Motorsport News: Russ Bonds Weekly Report

Ganassi Gets Juan

Last week, a racing car, the Audi R8 upstaged all drivers by making big news with its retirement announcement. Well this week, the drivers, well, one driver struck back. McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 driver, Juan Pablo Montoya is leaving Formula 1 at the end of the year to go... wait for it... NASCAR racing.

Yep, its true. Target Chip Ganassi Racing has welcomed back the Colombian, who will drive the #42 entry in Cup Racing.

"Were thrilled to have Juan Pablo Montoya join the Dodge Motorsports family and the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series," said Mike Accavitti, Director of Dodge SRT and Motorsports Marketing "Weve had the honor of having him drive for our McLaren Mercedes program in F1 and to now add him to our roster in NASCAR really demonstrates how we integrate our motorsports programs around the world."

Now thats news! Montoya added that, "Ive known and worked with Chip for a number of years, and this situation could not be better for me." He continued, "I know the transition will not be easy, but I cant wait to get behind the wheel."

While its all nice and rosy now, open wheeled drivers moving to NASCAR hasnt been a resounding success. Michel Jourdain, Christian Fittipaldi and Paul Tracy come to mind.
But is Montoya different?

That question will be answered next year, but for NASCAR, it is a huge success already. They

F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, a fan favorite in North America, is on his way to NASCAR. (Photo: Russ Bond, American Auto Press)

are busting at the seams, and they needed to connect to the Latino community more, and Montoya will do that.

For Canadians, I understand Jacques Villeneuve is also courting the NASCAR scene, looking for a deal.

Of all the open wheeled drivers that could do well, these two - and Canadian Patrick Carpentier - would be the best fit. All three have matured over the past few years, and I think they could adapt well to Cup racing, but it will take time.

And that is the major problem. They normally get off to a bad start, when they want too much, too soon. If Montoya can harness the aggression, and put a side the "F1" ego, he could do well with Ganassi.

Bristol is a Far Cry from Bahrain

While most of the news focused on Montoya, there was a race run on the weekend. After Tony Stewarts win at Daytona last weekend, the rebounding Jeff Gordon won at Chicagoland this weekend, but not without the usual dose of controversy. Matt Kenseths #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion was the car to beat all day long, easily getting to the front and staying in

Montoyas next ride will look much like this Target Ganassi Racing Dodge Intrepid R/T. (Photo: Ganassi Racing)

front for much of the latter part of race. After a late race caution bunched the field, Kenseth once again got out in front and was in command, but Gordon actually had the car to challenge him, and challenge he did with his #24 DuPont Chevrolet Monte Carlo. With about five laps to go and all out of patience, Gordon gave Kenseth the sweetest of love taps on his inside rear bumper, just enough to send Kenseth spinning out of control and out of contention when it was questionable as to whether Gordon would have been able to get by Kenseth on racing alone.
From there it was just a sprint to the finish for Gordon while Kenseth faded to 22nd. Gordons victory lap and burnout was greeted with a shower of pop bottles and debris raining down on the track, projectiles from fans who could clearly see that Gordon wrecked Kenseth, fans who also remember the race in Bristol last March, when Kenseth wrecked Gordon and Gordon came down pit lane after the race and gave Kenseth a healthy shove and some angry words.

While some might argue for NASCAR to intervene and penalize the bump and wreck, letting it go adds fuel to the fire and does nothing less than get people agitated, excited and interested. Although it almost seems like something scripted out of

Chip Ganassi was all smiles after announcing his NASCAR team will field Juan Pablo next year. (Photo: Ganassi Racing)

professional wrestling, Jeff Burton, a former teammate of Kenseth, warned interviewers after the race that this type of behavior and lack of punishment invites more retribution.

"If NASCAR doesnt handle it, then we need to handle it," Burton said. "And thats OK." Look out, #24; sounds like youre fair game.

As it gets closer to the Chase for the Nextel Cup, the usual suspects are getting their act together. It is kind of cool to be able to think that Juan Pablo Montoya could be in the chase next year... and maybe even Jacques Villeneuve.

USG Sheetrock 400 | Chicagoland Speedway | July 9, 2006

USG Sheetrock 400 Results
Pos. Driver Start No. Mfg. Led Completed Status Pts/Bonus Money
1 Jeff Gordon 13 #24 Chevrolet 20 270 running 185/5 $327,761
2 Jeff Burton 1 #31 Chevrolet 60 270 running 175/5 $250,220
3 Kyle Busch 23 #5 Chevrolet 2 270 running 170/5 $178,075
4 Kevin Harvick 4 #29 Chevrolet 40 270 running 165/5 $184,586
5 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 25 #8 Chevrolet 27 270 running 160/5 $164,591
6 Jimmie Johnson 5 #48 Chevrolet 0 270 running 150/0 $154,286
7 Reed Sorenson 18 #41 Dodge 6 270 running 151/5 $116,525
8 Kurt Busch 19 #2 Dodge 0 270 running 142/0 $138,958
9 Clint Bowyer 38 #07 Chevrolet 0 270 running 138/0 $114,425
10 J.J. Yeley 10 #18 Chevrolet 0 270 running 134/0 $138,475

Matt Kenseths #17 USG Sheetrock Ford Fusion was the car to beat all day long. (Photo: Autostock)

11 Greg Biffle 27 #16 Ford 0 270 running 130/0 $113,000
12 Bobby Labonte 6 #43 Dodge 1 270 running 132/5 $132,136
13 Brian Vickers 2 #25 Chevrolet 0 270 running 124/0 $101,350
14 Denny Hamlin 7 #11 Chevrolet 0 270 running 121/0 $91,525
15 Scott Riggs 14 #10 Dodge 0 270 running 118/0 $91,325
16 Martin Truex Jr. 29 #1 Chevrolet 0 270 running 115/0 $116,283
17 Dave Blaney 15 #22 Dodge 0 270 running 112/0 $106,233
18 Mark Martin 9 #6 Ford 1 270 running 114/5 $103,325
19 Robby Gordon 30 #7 Chevrolet 0 270 running 106/0 $88,125
20 Carl Edwards 21 #99 Ford 0 270 running 103/0 $106,725
21 David Stremme 20 #40 Dodge 0 270 running 100/0 $108,983
22 Matt Kenseth 8 #17 Ford 112 270 running 107/10 $139,666
23 Kasey Kahne 3 #9 Dodge 0 270 running 94/0 $120,489
24 Jeremy Mayfield 16 #19 Dodge 0 270 running 91/0 $114,916
25 Casey Mears 11 #42 Dodge 0 270 running 88/0 $118,783
26 Sterling Marlin 31 #14 Chevrolet 0 269 running 85/0 $95,158
27 Jeff Green 22 #66 Chevrolet 0 269 running 82/0 $100,447
28 Kyle Petty 33 #45 Dodge 0 269 running 79/0 $89,800
29 Elliott Sadler 32 #38 Ford 0 269 running 76/0 $107,008
30 Michael Waltrip 36 #55 Dodge 0 269 running 73/0 $79,350
31 Dale Jarrett 41 #88 Ford 0 269 running 70/0 $110,725
32 Tony Stewart 34 #20 Chevrolet 1 269 running 72/5 $132,386
33 Joe Nemechek 17 #01 Chevrolet 0 268 running 64/0 $105,545
34 Scott Wimmer 28 #4 Chevrolet 0 268 running 61/0

Not everyone was celebrating with Jeff Gordon after his race win. (Photo: Dorsey Patrick)

$78,050
35 Bill Elliott 24 #100 Chevrolet 0 268 running 58/0 $77,850
36 Ryan Newman 12 #12 Dodge 0 268 running 55/0 $123,058
37 Travis Kvapil 43 #32 Chevrolet 0 268 running 52/0 $77,425
38 Kenny Wallace 37 #178 Chevrolet 0 268 running 49/0 $77,225
39 Jamie McMurray 42 #26 Ford 0 268 running 46/0 $123,850
40 Tony Raines 39 #96 Chevrolet 0 267 running 43/0 $76,805
41 Todd Kluever 35 #06 Ford 0 267 running 40/0 $76,605
42 Ken Schrader 40 #21 Ford 0 266 running 37/0 $103,644
43 Terry Labonte 26 #44 Chevrolet 0 167 engine 34/0 $76,551

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