number66.net

Juan Pablo Montoya should be considered a hero. He is motor sports former self. He is what it was and what it really ought to be. On Sunday, Juan Montoya won his first NASCAR [Busch Series] race: the Telcel-Motorola 200 in Mexico City. After starting third and dominating the race from the start, a refueling malfunction left him in 19th position with only 25-laps remaining. Aided only by caution periods, Montoya began to move back up the order until on lap 72 he collided with team-mate Scott Pruett for the lead. Pushing Pruett into a spin, Montoya continued and held Denny Hamlin off over the few remaining laps for the win - the first ever for a Hispanic driver in the NASCAR Busch Series and his first after only six starts. This was a road course. I hear you sigh. This wasn't NASCAR's normal oval race and is, like Montoya, the future of the series. NASCAR is expanding into South America, a growing market which it is largely yet to explore. With the future of NASCAR in Mexico uncertain and a 2008 deal not yet confirmed, this was as much NASCAR's chance as it was Montoya's and amazingly, it looks like everyone benefits. Montoya showed himself to be a league above the rest and lived up to expectation. In doing so, he upholds the dignity and stature of European competition (including Formula One) and it in turn helps every European racing driver wanting to drive in the States. Crucially, it is perfect for NASCAR. Montoya's win is the ultimate prize in negotiating next season and will surely win over much needed fans. But let us get back on topic. Why is Montoya a hero? There was a time when racing drivers used to race everything and anything they could. Jim Clark, Formula One World Champion in 1963 and 1965 was also the 1964 British Touring Car Champion. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1965 and finished third at the 1960 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1966 Clark entered the RAC Rally of Great Britain and had he not have crashed during he final stages, very likely would have won. He was also no stranger to NASCAR and raced a Ford Galaxie for the Holman Moody team. He was an all rounder and for the most part, just loved to race. Mario Andretti was Formula One World Champion in 1978. Previously, in 1967, Andretti won NASCAR's most prestigious race, the Daytona 500. In 1969 he won the IndyCar championship, the Indianapolis 500 and the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the ferocious race to the summit of Pikes Peak, Colorado which climbs some 1439 metres on dirt and gravel. In 1974 he won the USAC dirt track series in addition to winning the Formula 5000 championship for the second time in a row. After Formula One, he won the IndyCar series for a fourth time in 1984. Just like Clark, he will be remembered as a legendary all rounder and as someone who simply loved to race. So how about Montoya? After a successful career of karting he won the 1992 Colombian Formula Renault championship. The following year he also won the Colombian GTI National Championship Tournament before in 1994 returning to karts to win the Sudan 125 championship. In 1995 he came to England, finishing third in Formula Vauxhall with Paul Stewart Racing. For 1996 he remained in England for the British Formula Three championship and eventually finished third after two wins with the Fortec Motorsport. His single-seater career came to prominence when in 1997 he competed in the International Formula 3000 championship with RSM Marko. He finished second in the championship with three wins and remained in the series for a second year. After switching to the experienced Super Nova team, he dominated the series and won in 1998. With no options available to him in Formula One the following year, Montoya returned to the America's to race in the-then popular CART series, now known as the Champ Car World Series. He once again showed immense raw speed and dominated the championship to win overall in his rookie year with seven wins and seven poles. Remaining in CART for 2000, his Ganassi team switched to the newer Lola chassis and Toyota engine. This, regrettably, was a mistake and overall it was never competitive. However, Montoya salvaged his dignity from the otherwise least successful season of his career and won the prestigious Indianapolis 500. That weekend, BMW Williams announced a two year deal for him enter Formula One in 2001. During his time in Formula One, Montoya achieved seven Grand Prix victories and finished third in the championship on two separate occasions. Whilst never managing to win the World Championship, some consolation can be found in his 2003 victory at Monaco which made him only the second person in history to win both the Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix. In 2006, after another difficult year with McLaren, his announcement, with immediate effect, to switch to NASCAR was a real shock. Not only had he turned his back on Formula One (it is usually the opposite), he had made a real statement to the world of motor sport. NASCAR is the place to be. Of course there were sceptics and the risk to his career enormous. But although unusually quiet, Montoya was confident. NASCAR is unique in as much as the most important race of the year also happens to be the first. After making an impression during qualifying, he never had any luck. Juan Pablo led 18-laps of his qualification race before a broken wheel hub caused him to retire and as a consequence, he would start his first Daytona 500 last. His misfortune continued and gearbox problems left him with only fourth gear during the race and little hope of making history with a victory in his first Nextel Cup start If he does manage to win the Daytona 500, and for the record I think he will, he will become the first person in history to win the Monaco Grand Prix, Indianapolis 500 and Daytona. Following that, all he would need is a win at Le Mans. Two months ago, Montoya (together with Scott Pruett and Salvador Duran) won the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, North America's premier sports car endurance race. He almost certainly has the experience, all he needs is the opportunity and he will accomplish what is truly remarkable. The point is, despite being just 31 years old, in my opinion, Juan Pablo Montoya is already one of the great all rounders the sport has ever seen. His enthusiasm to race is an inspiration and a welcome break from the sometimes robotic attitude of the modern Formula One driver . He was never really comfortable in a modern Formula One car and perhaps he was born in the wrong era. It did, however, make the world take him seriously and his participation was entirely necessary. Juan Pablo Montoya is a rare hero in today's generation.