Lure of NASCAR big threat to open-wheel world
Quote selected text Published July 6th, 2007 in NASCAR News
Juan Pablo Montoya’s Nextel Cup win two weeks ago in Sonoma was the latest example of a former open-wheel driver succeeding in NASCAR. It certainly won’t be the last.
As NASCAR’s star rises, open-wheel racing’s continues to fade, and losing its top talent to stock cars isn’t helping one bit.
Montoya, who left a stellar career in both Indy Car racing and Formula One before moving over NASCAR, is just the latest talent to come over to the promised land of stock-car racing.
Like Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears, J.J. Yeley, Robby Gordon, A.J. Allmendinger and even Jeff Gordon, Montoya decided the best path to the top of the motorsports ladder was in NASCAR.
“Obviously NASCAR has grown to become just about the biggest thing in racing,” said Montoya, who is one of only two drivers to win a NASCAR Nextel Cup race, Formula One and the Indy 500, joining Mario Andretti in that accomplishment.
“I was at a point in my career where I wanted to try something challenging and do something that would get me involved with what I think still has the potential to be even larger than it is today.”
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- Montoya’s message to open-wheelers: Don’t block the Cup guys
- IRL and Champ Car Stars Know the Future of Racing is in NASCAR
JPM has always been a whiner, Nascar is a good place for him. He fits right in.
JPM is always one of the toughest driver out there!
Really what NASCAR needs to do, is create a road racing series! I am a road racer and love F1,
I also really like NASCAR but I don’t watch the cookie cutter 1.5 to 2 miles tracks! I watch
super speedways, short tracks and road tracks! I think a stock car racing road course series,
with a few ovals would be really interesting!
As for open wheel, IRL is crazy but has no really fans. Champ Car couldn’t be a support for
NASCAR with all there problems. The best chance of open wheel come back, is if Champ and IRL
unite to battle the popularity of Stock car racing.
I mean even the sports car series are growing in popularity, but not open wheel in the states!
WPM SUCKS!!!! everyone makes a big deal about him (he won his first race) it was on a road couse, put dale or jeff in an indy car at daytona if one of them won do you think they would make that big of a deal? its daytona thats were they come from. until he can earn the respect of his peers and win one the roundey round he doesent get any love from me
Juan Pablo has plenty of talent, but you’re right, he needs to win on an oval. He knows that too.
I assume you mean win on a oval in Nascar. He did win the Indy 500 and other oval races.
“put dale or jeff in an indy car at daytona if one of them won do you think they would make that big of a deal?”
Yes, I think it would be a great big deal. Look at history, other drivers have come to Nascar and won, but, Nascar drivers never go to other series and win. They used to race in the Indy 500, but never won it.
examples: Mario Andretti, AJ Foyt, Dan Gurney, JPM, Robby Gordon….there’s more