Tensions rising between Montoya and Ganassi over Elledge firing
Quote selected text Published May 24th, 2008 in NASCAR News
Juan Pablo Montoya posted the second slowest qualifying lap out of 48 entries and dejectedly climbed from his car. “What did you expect?” he asked. “Seriously, what did you expect?”
Montoya is still reeling from the midweek firing of Jimmy Elledge, a personnel decision that’s given the former Formula One driver his third crew chief in a month. Frustrated that his opposition to the dismissal went unheeded, Montoya is now worried that his team is ill-prepared for Sunday’s race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Because new crew chief Brian Pattie had just two days to dissect Elledge’s setup on the No. 42 Dodge, changes were made on the fly during a difficult Thursday practice session that saw Montoya post the 45th slowest speed. It didn’t improve during qualifying, when Montoya was 47th out of 48 cars and will start next-to-last in the Coca-Cola 600. Team owner Chip Ganassi sympathizes with Montoya’s frustration, but said Elledge’s dismissal was warranted after the crew chief engaged in a heated argument with competition director Steve Hmiel during last week’s All-Star race.
“We had an employee step over the line, and I’m sorry it happened because I like Jimmy personally, but it had to be done,” Ganassi said. “I know Juan is upset and he comes out on the short end of this deal. I apologize for that, but unfortunately it was unavoidable collateral damage.”
Elledge declined to comment on his dismissal, but Montoya has been vocal in his opposition of the decision. Elledge had only been atop his pit box for four races, dating back to an earlier crew chief swap that sent Donnie Wingo over to Reed Sorenson’s slumping team.
Bookmark to:
- Ganassi fires No 42 crew chief Jimmy Elledge-UPDATE
- Montoya to Gibbs? Don’t bet on it
- Ganassi swaps No 41 and No 42 crew chiefs to help struggling team
- Can Ganassi spread his IndyCar success to NASCAR?
- Frustrated Montoya meets with Ganassi
Unless Elledge threatened Hmiel with bodily injury, Ganassi must be out of his mind to Dump his crew chief and piss off hos own driver. Of course, anyone who has failed as completely to build a successful Cup program as Ganassi has to date has the right to be crazy. Never though I’d say this, but I kind of feel sorry for JPM for being stuck on a dead end team, with no turn around in sight.
That’s not encouraging to the other team drivers either.
Sabates should have went with someone else back in 2000 when he sold his cup program. Ganassi should sell out to someone else rather than kill his own team
i say send him back to f1
The Hammer wrote:
He’s selling his stake back to Chip in 2009 or 2010 anyway, or at least thats what was said last year.
Fisha695 wrote:
Felix Sabates only had one problem “his friends” if they were having problems he would give them a job. Even though it’s good to help out a friend like that it’s not very good for business when they cant do the job. Maybe Ganassi should sell to Penski they might not be #1 but atleast their not tearing themselves apart.
Maybe, —–Montoya’s problem may not be the crew chief. The only two races he’s won with
NASCAR is one Busch,(which he wrecked Pruett)
and a road race, where Hearvick was told to
back off, as Montoya would give out of gas. That was another race given to him. He’s just a spoiled “driver” that wants everything “his”
was. He can’t go back to F1, why do you think
he left?
Wingo brought Juanito through a steady rookie year. Juanito needed that. Now that he’s on his 3rd crew chief in a short time, he misses the continuity. I thought Chip was smarter than that. He knows nothing about Cup and it sadly shows. Go back to Indy cars Chip.
Chip should go back t open wheel racing!
Sam wrote:
How can he go back to something that he is already involved in? l0l
If anything he should spend more time with the Cup program and less time with the IRL/Grand-Am programs.
Of course, winning Indy might help get over his troubles in Cup!