the only drivers out there today who would not have been out of place racing against Junior Johnson, Freddy Lorenzen, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarbrough, Bobby Allison, or the young DW.

Maybe it's just me Bob but I guess I look at "confrontation" as a safety risk these days. I realize the good old days also contained confrontational times but that really isn't one of the things I think of when I think of the good old days. I do agree with you that Robby & Smoke probably would have fit in with that crowd but I'd like to think that confrontations are far less today than they were 30 plus years ago. I'm one of (probably a very few) who thinks that fighting in hockey should be reduced significantly so it is hard for me to think that it is a part of todays racing. I understand that tempers flare and an occasional pushing match will occur (JPM & Harvick).

Maybe the good old days weren't that good and we just view them from rose colored glasses because we just don't care for everything that goes on today.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Maybe it's just me Bob but I guess I look at "confrontation" as a safety risk these days. I realize the good old days also contained confrontational times but that really isn't one of the things I think of when I think of the good old days. I do agree with you that Robby & Smoke probably would have fit in with that crowd but I'd like to think that confrontations are far less today than they were 30 plus years ago. I'm one of (probably a very few) who thinks that fighting in hockey should be reduced significantly so it is hard for me to think that it is a part of todays racing. I understand that tempers flare and an occasional pushing match will occur (JPM & Harvick).

Maybe the good old days weren't that good and we just view them from rose colored glasses because we just don't care for everything that goes on today.

I agree on the confrontation, Steve. There is no place for some goober using his car as a "get even tool" while doing 200MPH at Talladega.

What I see in Robby and, to some extent, in Smoke and even Flipper, is a desire to race solely for the thrill of competition and for the sake of the race. Yet, do all of this in front of sparse or non-existent crowds in machines which demand an extraordinary amount of physical exertion.

Bobby, Cale and Junior could manhandle a 3000# car with no power steering for 500 miles on hot and humid Sunday afternoons in the South.

Put all the above together and I, personally, do not see any other than the above mentioned drivers willing to do things likew that.

The "not playing well with others" was aimed at Robby's many problems with Kevin at RCR and his not really being the type of driver who enjoys being employed by others.

That was where I was coming from.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

I agree on the confrontation, Steve. There is no place for some goober using his car as a "get even tool" while doing 200MPH at Talladega.

What I see in Robby and, to some extent, in Smoke and even Flipper, is a desire to race solely for the thrill of competition and for the sake of the race. Yet, do all of this in front of sparse or non-existent crowds in machines which demand an extraordinary amount of physical exertion.

Bobby, Cale and Junior could manhandle a 3000# car with no power steering for 500 miles on hot and humid Sunday afternoons in the South.

Put all the above together and I, personally, do not see any other than the above mentioned drivers willing to do things likew that.

The "not playing well with others" was aimed at Robby's many problems with Kevin at RCR and his not really being the type of driver who enjoys being employed by others.

That was where I was coming from.

Perhaps they should take away the power steering, and see who's in it for the glory, and who's in it for the competition? With all the safety equipment these days, and the brickwall of a car they have now, it would be somethin to look at. I think we would see a whole new race on the track.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Perhaps they should take away the power steering, and see who's in it for the glory, and who's in it for the competition? With all the safety equipment these days, and the brickwall of a car they have now, it would be somethin to look at. I think we would see a whole new race on the track.

I've found, Dustin, that once the technology cat is out of the bag you usually play Hell getting it back. NA__AR, to quote Mike Helton, "Is what it is."

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Perhaps they should take away the power steering, and see who's in it for the glory, and who's in it for the competition? With all the safety equipment these days, and the brickwall of a car they have now, it would be somethin to look at. I think we would see a whole new race on the track.

If nothing else there might be a lot less pushing, shoving and mouthing off at the end of the race. Just too tired !!!

[DOF_power]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Perhaps they should take away the power steering, and see who's in it for the glory, and who's in it for the competition? With all the safety equipment these days, and the brickwall of a car they have now, it would be somethin to look at. I think we would see a whole new race on the track.

What's power steering got to do with glory vs. competition ?!