Ganassi puts Montoya in the ‘42′ for Homestead, Mears now has to qualify
Quote selected text Published November 15th, 2006 in NASCAR News
Chip Ganassi Racing has moved Juan Montoya to the #42 Texaco Dodge for the Nextel Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday. Montoya, who will be making his Cup debut, is now guaranteed a spot in the field based on owner points.
Casey Mears will try to qualify Ganassi’s #30 Dodge. Mears is leaving the team after the race to join Hendrick Motorsports as driver of the #25 Chevrolet.
[NASCAR]
- Ganassi rethinks? Montoya to drive the #30 at Homestead, not the #42
- Ganassi waits for Montoya’s release
- Montoya to test at Homestead
- Montoya may make Cup debut at Homestead
- Montoya to start testing for Ganassi next week
This move is so Ganassi! He’s such a jerk…I don’t care if Casey is leaving or not. A classless move!
Amen brother, I have heard that in person Ganassi is probably the biggest jerk in racing
I think this makes good business sense for Chip, he needs to see Juan run in a decent machine, and Casey has the skill to make a good last shot run. No reason to bash Chip over this, it will be good to see what a good open-wheeler can do in a Not-So-Stock Car!
You know, I may not be a huge fan of Casey, but I do support him in his efforts in NASCAR. If Ganassi wants to shaft him like this, that’s fine, but he’s in for one hell of a shock when JP screws up and takes out the flagship car. This isn’t right and everyone knows it.
Casey probably could win the race in that car if he’s given the chance. Instead it will go to waste with Montoya more than likely wrecking or falling laps down. Nice move Chip, that’s why your organization sucks. I am less than enthused at Montoya’s move to cup, the guy just doesn’t seem like he respects Nascar. Seems like he thinks he is too good for it, and all he has to do is show up and win.
My first thought was, Wow that’s so dumb, but I think I can see his reasoning. I think Mears is more likely to qualify then Montoya, he probably has a better chance of having both cars in the race this way. Sucks and I feel bad for Mears, but from an owners point of view it makes sense.
Horse hockey:
“He’ll earn more respect if he qualifies the car then he will if he takes the freebie,” Ganassi told the AP on Wednesday. “And isn’t that what this has all been about? Gaining respect? At the end of the day, Juan didn’t want a free pass into the race.”
At the end of the day Montoya told his boss to stuff the free pass and shows he does have respect for NASCAR and it’s other competitors despite what “Brian” above appears to believe.
Chip, I always said that your are a class guy and “loyalty” is your hallmark. You proved it again!
Montoya came first. Remember Cart?
Uh, looks like he took the free pass. He’s in the car that’s guaranteed to start the race. I guess despite what Montoya said earlier this week it is a big deal.
you thinks its dumb but just wait until the foreigners invade nascar… chip will be ingenious!
OK who didnt see this one coming is blind . Chip has had this move planned for a while. Think about it. The man has no clue how to run a team Who in their right mind would ” let go” the only driver in your stable winning races . Rember the 40 car last year .In the bad move of the year award race CHIP and JACK are neck and neck.
Ganassi might be a jerk but Casey Mears has no talent. Lets see what Montoya’s got. Granted he’ll probably wreck out but everyone has to start somewhere. I don’t know how anyone could say Casey could win the race. What NASCAR are ya’ll watching? Rick Mears was a driver. Casey is riding his coat tails. Hendrick is gonna wish they kept Vickers.
I dont think thats fair for Casey.