Juan Pablo Montoya’s win in Mexico City is still a hot topic in NASCAR, where many drivers weighed in on his performance in the Busch Series race.

Montoya dominated the race, fell back to 19th after a team error, and rallied his way back to the front with a furious drive through the field. But the win last Sunday came at teammate Scott Pruett’s expense - Montoya spun him in the closing laps as he attempted to pass him.

It was a controversial ending that seemed to raise a few eyebrows.

“That’s between him and Scott and [car owner] Chip Ganassi,” Elliott Sadler said. “All I know is I’d better not spin Kasey Kahne out with five laps to go or Scott Riggs or I’m going to be in trouble with [car owner] Ray [Evernham].

“Maybe we just have different rules than other guys.”

Pruett was vocal in his criticism of Montoya immediately after the race, but the two eventually spoke and have moved on.

Regardless of the inicident, there was plenty of praise for Montoya’s drive.

“I knew that Juan Montoya was one of the greatest drivers in the world but boy, did he show everybody on Sunday,” said Mark Martin. “The incident that he and Pruett had, it was an unfortunate incident. It was not something that needed to take place for him to win the race. It certainly doesn’t discredit the win, by any means.

“He certainly put on a driving clinic for everyone out there and that was awesome.”

Montoya, in his first full season of NASCAR after a successful open-wheel career, is now moving his focus to winning on an oval. But he’s pleased to have his first trip to Victory Lane behind him.

“I think it is a big boost. It shows we can deliver and get the job done,” he said. “In a way it takes off a lot of pressure, but at the same time it puts a lot of pressure on us. I have a good chance of winning a road course, but there are only two road course races against 34 ovals.

“You want to make sure you can be competitive on the ovals.”

Myrtle Beach Online

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