Bio

It is hard to imagine Juan Pablo Montoya the rookie, but that is exactly what the internationally-known racer will be when he enters the 2007 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season teaming up with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS). Montoya will become the first Formula One regular to join the NASCAR ranks on a full-time basis when he pilots the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in the season-opening Daytona 500.

The CGRFS teams put together a rigorous testing and racing schedule for Montoya in 2006 after announcing his signing in July. He competed in seven stock car events across three different series – ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR Busch Series and NEXTEL Cup Series. He turned heads in his stock car debut at Talladega Superspeedway in October, qualifying on the front row and leading the first nine laps en route to a third-place finish in the ARCA RE/MAX Series race.

Montoya spent from 2001 to 2006 in F1, and amass impressive open-wheel statistics. He has made 137 starts between the CART, IndyCar and the Formula One Series’ where he’s tallied 18 wins, 26 poles, 60 top-five and 79 top-10 finishes. Over his five complete seasons in Formula One, Montoya finished sixth or better in the standings every year.

Only time will tell how Montoya will fare in America’s premiere motorsports division, but based on his past successes it shouldn’t be long before Montoya is running up front.