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Montoya Finishes 20th at Phoenix International Raceway
AVONDALE, AZ (November 11, 2006) -- Juan Pablo Montoya finished 20th in his third NASCAR Busch Series race in the No.42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge. After starting from the 11th spot for the Arizona Travel 200, Montoya struggled with the handling of his Dodge Charger but earned his second top-20 finish.
"The Texaco/Havoline Dodge was really tight," said Montoya. "It got better the longer we ran, but there weren't very many long runs. It was tough to drive on new tires, but no matter what the car is doing I have to learn to drive it within its limits."
Montoya started 11th, but told crew chief Brad Parrott the car was tight in the middle of the corner and really loose off. When the caution waved on lap 19, Montoya had slipped back to 14th. He continued to struggle with the handling of the Texaco/Havoline Dodge and was back to 20th on lap 48. Parrott assured the driver of the No. 42 Dodge Charger he would make big changes on the team's first pit stop.
The second caution flag finally waved on lap 57 with Montoya sitting in the 22nd position. He drove the car down pit road to the attention of the pit crew. The team made air pressure adjustments in the left-side and right-rear tires before raising the trackbar and fitting the car with fresh tires. The Texaco/Havoline's crews quick stop moved Montoya up to 15th for the restart on lap 64.
Green-flag racing only lasted for just four laps, and Montoya could already tell the car was still really tight, but did say it handled a little better. He dropped back to 20th again on lap 92 just before the caution flag waved. Parrott knew it would take some pit strategy to get Montoya up toward the front, so he called him down pit road on lap 95 while most of the field remained on the track. The crew made another chassis adjustment, while changing tires and adding fuel during the pit stop. When racing resumed on lap 97, the Texaco/Havoline Dodge was 30th.
Montoya picked up three spots before the caution flag waved on lap 103, and Parrott's strategy fell into place. While Montoya remained on the track during the caution period, the front-runners pitted. Racing resumed on lap 107 with the Texaco/Havoline Dodge now in the top five. Montoya slowly dropped back after telling Parrott the car was still tight. By lap 117 he was 10th, and was sitting 15th on lap 133. He was able to gain back three positions as the green-flag run continued and was running in the 12th spot on lap 163.
The caution flag waved on lap 170, and the Texaco/Havoline crew prepared for Montoya's arrival in the pits. Montoya slid the car in too close to the wall and the team was unable to pump the jack fully on the left side. The team finished the stop after raising the trackbar and changing tires. The long stop dropped Montoya back to 20th for the restart on lap 174.
The final 25 laps of the race were plagued with cautions and trouble for the Texaco/Havoline team. Montoya has a near miss on lap 177, but was able to maneuver around the wrecking cars. While trying to avoid another incident on lap 185, Montoya locked up the brakes and brushed the outside wall. He brought he car down pit road on lap 187 for tires, fuel and to have the right front fender pulled out. The close calls didn't stop there. On lap 194, Montoya tangled with a fellow competitor and brought the caution out for the final time of the race. Parrott called Montoya down pit road again on lap 196 for four tires, and back down on lap 198 to repair the damaged valance.
The caution set up a green-white-checker finish on lap 201. Montoya lined up as the final car on the lead lap and finished the race in the 20th position. His Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammate Reed Sorenson finished seventh.
Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline team will compete in the final NASCAR Busch Series race of the season next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
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