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Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline Team
Finish 25th Despite Mid-Race
Engine Woes
FORT WORTH, TX (November 4, 2007)—Juan Pablo Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline Team led for 10 laps early in the Dickies 500, but lost a cylinder at the midway point of the race to finish the event in the 25th position. Despite the finish, Montoya earned Raybestos rookie of the race honors for the 15th time this season.
Montoya started third for the 334-lap race after his qualifying effort at the 1.5-mile track. After the first few laps he told Crew Chief Donnie Wingo the car was a little loose entering the corner, tight in the center but really good off. He took over the lead on lap six and maintained the top spot until the caution waved on lap 14. Montoya brought the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge down pit road for four tires and a slight air pressure adjustment. Six cars made two-tire stops, and Montoya restarted in the seventh position.
Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline Dodge ran in the top 10 until lap 66, when he told Wingo the car would not turn through the center of the corners. Wingo called Montoya down pit road for a green-flag stop on lap 75. When pit stops were completed on lap 92, Montoya was now 12th. The No. 42 Dodge Charger was extremely loose after the stop and when the caution flag waved on lap 118 it was now 18th. Montoya drove it down pit road for tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment.
Montoya began to mount a charge back up through the field, but he radioed in on lap 182 to tell the crew the engine was down a cylinder. When the yellow flag was displayed on lap 214, Montoya was now 23rd and a lap down. Over the second half of the race, Montoya stayed in the back of the pack to avoid trouble, hoping the engine would last through the end of the race. The engine held on for Montoya to finish the race in the 25th position, three laps down to race winner Jimmie Johnson.
Montoya slipped to 21st in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver standings, but still leads the 2007 Raybestos Rookie standings with two races remaining in the season.
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