Montoya is Real Deal

Is there anything Juan Pablo Montoya can’t do? Or win? Or drive?

The 1999 CART champ, 2000 Indianapolis 500 champ and winner of a handful of Formula-1 races, Montoya was dazzling yet again when he led his team to the Rolex 24 endurance race win at Daytona International Speedway.

Mexican driver Salvador Duran and road racing expert Scott Pruett joined forces with the 31-year old Colombian racing master to win a second consecutive Rolex 24 race for team owner Chip Ganassi.

Juan, it may be time to take some carpentry classes so you can build yourself a brand new trophy room. At this rate, it will fill up quickly.

Montoya was hired this season to drive a NASCAR for Ganassi, whom he drove for during his stint in CART and the Indy victory.

Some motor sports experts may question Montoya’s endurance since Cart and F-1 races are completed before breaking a sweat, whereas most NASCAR races last at least 400 miles and can go as long as 4 or 5 hours.

Montoya’s performance behind the wheel during the Rolex 24 proved to the racing world he is durable behind the wheel for hours and hours while driving the high banks of Daytona.

So, how long will it take for Montoya to dominate the NASCAR series and win the Chase?

Two years.

As long as he drives for Ganassi Racing, he will be a favorite to win every race and every championship, but I think it will take him one full season before Montoya’s domination begins.

Montoya will spend his first season adjusting to the travel schedule, the length of the races, as well as the length of the season, but once the rookie stripes come off, he will have the passion and driving ability to dominate this sport for the next 10 years.

Ganassi loves winning more than anything and with an unlimited budget and strong sponsor support, Ganassi will supply Montoya with all the resources he needs to be the first foreign driver to win NASCAR’s prize jewel.

Ganassi has succeeded in open wheel and sport car racing due to talented drivers. Ganassi was blessed with young, talented drivers en route to four consecutive CART championships spanning from 1996-1999 (1996: Jimmy Vasser, 1997-98: Alex Zanardi, 1999: Montoya).

In Ganassi’s previous Rolex 24 victory, his threesome of Casey Mears, Dan Weldon (2004 IRL and 2005 Indy 500 champ), and Scott Dixon (2003 IRL champ) are young guns whose careers are on the up and up.

Ganassi has never achieved significant success during his NASCAR tenure as a car owner due to a combination of employing drivers past their prime (Sterling Marlin) or drivers who are still wet behind the ears (current drivers David Stremme and Reed Sorenson).

Montoya’s arrival will bring with him a confident and winning attitude that should rub off on Stremme and Sorenson.

Montoya has been a winner in every form of racing he has attempted. In NASCAR, he will not be a winner…

He will be a champion.