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Montoya Wins First Cup Race,
Returns CGRFS and Texaco/Havoline
to Victory Lane
SONOMA, CA (June 24, 2007)—Juan Pablo Montoya drove the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Avenger to a 4.097-second victory over Kevin Harvick in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup road course race at Infineon Raceway. It was Montoya's first NEXTEL Cup victory in just his 17th start, and a first for the pairing of Texaco/Havoline and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS).
Montoya Notable Facts
- Third driver to win races in the NEXTEL Cup Series, IndyCar and Formula One (Dan Gurney and Mario Andretti)
- Lowest starting position for a winner at Infineon (32nd)
- First rookie to win at Infineon
- Third foreign-born driver to win a Cup event (first since 1974)
- First victory for a Hispanic driver in NASCAR's top series
- First rookie to win at Infineon
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| "I thought it was a good day for the Texaco/Havoline team and the entire Chip Ganassi Racing organization," Montoya said. "I would say right now it's the biggest thing I've done in my racing career. It's unbelievable, actually."
Montoya began the 110-lap race from the 32nd position, the deepest starting spot for a winner at Infineon Raceway. By the completion of the first lap he had driven the Texaco/Havoline Dodge up to the 27th spot. He broke into the top 20 on lap 10 and never let up. The second caution of the day waved on lap 14 with the No. 42 Dodge Avenger in 18th. He told Crew Chief Donnie Wingo the tires were chattering and he was sliding around quite a bit. Wingo assured the 31-year-old driver they would make adjustments on the team's first stop, but track position was crucial.
Green-flag pit stops began on lap 33, shortly after Montoya moved in to the top 15. Wingo called Montoya down pit road on lap 35 for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. When pit stops cycled through, and the caution flag waved on lap 43 the black and red Texaco/Havoline car was running 14th.
At the midpoint of the race, Montoya and the team were running in the top 10. He told Wingo the car was still sliding around. When the caution flag waved on lap 67, Wingo made the call to bring Montoya down pit road and stretch the team's fuel mileage to the end. The Texaco/Havoline crew jumped pit wall to make another air pressure adjustment, change four tires and pack the car full of fuel. Four cars in front of Montoya remained on the track, and he restarted the race from the 12th spot on lap 69.
Montoya passed the No. 25 car on lap 71 for 11th and had his sights set on the top 10. The cars that remained on the track during the caution period on lap 67 began to peel off the track and down pit road for fuel. On lap 77 Montoya and the team found themselves in the third spot, with Jamie McMurray, Harvick and fuel mileage between them and victory lane.
"Juan just did a great job all day," crew chief Donnie Wingo said. "He kept all the fenders on it. He passed what he needed to pass."
Wingo came over the radio several times to remind Montoya to "save fuel." Montoya got around Harvick with 18 laps to go as the front runners were in fuel conservation mode, but still turning quick lap times. Montoya was quickly running down McMurray, and made the pass for the lead with just seven laps remaining in the event. The road-racing expert was able to save enough fuel to take the checkered flag for his first NEXTEL Cup victory.
"The fuel mileage is what saved us," Wingo noted. "The motor shop, those guys have been working really hard on it and finally it paid off for them."
Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline team moved up to two spots in the standings to 21st (technically tied in points with Casey Mears in 20th) with their victory today. The team sits 259 points out of the 12th position—the final transfer spot to the Chase for the Nextel Cup. Montoya also increased his lead in the Raybestos Rookie standings to 15 points over David Ragan.
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