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Montoya Finishes 28th in Busch Series Race at Texas
FT. WORTH, TX (November 4, 2006) -- Juan Pablo Montoya finished 28th in his second NASCAR start in the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge at Texas Motor Speedway. The team made an unscheduled pit stop on lap 42 when the Dodge Charger made contact with the outside wall and were unable to make up the laps.
"The Texaco/Havoline Dodge was a little tight all day," said Montoya. "I clipped the wall early in the race that put us a few laps down. It was definitely a top-10 car, but we are here to learn and get prepared for next season. We qualified well, the car ran well and I learned a lot and that's why I'm here."
Montoya qualified for the O'Reilly Challenge in the 10th position, but had to drop to the rear of the field for the green flag. The left-front valance was damaged after Montoya's qualifying effort, and due to NASCAR's impound policy the Texaco/Havoline crew could not fix the car until the race. Crew chief Brad Parrott didn't want to take any chances at the start of the race, so he called Montoya down pit road during the warm-up laps to repair the valance. NASCAR rules state Montoya now had to drop back to the tail end of the longest line for the start.
Montoya told Parrott the car was initially loose shortly after NASCAR waved the green flag. When the caution flag fell on lap 4, Montoya drove the Texaco/Havoline Dodge down pit road for a wedge adjustment and fuel. Racing resumed on lap 8 with Montoya in the 34th position. By lap 20, Montoya had maneuvered the No. 42 Dodge around four cars to take over the 30th position.
The caution flag waved on lap 29, and Montoya relayed to the team the car was still very loose. He pitted on lap 31 and the Texaco/Havoline team made several changes. After making an air pressure adjustment in the right-rear tire, the crew changed all four Goodyears, took a spring rubber out of the right rear and made a chassis adjustment. The team's quick stop moved Montoya up to 25th for the restart on lap 34.
Montoya soon found himself involved in three-wide racing. He was caught up in the outside groove when he made contact with the wall. The Texaco/Havoline Dodge was damaged on the right side, so Montoya came down pit road to have the fenders pulled out and right side tires put on the car. By lap 42, Montoya was now in the 41st position and two laps down to the leaders.
The caution finally waved on lap 64 with just 30 cars remaining on the lead lap. Montoya pitted on lap 71 to have a spring rubber removed from the left rear, the trackbar raised, four tires changed and fuel. The green flag waved on lap 73 with Montoya in 34th. Attrition would help the Texaco/Havoline team as Montoya took over the 33rd position when the No. 4 car pitted on lap 77, and moved up to the 32nd spot after a two-car incident on lap 78.
Although Montoya told Parrott the car was tight and he was laps down to the leader, his lap times were comparable to those running in the top 15. There were only 22 cars remaining on the lead lap when green-flag pit stops began on lap 135. Parrott called Montoya down pit road on lap 137 for a routine stop of four tires and fuel.
Montoya used the closing laps to work on his lap times while running with the top five cars despite being three laps down. He finished his second NASCAR Busch Series race in the 28th position. Montoya's Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammate Reed Sorenson finished 36th.
Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline team will compete again next weekend in the NASCAR Busch Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. It will be Montoya's third Busch Series competition of his career.
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