#42 Team Past News and Rumors
NOTE: many of the links in the past news will be old and may not work
decided it was not worth the time to go thru each one on all the Team Past News pages
2007 News
Big Red returns with Montonya at Calif: Juan Pablo Montoya's #42 Dodge Charger will carry the colors of Wrigley's Big Red for the final time this season at California Speedway. The 500-mile race in Fontana is the third time Montoya's Cup car has carried the Big Red logo, he previously ran this paint scheme at Chicagoland and Watkins Glen.(CGRFS PR), see images of the scheme on my #42 Team Schemes page.(8-29-2007)
Harvick vs. Montoya....still brewing: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and #29-Kevin Harvick were asked to pay a courtesy visit into the NASCAR hauler Friday, to make sure there were no lingering effects between them following last Sunday's contretemps at Watkins Glen. NASCAR's interest may have been piqued by comments made by the two. "He drives like he doesn't know what he's doing, to be honest with you," Harvick opined about JPM. "He goes out, he can run fast but he's all over the place and every week it seems like he runs into a different person."
"You know, I think he's a great guy, he's a great racer and it's a shame the position he's in," Montoya said of Harvick. "I think we're mature enough and big enough being in the sport, I haven't been in this sport long enough but I've been racing all my life and I learned to get over things like this because we're going to meet again and again and again in the race track and it's a lot nicer and better when you have a good relationship."(Ford Racing)(8-18-2007)
No fines planned for Harvick-Montoya: On the first turn after a restart [lap 72 at Watkins Glen on Sunday], #1-Martin Truex Jr. got into the back of #42-Juan Montoya, who climbed the track and got into the side of #29-Kevin Harvick to send both into a spin. As Montoya's car came to a rest, Harvick drove the front of his car to block him from continuing to the garage. Harvick, unaware that Truex instigated the incident, then gave Montoya an inappropriate gesture that Montoya obviously didn't appreciate. The two climbed out of their cars and met on the track, with Montoya grabbing the bottom of Harvick's helmet like a football player would an opponent's face mask. The two then had an in-your-face verbal exchange that continued until Montoya shoved Harvick in the chest. NASCAR officials and Harvick's teammate, #31-Jeff Burton [also involved in the wreck when he couldn't avoid the #42 car], eventually separated the two. "I went to Kevin and said, 'It wasn't my fault. I got hit from behind,'" Montoya said. "He started shouting and grabbing me and I don't appreciate that. I have a little respect for the guy. Well, I used to have a little respect for the guy like that, because he helped me out a lot to start with." For the record, neither is expected to be fined. "I don't think they were fighting," said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition. "They were discussing things." Said series director John Darby, "I thought it was cool as hell."(more at ESPN.com)
AND Harvick will not be fined for saying 'kick his a**' as that is a word that is allowed on network TV by the FCC.(8-13-2007)
Big Red scheme for Montoya at Watkins Glen: Juan Pablo Montoya's #42 Dodge Avenger in the Nextel Cup Series and his #42 Dodge Charger in the Busch Series will carry the colors of Wrigley's Big Red this weekend at Watkins Glen International. This weekend marks the second time Montoya's Cup car has carried the Big Red logo, he previously ran this paint scheme at Chicagoland. Next weekend the car returns to the black and red of Texaco/Havoline for Michigan. There is one additional race for Big Red, which is Labor Day weekend at California Speedway.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR), see images of the scheme on my #42 Team Schemes page.(8-10-2007)
Montoya to appear on ABC's Good Morning America: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya and his wife Connie Montoya will be guests on ABC's Good Morning America on Wednesday, August 15 promoting ABC's NASCAR in Primetime Special. The ABC News crew spent weeks with Montoya at the track and obtained minute-by-minute footage of his victory in Sonoma. The program took a glimpse into the lives of several drivers including Montoya and his Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates teammate David Stremme. The show captured his life away from the track, on the golf course and at home in Miami with his wife and children. The six-week, six-episode program premieres Wednesday, August 15 at 10:00pm/et (not 9pm/et) on ABC.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(8-10-2007)
"NASCAR in Primetime" Premieres Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 10/9c: Stock car racing has its origins in Prohibition-era bootlegging and until recent years was popular mainly with Southern white men. Today, NASCAR casts a far wider net. NASCAR is a multibillion dollar empire built on brilliant marketing, speed and the American dream. It already has a firm hold on the hearts and minds of Americans and now it's fixing its eye on the rest of the world. NASCAR in Primetime is the first time that NASCAR has given any news organization uncensored access to its inner workings. ABC News spent six months following drivers, fans and officials, documenting everything that happened on and off the racetrack. Our cameras saw people and places that NASCAR has never before allowed to be filmed for TV. For the first time, viewers will get an inside look at the real world of NASCAR. The show will air the next five Wednesday's, starting August 15th, at 10:00pm/et on ABC.(ABC)(8-10-2007)
Montoya could make history: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya will look to make Nextel Cup Series history this Sunday at Watkins Glen International by becoming the first driver to win on three different road courses in the same season. So far this year, Montoya won road-course events in the Busch Series (Mexico City) and in the Nextel Cup Series (Infineon), becoming only the third NASCAR driver to ever post two road course wins in different series in the same year. Ernie Irvan in 1992 at Infineon, Nextel Cup Series; Watkins Glen, Busch Series; and Darrell Waltrip in 1986 at Riverside, Nextel Cup Series; Road Atlanta, Busch Series have also accomplished that feat.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(8-9-2007)
Montoya at Indy historic; going for the double: One way or another, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya will make history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, becoming the first driver to ever compete in the Indianapolis 500, the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard and an IMS Formula 1 race. The energetic and affable Colombian would also like to become the first driver to win both IndyCar and Nextel Cup races at the Brickyard.(SPEEDtv.com)(7-28-2007)
Lauletta Joins Chip Ganassi Racing as President: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc. announced that Steve "Jake" Lauletta has been named president of the organization. Lauletta will oversee all aspects of the Chip Ganassi Racing’s business and marketing operations including both its Concord and Indianapolis facilities. Lauletta was formerly the president of Radiate Sports, the sports marketing division of Omnicom’s The Radiate Group. Prior to Radiate, Lauletta enjoyed a successful 11-year career at Miller Brewing Company. He served in a variety of marketing leadership positions with Miller, most recently as director of sports and event marketing.(Chip Ganassi Racing PR)(7-20-2007)
Big Red colors for Montoya at Chicago: Juan Pablo Montoya's #42 Dodge Charger will look a little different this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. His Dodge will carry the colors and logo of Wrigley's Big Red gum. It is the first of three races that Montoya will compete in the Big Red car.(CGRFS PR), see an image of the scheme on my #40 Team Schemes page.(7-12-2007)
Dan Wheldon thinking about NASCAR UPDATE denied: Dan Wheldon loves to race, and a visit to NASCAR country with the IndyCar Series only highlights that passion - and makes him think more about moving over to stock cars and getting to do just about all the driving he can handle. 'In my position, you always want to be making yourself better and you always want to be involved in a series that's getting bigger and better,'' he said. "I think everybody knows that I certainly would consider NASCAR. For me, I want to look at the IndyCar Series this year and really consider .. is it going to get a lot bigger than this? Are we going to continue to go to races where we fill the grandstands?"(TSN/AP)(7-1-2007)
UPDATE: team owner Chip Ganassi doesn't foresee open wheel star Dan Wheldon moving to stock cars anytime soon. "I personally don't see it on his radar screen [for] next year," Ganassi told ESPN.com Monday. Ganassi did say he and Wheldon discussed the proposition several months back, but discontinued those talks with the plan to resume them later in the summer. They've yet to do so, Ganassi said. "Having said that, we've had discussions along the lines of 'Hey, let's renew our deal,' and there's some other opportunities within the team for him," Ganassi said. "To be honest, I don't see [NASCAR] as one of the top-five things I'm conversing with him about. I do not consider [a move] imminent." Ganassi said Wheldon's true interest presently is winning a second IndyCar championship. Wheldon won the 2005 crown, then surrendered last season's title to Sam Hornish Jr. by way of a tiebreaker. The drivers finished with an equal number of championship points, but by rule Hornish was awarded the title due to having scored more victories during the year. Wheldon recently expressed interest in NASCAR. In fact, he was especially intrigued by that which deters many open-wheel drivers from jumping to stock cars -- the lengthy schedule.(ESPN.com)(7-3-2007)
Dodge gives away new Avenger after first victory: Dodge made a promise to its drivers back in February that the first win in a
Dodge Avenger would be rewarded with a new 2008 Dodge Avenger passenger car for the driver to donate to their favorite charity. Juan Pablo Montoya collected on that promise today with the first Dodge Avenger victory at Infineon Raceway. Not only did he drive his Dodge Avenger to victory lane, he gets to drive away with one, too.(Clear!Blue PR), no word on what charity, but with his wife Connie, Juan Pablo Montoya has a charity foundation called "Formula Smiles". It is an organization dedicated to help children with no resources.(6-28-2007)
Montoya wins at Sonoma: #42-Juan Pabloe Montoya won the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway for his 1st ever Nextel Cup Series win in his 17th career start. The win adds Montoya to the 2008 All-Star race. Montoya led 7 of the 110 laps and won from the 32nd starting spot, the worst spot ever a driver has won a road course race on either of the current road course tracks:
Infineon Raceway, it was 13th by Davey Allison in 1991
Watkins Glen, it was 18th by Steve Park in 2000
and even at Riverside which NASCAR ran fron 1959-1988, it was 12th by Geoffrey Bodine in 1984
#7-Robby Gordon led the most laps at 48 and finished 16th. Pole sitter, #26-Jamie McMurray led 30 laps, but ran out of gas with 2 laps to do and finished 37th, one lap down. #29-Harvick finished 2nd, followed by #31-Burton, #07-Bowyer [2-3-4 by RCR], #16-Biffle, #20-Stewart, #24-Gordon [after starting 41st], #5-Busch, #60-Said and #11-Hamlin. It was the first win for Dodge in 2007 and since Charlotte in Oct. 2006. #00-P.J. Jones was the highest finishing Toyota at 12th. There were 7 cautions for 14 laps and 8 drivers lead the race with 11 lead changes.
Race Results on my Sonoma Race Results/Awards Page.
Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Sonoma page
Race Rundown: see my Sonoma Race Info/Rundown Page for my race rundown page, laps led, top 10, race notes, lucky dogs and more.(6-24-2007)
Some first wins since stuff, some ironies: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya's win at Infineon Raceway is the first win for sponsor Texaco since Ricky Rudd won in the #28 RYR Ford...at Infineon Raceway in 2002 and the first win for the 42 number since Joe Nemechek won for Felix Sabates at New Hampshire in 1999, the 68th win for the #42 [8th on the all time list]. In 2000, Kenny Irwin Jr. took over the #42 ride at Sabates Racing and was killed in a practice wreck in July that year at New Hampshire [the site of the next race], the team then switched to #01, which it ran, even after Ganassi bought the majority of the team from Sabates, thru 2001. Then switched the #01 to the #41 when Target came aboard to sponsor the team with driver Jimmy Spencer for the 2002 season. Montoya's win is Ganassi Racing's first Nextel Cup win since Jamie McMurray won at Charlotte in 2002. In 2003, Ganassi started a third team, resurrecting the #42 with Texaco as the sponsor and McMurray as the driver. Texaco had also been Irwin's sponsor when he drove the #28 for RYR in 1998-1999.(6-25-2007)
First foreign born driver to win since 1974: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia, is the first driver born outside the United States to win a race in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup series since Canadian Earl Ross triumphed at Martinsville in 1974. The other foreign born driver to win a Cup race is Mario Andretti, born in Italy, won the 1967 Daytona 500.(6-25-2007)
Wins in Multiple Series: #42-Juan Pablo Montoya becomes the third driver to earn victories in F1, NASCAR and Indy cars, joining Mario Andretti and Dan Gurney.(ESPN.com)(6-25-2007)
Ganassi adds name to list of owners interested in Busch: Add Chip Ganassi Racing [#s 40, 41, 42] to the list of teams that are interested in #5-Kyle Busch. Team owner Chip Ganassi said he is interested in talking to the driver. "Who wouldn't be?" Ganassi said when asked if he was interested in pursuing Busch. "A good guy comes along like that, yeah I'm interested." Ganassi said he is not in the position to add a team since the best of his three drivers is #42-Juan Pablo Montoya, who ranks 21st in the points. "Before we can get to a fourth car, we've got to move our three cars up the grid a little bit," Ganassi said.(SceneDaily.com)(6-17-2007)
Ganassi cars to feature Father's Day tribute at MIS: As a tribute to the fathers of the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) drivers and dads everywhere, the #40 Coors Light Dodge driven by David Stremme, the #41 Target Dodge driven by Reed Sorenson and the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge driven by Juan Pablo Montoya will each feature their father's name above the passenger side window in this weekend's race at Michigan International Speedway (MIS).(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(6-15-2007)
Montoya Commerical to air Monday: Sprint Nextel will debut its first TV commercial with #42-Juan Pablo Montoya on June 18 [Monday]. As the premier sponsor of the Nextel Cup Series, Sprint Nextel brings the sport of NASCAR closer to Hispanic consumers and uses the sport’s intensity to demonstrate the speed of Nextel’s products. Titled “Gotera” (A Water Leak), the 30-second, Spanish-language commercial shows the Colombian-born driver making his pit stop during a race. While his pit crew works on refueling and changing worn tires in less than 15 seconds, Montoya is instantly connected to his wife via a Nextel Walkie-Talkie phone, and helps negotiate the cost for a plumber’s work. It’s the energy and adrenaline of the pit stop, coupled with the speed of the Nextel Walkie-Talkie service which demonstrates that Nextel service is immediate and reliable. Promoted in the TV commercial, the “Viva la Copa Nextel de NASCAR” National Sweepstakes invites consumers to sign up for a chance to meet Montoya.(Business Wire)(6-14-2007)
Sabates to be recognized at college commencement: Felix Sabates Jr., co-owner of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS), will be awarded with an honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service by The University of North Carolina at Charlotte during its commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 12 at 10:00am/et. Sabates is being recognized for his generous philanthropic contributions, unwavering dedication to the Charlotte community and continual support for UNC Charlotte. He served on the board of directors of The Foundation of The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Inc. from 1994-2005. "I have seen this institution grow from Charlotte College to The University of North Carolina at Charlotte," said Sabates. "I am grateful to receive such an honor from such a great university, and it is something I will cherish for the rest of my life." Over the years Sabates has made many philanthropic contributions and has received numerous honors and awards for his charitable efforts. Belmont Abbey College (Belmont, N.C.) has a dining hall named for him and Elon College (Elon, N.C.) awarded him an Honorary Doctorate. He also received a "Special Blessing" in writing from Pope John Paul II.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(5-11-2007)
NASCAR investigates Stewart, Montoya incidents UPDATE: #20-Tony Stewart is not expected to be fined for skipping the post-race press conference last weekend at Phoenix, but #42-Juan Pablo Montoya may be for an obscene gesture made on camera prior to a Busch Series practice. NASCAR officials are reviewing whether to penalize the former Formula One star who made the gesture at a cameraman following him from Nextel Cup qualifying to the Busch garage for practice. According to officials at Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Montoya thought the cameraman was a person who has been shadowing him as part of a documentary for more than a month and that the gesture was all in fun. There is nothing in the NASCAR by-laws differentiating between using an obscene gesture or word in fun or anger. NASCAR officials plan to speak with Stewart and remind him of his post-race responsibilities. Stewart left the Phoenix track without fulfilling his media obligations because he was upset with a second-place finish.(ESPN.com)(4-25-2007)
UPDATE: NASCAR announced today that Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Dodge in the Busch Series, has been fined $10,000 and placed on probation until Dec. 31 because of an inappropriate gesture made during a practice session this past Thursday at Phoenix International Raceway. Montoya was in violation of Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing) of the NASCAR Busch Series rule book.(NASCAR PR)(4-25-2007)
Montoya gesture could result in Busch Series penalty: NASCAR will look into whether Juan Pablo Montoya violated any of its rules by using an obscene gesture that was telecast by a Speed in-car camera during the final Busch Series practice Friday, NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston confirmed. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver apparently was unaware the camera was being used for live television. NASCAR has fined and penalized drivers for obscene gestures caught on live television in the past.(SceneDaily.com)(4-21-2007)
#42 Dodge to honor legacy of Jackie Robinson:: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates announced today that in honor of baseball legend and civil rights leader Jackie Robinson's 60th Anniversary of his debut into Major League Baseball, they will display a small tribute to him on their #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger on Sunday, for the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. On Sunday, April 15, Major League Baseball will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson's entrance into baseball as all players
will honor his legacy on Sunday by wearing a decal featuring his uniform #42 on their helmets. Numerous members of Major League clubs will also wear jerseys bearing #42. The #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge is driven by former CART champion, Indianapolis 500 winner, Monaco Grand Prix winner and winner of seven Formula 1 races, Juan Pablo Montoya.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(4-14-2007)
Raines and Montoya clear the air on wreck: Tony Raines, driver of the #96 DLP HDTV Chevy for Hall of Fame Racing, talked with Juan Pablo Montoya between practice sessions. Raines was looking at a possible top-10 finish at Martinsville until Montoya swerved inside of Raines and sent him into the wall on lap 377 of 500. "I thought we needed to talk about it and find out why it happened to put it behind us so it won't happen again," Raines said. "I shared my point of view and he shared his. I didn't want things to build because sometimes a bunch of little things turns into a big thing." Raines ended up 20th. Montoya was not available for comment.(Dallas Morning News)(4-14-2007)
Sabates leaving in five years: Felix Sabates plans to sell his 20% interest in the Nextel Cup organization he owns with Chip Ganassi in five years. "I'm leaving," Sabates said. "I've told Chip I'm leaving in five years." Sabates got into stock car racing in 1989. He sold 80 percent of the company to Ganassi in 2001. He doesn't want to stay in the sport so long that he can't get over the pit wall by himself. "I'm going to leave at Richmond because Richmond always falls on my birthday," said Sabates, who is 65. "I'm going to walk over and look at Ganassi and say, 'See ya. I'm gone.' And watch it on TV."(ESPN.com)(4-2-2007)
Montoya Speaking Engagement in NYC on Wed and on TV: #42-Juan Montoya be the featured guest for an exclusive one-on-one interview on opening day of the 2007 World Congress of Sports in New York City this Wednesday. One of the largest gatherings of senior executives in sports business, the World Congress of Sports features panel discussion on critical topics with the sports industry's most important leaders. Commissioner of Major League Baseball Bud Selig is the one-on-one guest for the closing day of the event.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)
AND Juan Pablo Montoya and the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger will visit the set of ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) Wednesday morning. Montoya and the car will be featured during the 8:30 a.m. segment of the morning show which had almost 5 million viewers last week. Montoya will stop by the set while in New York City for the World Congress of Sports hosted by the Sports Business Journal.(NASCAR)(3-21-2007)
Montoya allowed to test at Darlington Tire test: As if the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. needed any more headaches after 39 spins and accidents last week at Las Vegas, the company got even more criticism this week when Juan Pablo Montoya was allowed to do a tire test at the Darlington Raceway. Goodyear routinely conducts tire tests. It randomly invites drivers, but Montoya was allowed to drive although he wasn't on Goodyear's list. The test at Darlington was important because that race will feature the new Car of Tomorrow. Goodyear invited #24-Jeff Gordon, #22-Dave Blaney, #41-Reed Sorenson and #16-Greg Biffle, but Montoya showed up and was allowed to drive Sorenson's car. Goodyear said Montoya had NASCAR's blessing. NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said NASCAR allowed Montoya, a rookie, to drive because he's never been at Darlington. Montoya's appearance at Darlington may prove to be a one-time exception. NASCAR said invited drivers are the only people who will be allowed to test in the future.(Savannah Morning News)(3-18-2007)
Montoya to film safety commercial: In conjunction with NASCAR, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Florida Department of Transportation, #42-Juan Pablo Montoya will be filming a public service announcement
(PSA) for the "Click It or Ticket" campaign designed to promote seat belt safety. The PSA will be filmed in both English and Spanish.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(3-15-2007)
Ganassi to four teams in 2008? Owner Chip Ganassi [#'s 40,41,42] said he would like to expand his Nextel Cup stable to four teams by as early as next season, if he can secure sponsorship. Dan Wheldon, who drives for Ganassi's IndyCar team attended the Daytona 500 and has been fitted for a seat in a Busch car, is intrigued by the possibility. ''It would be perfect, right?'' Wheldon said this week. ``Chip has to let me try the NASCAR first, so I can see if I like that. That would be something I would definitely consider. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure I can take the [IndyCar] title back from Sam [ Hornish Jr.]. If I do that, and I'm able to win the Indianapolis 500, it would be very hard to say no to a [Cup] opportunity like that. I've got to do that and have that opportunity presented to me before I can make a decision.''(Miami Herald)(2-23-2007)
Montoya on Sirius weekly: Sirius Satellite Radio, has announced that Juan Pablo Montoya, who will drive the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in the Nextel Cup and Busch Series in 2007 for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, will participate weekly in an exclusive interview spot heard only on Sirius Radio. Starting January 29 [at 3:15pm/et], Montoya will be heard every Monday on Sirius Speedway, the exclusive talk show hosted by Dave Moody that airs weekdays (3:00-7:00pm/et) on Sirius NASCAR Radio/ch. 128. Montoya will provide updates on the #42 team and comment weekly on his experiences in NASCAR as he transitions from open-wheel racing to stock car racing.(Sirius Radio PR)(1-29-2007)
Montoya, Pruett win Rolex 24 At Daytona for Ganassi: The finish in the 45th anniversary of the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona came down to a three-car battle on the same lap in the final hours. The #01 Telmax Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Lexus Riley and driver Scott Pruett outlasted the #11 Samax Citgo Pontiac Riley and Patrick Carpentier and the #10 SunTrust Racing Pontiac Riley and Jan Magnussen to win the Rolex 24. It's the second straight victory in the Rolex 24 for owner Chip Ganassi
and the second Rolex 24 victory for Pruett, who won the twice-around-the-clock challenge back in 1994 with Nissan. For Salvador Duran and Juan Pablo Montoya, the other co-drivers on the #01 car, it was their first Rolex 24 triumphs in their first Rolex 24 starts. The #01 car had the third closest Rolex 24 margin of victory - 1 minute, 14.749 seconds - over the #11 car while the #10 SunTrust Pontiac Riley, which battled clutch and brake problems in the final hours, finished third. The winning #01 car turned 668 laps and 2,378 miles on the historic 3.56-mile road course, which is equivalent of a road trip from Daytona Beach to Phoenix, AZ. The #10 car featured the driving lineup of Magnussen, Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli and three-time Daytona 500 champion Jeff Gordon. Montoya becomes the first driver since Mario Andretti to win a Rolex 24, a Formula One race, an Indianapolis 500, and a Champ Car/IndyCar Series title. Meanwhile, Gordon, who was joined by fellow NASCAR stars Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte, hopes to return again in the future for the Rolex 24.(DIS PR), for news see daytona24hr.com and/or grand-am.com.(1-28-2007)
Wheldon may test for Ganassi at Las Vegas: The 2005 Indy Racing League champion, an Englishman who lives in St. Petersburg [FL], will have his first test in a stock car, perhaps as early as next week in Las Vegas. If all goes well, he said, he might eventually follow [Juan Pablo] Montoya to NASCAR's highest level. "I look to have a good IndyCar season," said Wheldon. "But I definitely want to start looking very seriously at the NASCAR stuff." Wheldon was unable to conduct his first scheduled Busch test last week on the road course at Virginia International Raceway because of rain. He insists he needs to feel he can be as good in stock cars as in Ganassi's open-wheel machines to make a full-time switch.( St.
Petersburg Times)(1-23-2007)
No 2007 Indy 500 for Montoya: New NASCAR driver #42-Juan Pablo Montoya is back with Chip Ganassi's organization, for whom he won the 2000 Indianapolis 500, but that doesn't mean he is likely to return for this year's race. "I want to really focus myself at the moment on stock cars," Montoya said. "If Chip would come and say, 'I want you to do it (Indy 500)' . . . I don't know. Been there, done that."(Indy Star)(1-20-2007)
2006 News
Bobcat's owner blocks Sabates from donating stock in team: A minority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats wants to donate his share of the basketball team to a charity, but is being blocked by team managing partner Bob Johnson. Felix Sabates [part owner of Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates #40,#41,#42] wants to give his Bobcats stock, which he values at about $1.34 million, to the foundation that supports Carolinas HealthCare System. The Cuban-born Sabates, also a prominent NASCAR team owner, is a member of the system's board. "I was surprised Bob wouldn't approve this, considering it's a donation," Sabates told the newspaper in an interview Friday. Sabates received a letter from Johnson's attorney, Van Sinclair, on Nov. 29 denying his request to transfer the shares, saying the NBA does not allow not-for-profit or charitable entities to own an interest in its franchises. A subsequent letter from Sabates to the health care system quoted Johnson as saying the NBA had nothing to do with the decision, which was made because Johnson "does not wish to have any charitable organization in partnership with the Charlotte Bobcats."
"I am really surprised at his decision. I thought this would be a great opportunity for the Bobcats to become a real part of this community," Sabates wrote. NBA spokesman Tim Frank said Friday that nothing in the NBA's constitution specifically bars a not-for-profit or charitable organization from owning stock in a team. But, he noted, the league's Board of Governors must approve any ownership change. Sabates' share of the Bobcats is less than 1 percent of the original $300 million franchise fee.(Associated Press)(12-28-2006)
Montoya to race Daytona 24 Hours? The word in America is that Juan Pablo Montoya will exploit his new-found liberty to race with a run in the Daytona 24 Hours at the wheel of one of Chip Ganassi's Riley-Lexus GrandAm sportscars. It is anticipated that Montoya will join Scott Pruett in the CompuUSA-sponsored car. The team is looking for a fulltime team mate for Pruett next year but Montoya is not on the list, having his hands full with NASCAR Busch Series and Nextel Cup events. The one thing that Montoya is not going to get in 2007 is a lot of time off.(GrandPrix.com)(12-6-2006)
Montoya's Cup debut at Homestead? UPDATE 5 yes...but..: Speculation is rampant that Juan Pablo Montoya [who will drive the #42 Dodge in Cup for Ganassi in 2007] may announce today that he'll make his Nextel Cup debut in next Sunday's NASCAR tour finale at Homestead, Fla., down the road from Montoya's Miami home.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-12-2006)
UPDATE: from a Clear!Blue PR asking Ganassi: - WILL MONTOYA ATTEMPT TO QUALIFY FOR NEXT WEEK'S CUP RACE? "We'll see. We're making the decision this week. We'll have our post-race review from this weekend and go from there. If we so decide there is a car entered there."(Clear!Blue PR)(11-12-2006)
UPDATE 2: Car owner Chip Ganassi has entered a Nextel Cup car for Juan Pablo Montoya in next week’s season-ending race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but remains undecided as to whether or not Montoya will actually race. Ganassi said Sunday he likes what he’s seen so far of the Colombian in his first venture into NASCAR’s Busch Series.(SpeedTV.com)(11-13-2006)
UPDATE 3: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates will enter Juan Pablo Montoya in the Ford 400 qualifying field in the #30 Texaco/Havoline Dodge. It will be his first attempt at making a Nextel Cup starting grid. Montoya will attempt to make his Nextel Cup Series debut by qualifying on Friday for the Ford 400, scheduled for Sunday. Last July,Montoya announced his plans to switch to
NASCAR where he will pilot the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger in 2007 while running for the Nextel Cup Rookie of the Year title, along with an assortment of NASCAR Busch Series races. In doing so, Montoya will become the first Formula 1 regular to ever join the Nextel Cup ranks full time.(HMS PR)(11-14-2006)
UPDATE 4: Chip Ganassi Racing has moved Juan Montoya to the #42 Texaco Dodge for the Nextel Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday. Montoya, who will be making his Cup debut, is now guaranteed a spot in the field based on owner points. Casey Mears will try to qualify Ganassi's #30 Dodge. Mears is leaving the team after the race to join Hendrick Motorsports as driver of the #25 Chevrolet.(NASCAR.com)(11-15-2006)
HOWEVER: PR folks at Ganassi sent out a Mears #42 Pre-Homestead press release and when asked, confirmed Mears would be in the #42 at Homestead and NOT the #30.(11-15-2006)
UPDATE 5: Juan Pablo Montoya will make his Nextel Cup debut in the #30 Texaco/Havoline Dodge this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Montoya, a Miami resident, will compete in both the Busch Series and Nextel Cup races this weekend. Steve Boyer will crew chief the #30 Dodge Charger for Montoya in the Cup Series, while Brad Parrott will continue his role as his Busch Series crew chief. RaceWatch is the fan's resource for the latest news on what's going on within NASCAR. Distributed free to all fans
upon entering each and every Nextel Cup Series event, RaceWatch provides added value to their race-day experience. In its commemorative season-ending issue at Homestead-Miami Speedway, included in RaceWatch will be a miniature #42 Texaco / Havoline Montoya hero card. There will be 42 lucky readers who will find their hero card signed by Montoya. Montoya and his wife Connie will be participating in the NASCAR Foundation Track Walk on Saturday at Homestead-Miami Speedway at 8:30am/et.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(11-26-2006)
Wrigley to sponsor Montoya for 3 races in 2007? UPDATE: Chip Ganassi Racing will announce that the William Wrigley Jr. Co., through its Wrigley gum brand, will be a primary sponsor for three races on the #42 Nextel Cup Dodge [main sponsor Texaco] driven by Juan Pablo Montoya in 2007 and 25 races as an associate sponsor for the #41 Busch Series car driven by Reed Sorenson.(Sporting News)(11-12-2006)
UPDATE: The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company will make its NASCAR debut with a partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix
Sabates (CGRFS) that features Wrigley's Spearmint, Doublemint, Big Red, Juicy Fruit and Winterfresh brands. Wrigley will sponsor rising stars Reed Sorenson and David Stremme, who will drive the #41 Dodge in the first 25 Busch Series races in 2007, and former Indianapolis 500 champion and Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya, who will drive the #42 Big Red Dodge in three Nextel Cup races for the 2007 NASCAR season. Sorenson and Stremme will alternate as the driver of the #41 car on the first 25 races of the Busch Series. Their car will feature a rotating paint scheme of Wrigley's Spearmint, Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, and Winterfresh brands. Wrigley will be an associate sponsor of the car for the remaining 10 races. When Montoya grabs the wheel of the #42 Big Red Dodge for three Nextel Cup races, his car and uniform will feature a bold black-and-red Big Red color scheme. Wrigley, through its Big Red brand, will also be an associate sponsor of the car for the remaining 33 races.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(11-12-2006)
Chip Ganassi Racing signs Brady Bacon: Open-wheel standout Brady Bacon has signed on to become a part of the Chip Ganassi Racing driver development program. For the remainder of 2006, Bacon will be the feature driver at Keith Kunz Motorsports, filling in for injured teammate and fellow Ganassi prospect Bryan Clauson. The 2006 Southern Midget Racing Series champion, Bacon finished third this past weekend in the USAC National Sprint Car race in what was his first outing at the prestigious Eldora Speedway in Ohio.(Brady Bacon site)(11-10-2006)
Chipganassiracing.Com Expands To Include Spanish Version of Website: Largely due to the addition of Juan Pablo Montoya to Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates' (CGRFS) Nextel Cup Series lineup for 2007, the team announced its official
website www.chipganassiracing.com would expand its online arsenal to include a fully-functioning microsite in Spanish, located at espanol.chipganassiracing.com. Montoya's vast international fan base, in addition to NASCAR's growing fan base worldwide, now has the ability to stay informed on his historic move from Formula One to the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series as the pilot of the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger next season. Anchored by the CGRFS homepage, which also includes the recently launched online store (store.chipganassiracing.com, future plans for the Spanish site include rolling out additional team content and audio clips specifically catering to the Spanish speaking market.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(10-31-2006)
Montoya to run remaining 2006 Busch races UPDATE 2: Juan Pablo Montoya most likely will run the remaining three Busch Series races this year, team owner Chip Ganassi confirmed Sunday morning. Ganassi was pleased with Montoya's debut, an 11th-place finish at Memphis Motorsports Park. Whether Montoya, who will run a full season in the #42 Texaco Dodge for Ganassi next year, will make his Cup debut this season remains to be seen, Ganassi said.(SceneDaily.com)(10-29-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR's John Darby, who watched Montoya in the Memphis race with keen interest, said that Montoya could run in the Nextel Cup season finale at Homestead, too, if Ganassi and Montoya both feel comfortable with that.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-30-2006)
UPDATE 2: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today Juan Pablo Montoya and the #42
Texaco/Havoline NASCAR Busch Series team is scheduled to compete in the final three races of the 2006 Busch Series season, including Texas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. This upcoming weekend's Busch event at Texas Motor Speedway will be the fourth stock car competition for the Colombian native since he joined the CGRFS organization in late September. The 31-year old driver also participated in his first official NASCAR sanctioned test at Homestead-Miami Speedway last week.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(10-31-2006)
Montoya Scheduled to Test Nextel Cup Car in Homestead: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today it plans to have Juan Pablo Montoya test one of the team's Nextel Cup Series Dodge Chargers at Homestead-Miami Speedway (HMS) on Oct. 17-18. The HMS test is the final session of the NASCAR-determined testing schedule for 2006. Montoya's CGRFS teammates #42-Casey Mears (Oct. 16-17), #41-Reed Sorenson (Oct. 16-17) and #40-David Stremme (Oct. 17-18) will also be testing at the 1.5-mile speedway in preparation for the NEXTEL Cup Series season finale on Nov. 19. "I'm excited to get some more laps in the NEXTEL Cup car," said Montoya. "All of my testing so far has been extremely beneficial, but obviously this will be one of the most important as we prepare to compete full time in the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in 2007. This will be my first test with all my teammates present and I look forward to their assistance and feedback."(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(10-12-2006)
Montoya to Compete in ARCA Event at Iowa Speedway: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today Juan Pablo Montoya will continue his stock car education next weekend in the ARCA RE/MAX Series event at the Rusty Wallace designed and owned Iowa Speedway. Montoya will pilot the #4 Texaco/Havoline Dodge for his second start in a stock car. "Iowa Speedway is a tough track and will be a real test for me," said Montoya. "The hardest thing for me during the test session last week was the braking. I got up to speed pretty quick, but I wasn't racing with anyone else. I'm looking forward to the short track experience, especially at such a great facility. Rusty (Wallace) built a great race track." Montoya made his stock car debut on Friday in the ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway. He started on the outside pole before taking the checkered flag in the third position. Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline team also tested at Iowa Speedway last week as part of his preparation to take over the driving duties of the #42 Dodge Charger in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series in 2007. The Prairie Meadows 250 is scheduled to begin at 2:30pm/et on Sunday, October 15 and will air live on Speed Channel.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(10-8-2006)
Montoya finishes 3rd in Stock Car debut at Talladega: Juan Pablo Montoya put on a show in his first stock-car race, leading the first nine laps, making a sterling save to avoid a spin and rallying from 36th in the final 40 laps to finish third. Frank Kimmel triumphed in a race shortened 13 laps by darkness, but Montoya scored a valuable and successful lesson in the first major test of his much-anticipated transition from Formula One to NASCAR. The Colombian will start racing in the Nextel Cup Series full time next season for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates [#42 Texaco Dodge], and the Daytona 500 will mark his next start in a restrictor-plate race akin to those at Talladega. "I think what I learned today is nice," Montoya said. "It's definitely necessary to come here. You've got to live it and experience it. All the Cup guys are here, and they can see this. It's all about getting experience and playing smart. If you don't bring the car home, it doesn't matter. You have to be at the right place at the right time." The 31-year-old acquitted himself well in the 2.66-mile superspeedway's finicky draft, where choosing the wrong lane or making a rash move can result in the loss of several positions. He swung past polesitter Bobby Gerhart and into the lead out of Turn 2 on the first lap and fended off several challenges in the opening laps.(USA Today, also see more on the ARCAracing.com site)(10-7-2006)
Gerhart wins ARCA Pole; Montoya on outside pole: Driving a car he had never raced before, Bobby Gerhart turned in a qualifying lap of 189.485 mph Thursday, giving him the pole position for Friday's running of the Food World 250 ARCA RE/MAX Series race at Talladega Superspeedway. Gerhart also sat on the pole at Talladega in 2001, and he went on to win that race. Joining Gerhart on the front row will be Formula One star #4-Juan Montoya, who turned in a fast lap of 189.451 mph. Matt Hagans qualified third at 189.204, followed by ARCA points leader Frank Kimmel (188.252), A.J. Henriksen (188.097), Billy Venturini (187.875), Mike Wallace (187.783), Kelly Bires (187.544), Brett Rowe (187.298) and Justin South (187.013). The race starts at 5:30pm/et and will be televised on SPEED at 8:00pm/et.(TSS Site)(10-6-2006)
Tennis accident key to Montoya exit? Juan Pablo Montoya's shock decision to turn his back on Formula One for NASCAR can be traced back to an off-track accident last year, McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said on Sunday. "The accident that damaged his shoulder was very counter-productive, it took that year out of play," he told reporters at the Chinese Grand Prix.
"That created some tensions, but not tensions that anyone created other than the circumstances that existed as a result of that."
Colombian Montoya missed two races in the early part of last season after fracturing his shoulder, officially while working out with a game of tennis, although there was strong speculation in the paddock that he had fallen off a motocross bike. He returned in pain at the Spanish Grand Prix but the championship was already turning into a straight fight between his Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen and Renault's Fernando Alonso. Although Montoya won three races last year, Raikkonen won seven, the same number as Alonso who was then signed as a McLaren driver from 2007 before the start of the new season.(Reuters)(10-1-2006)
Montoya to test at Kentucky Oct 3-4: Chip Ganassi Racing's Juan Pablo Montoya will prepare for his Oct. 6 ARCA RE/MAX Series debut with a two-day test at Kentucky Speedway Oct. 3-4. He will be joined Oct. 3 by new Brewco Motorsports
NASCAR Busch Series driver Casey Atwood in the #27 Kleenex Ford and five-time NASCAR Elite Division Kentucky Speedway race winner Jeff Fultz, who will practice in a #72 CJM Racing machine. Fultz also is scheduled to test Oct. 4. Fans will be able to view testing for free from the designated area outside the speedway Fan Center off of Interstate 71 Exit 57 and Ky. Rte. 35.(9-30-2006)
Montoya tests at Iowa: Juan Pablo Montoya's crew took about 45 minutes to become acclimated at Iowa Speedway on Friday morning. Montoya needed far less time to adapt. Turing laps in a stock car for only the second time since announcing his move to NASCAR, the former Formula One and Indianapolis 500 winner posted impressive speeds during an ARCA Series test on the 0.875-mile track. Montoya ranked third of 18 drivers with a 99.713-mph lap in the morning. After an hourlong break for lunch, he was third fastest in a four-hour afternoon session at 102.727 mph. Former NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace, who retired from the Cup series in 2005, and Blake Bjorklund led the session at 103.294 mph. Montoya, who missed most of the first hour of practice while his team fixed a mechanical problem on the car, was surprised by the pace of his learning curve. He tested Monday at Talladega Superspeedway, a 2.66-mile oval where a driver has much less input on speeds. Wallace, who designed the speedway that sits among cornfields about 40 miles east of Des Moines, was impressed by Montoya and hopes he returns to Iowa Speedway for its ARCA race on Oct. 15. "To come right out of the box and be right up to speed, there's no doubt in my mind that Ganassi made the right decision, and you made the right decision to come to NASCAR," Wallace told Montoya during a break from testing a Rusty Wallace Inc. car as a substitute for his youngest son, Stephen, who was practicing a Busch Series car at Kansas Speedway on Friday. "The fans here really love you, and you have been the buzz around NASCAR. I know it'll be a winning team. There's no concerns in my mind about that." Montoya will make his first start in a stock car in the ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 6. The treacherous 2.66-mile oval also will mark his first experience with racing in traffic. Brad Parrott, who will serve as Montoya's crew chief for the rest of the season, said the Talladega race would be an important step in Montoya's development. It's expected Montoya will spend as much time as possible in a car through the final two months of the season, racing in the ARCA and Busch series and possibly attempting to qualify for the Cup finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 19.(full story at USA Today)(9-30-2006)
Montoya to make stock car debut in Talladega ARCA race: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced Juan Pablo Montoya will drive the #4 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in the ARCA/REMAX Series event on Friday, October
6 at Talladega Superspeedway. Montoya and the CGRFS team tested at Talladega earlier this week in preparation for the ARCA event, as well as his first start in a stock car. In July CGRFS announced that Montoya would be piloting the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger in the Nextel Cup Series in 2007. The 31-year-old Colombia, South America native will become the first Formula One driver in the 58-year history of NASCAR to compete on the circuit full time. He returns to the CGRFS organization with 137 starts competing in CART, IndyCar and Formula One, 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 has finished sixth or better in the standings. Montoya previously worked with team owner Chip Ganassi in the CART Series in 1999 and 2000. He captured the CART Championship and Rookie of the Year honors in 1999 while visiting Victory Lane 11 times in those two years, including a win at the prestigious Indianapolis 500 in 2000. The Food World 250 is scheduled to start at 4:30pm and will be broadcast at 8 p.m. on Speed Channel.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(9-28-2006)
Montoya to test Friday at Iowa: Former Formula One star Juan Pablo Montoya of Chip Ganassi Racing will test a stock car Friday at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Heather Kincel, a public relations contact with Ganassi's organization, confirmed today.
Montoya, who signed with Ganassi to drive in NASCAR next season, tested Monday at Talladega Superspeedway. Montoya, who won the 2000 Indianapolis 500 driving for Ganassi, could run ARCA RE/MAX Series, NASCAR Busch and Nextel Cup Series races before the end of this season, according to an Associated Press article. "I'm 100 percent committed to this," Montoya said in the article.
ARCA's season finale is Oct. 15 at Iowa Speedway and will be broadcast live on Speed Channel.(Des Moines Register)(9-27-2006)
No Montoya in Kansas Busch race: Hopes that Juan Pablo Montoya would begin his stock-car racing career at Kansas Speedway have apparently ended. There just wasn’t enough time to get Montoya, who has been driving Formula One cars since leaving the CART series in 2001, ready for the coming weekend of racing at Kansas. Montoya spent Monday testing ARCA cars for team owner Chip Ganassi at Talladega Superspeedway. He will also practice in ARCA cars Friday at the new Iowa Speedway, which means he will not be able to participate in Busch series practice at Kansas that day.(Kansas City Star)(9-26-2006)
Montoya ready to test Cup cars? UPDATE 3 Tests at Talladega; what's next?: A deal has been struck that will allow Juan Pablo Montoya to begin testing with Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates' NASCAR operation, possibly as soon as next week, Yahoo! Sports has learned. Montoya has been unable to practice in a stock car due to a contractual issue with his soon-to-be former employer McLaren-Mercedes F1. An agreement releasing Montoya from his contractual obligations to his F1 team is necessary before he can begin testing with Ganassi. That agreement has been reached, according to a source within the Ganassi organization. Details of the agreement have not been disclosed, though an announcement is expected soon. Ganassi/Sabates officials want the former F1 and Indy 500 winner behind the wheel of one of their cars as soon as possible in order to prepare for his entrance into Nextel Cup next season. Tentative plans have Montoya running at least four races and as many as nine before the end of the season, including the Busch Series races at Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami and the Cup finale at Homestead – all markets with large Latino populations. Montoya also might run the ARCA race at Talladega in October, which would give the Colombian experience on a restrictor plate superspeedway.(Yahoo Sports)(9-22-2006)
UPDATE: Juan Montoya will get his first taste of stock car racing Monday at Talladega, Ala. and Chip Ganassi plans to run his open-wheel star in a few races before the 2006 season is over. “Yes, Juan has been set free,” said Ganassi on Saturday night when asked if the 1999 CART champion had worked out his contract issues with Team McLaren. “And we’re going to get with a pretty heavy testing schedule real quick starting with an ARCA car on Monday at Talladega.” Asked if the 30-year-old Colombian would do any racing, Ganassi replied, “Absolutely, A-B-C.” That reference was to ARCA, Busch and Nextel Cup – Ganassi fields teams in all three series. Montoya, who shocked the racing world July by announcing he was leaving Formula 1 for NASCAR, was being blocked from changing careers until he settled his contract with McLaren, which was paying him through December.(Speed Channel)(9-24-2006)
UPDATE 2: Montoya could be in a NASCAR event as soon as next weekend's Busch Series race at Kansas Speedway. Montoya, who was released from his Formula One contract earlier this week, will test an ARCA car for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates on Monday at Talladega. He also will test an ARCA car in Iowa on Thursday. Ganassi plans to get Montoya into an ARCA or Busch Series race as soon as possible, and hopefully at least one Cup race before the end of the season.(NASCAR.com)(9-25-2006)
UPDATE 3: The process of transforming Juan Pablo Montoya from a top-flight Formula One driver into a NASCAR regular began Monday as the South American driver participated in an ARCA test session at Talladega Superspeedway. Montoya ran laps in a Chip Ganassi Racing Dodge Charger as Ganassi, crew chief Donnie Wingo and much of the Ganassi hierarchy looked on. Although official speeds were not released [see speeds link at end of this post], team members said Montoya ran laps in the 187-mile-per-hour range. "I went out on the track for the first time, and it was like, 'Oh, my God,'" Montoya said. "I went into [Turn] 3 and 4 and started to lift, but I said, 'Oh, let's just try it.' I went into 1 pretty fast. They told me running flat [full speed around the track] here was easy. I did it, and it felt pretty quick. The car moves around a lot more than I'm used to, but I'm getting there. It will take some time." Unless Ganassi's plans change, Montoya will make his stock-car-racing debut in the Food World 250 ARCA race here Oct. 6. He is scheduled to run the full Nextel Cup series next season. Monday's laps were Montoya's first in a full-bodied NASCAR-style stock car, although he raced 12 years ago in Trans-Am-type cars in his native Colombia.(SceneDaily.com)
AND Montoya made his first test run as a stock car racer Monday at Talladega, beginning his transition from open wheel racing star to NASCAR neophyte. Montoya ran the Superspeedway in an ARCA Car for Chip Ganassi Racing, with whom he won the 2000 Indy 500 in his first try. Ganassi said he plans for Montoya to log as many miles as possible this season. He has also said he wants Montoya to run in ARCA, Busch and Nextel Cup races by the end of the season, but said Monday he didn't know yet where his first race would be. The Talladega ARCA race is Oct. 6.(Associated Press) and see the ARCA Speeds run by 31 drivers Monday at RacingOne, Mark Mitchell was the fastest at 187.768mph, Steve Wallace was 5th and Juan Pablo Montoya was 6th at 186.667mph.(9-26-2006)
Ganassi waiting on Montoya: Chip Ganassi Racing officials are still waiting anxiously for Juan Pablo Montoya to get in one of their race cars, according to this week's NASCAR Scene. Montoya still has not gotten out of his Formula One contract. He was replaced after announcing in July that he will drive the #42 Ganassi Dodge in Nextel Cup Series beginning next season but is not allowed to even test a Cup car until the F1 season ends Oct. 22. Once he is allowed to test, Montoya could possibly race in Busch and Nextel Cup before the 2006 season ends, Ganassi Managing Director John Fernandez said Sept. 9. After the F1 season ends, there are four race weekends where Montoya could race: Atlanta (Cup) and Memphis (Busch) Oct. 28-29; Texas Nov. 4-5; Phoenix Nov. 11-12; and Homestead Nov. 18-19. If Montoya were to become available earlier, Fernandez said he would entertain running him in ARCA races Oct. 6 at Talladega and Oct. 15 at Iowa Speedway. Which races Montoya will do depends on how he feels during the tests. "We want to make sure that he's ready, so we want to make sure that he progresses at the rate he wants to progress at," Fernandez said. "He's a veteran driver, and he will tell us when he is ready to step up from ARCA to Busch and Busch to Cup."
Fernandez said pulling Casey Mears out of the #42 car early for Montoya is unlikely. Mears is headed to [#25] Hendrick Motorsports next year. "We would probably run a fourth team," Fernandez said. "Casey has done a great job for us. We're hoping to get him a win before he leaves."(SceneDaily.com)(9-13-2006)
Congrats: Juan Pablo Montoya became a father for the second time this morning. Montoya's wife Connie gave birth to their second child, Paulina, in Miami. Paulina was born in Florida at around 9:00am, and both mother and daughter are reported to be in good health and spirits. Montoya, who has spent time between the US and Colombia since he left the McLaren team, became a father for the first time in April last year, to son Sebastien.(Autosport.com)(9-13-2006)
Ganassi Racing Hires new VP of Business Development: Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc., announced the hiring of Chris Weiller as Vice President of Business Development. Weiller will be based out of the team's Concord, N.C. race shop and will be responsible for creating and implementing new business and marketing opportunities for the team and its drivers across NASCAR, the Indy Racing League and the Grand Am series. Weiller joins Chip Ganassi Racing from the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats where he served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(9-7-2006)
Montoya can get out of F1 contact..if: McLaren boss Ron Dennis says Juan Pablo Montoya can be freed of his contractual obligations to the Woking team – provided he is willing to forego the remainder of his salary. The Colombian abruptly split with McLaren last month, two days after sensationally announcing that he would be leaving Formula 1 for the American NASCAR series in 2007. Since then his future employers, #42-Chip Ganassi Racing and manufacturer Dodge, have made little secret of their desire for Montoya to begin his stock car apprenticeship as soon as possible.(itv.com/f1)(8-27-2006)
Dodge working on Montoya's release: Dodge Director of SRT and Motorsports Marketing Mike Accavitti said today that the manufacturer is still trying to free up Juan Pablo Montoya from his contract with the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team so Montoya can begin driving stock cars. The F1 season ends October 22, and even though McLaren replaced Montoya soon after he announced he would join Chip Ganassi Racing in 2007, Montoya, who will replace Casey Mears in the #42 car, is still prohibited to drive stock cars.(SceneDaily.com)(8-21-2006)
Montoya's first test could be at Lakeland: Team owner Chip Ganassi said former Formula One driver and Champ Car champion Juan Pablo Montoya, once he is contractually free, will make one of his first stock car tests at USA Speedway in Lakeland before a scheduled Nextel Cup campaign in 2007. Montoya is under contract with the McLaren F1 team, though he has been replaced as driver. "If he's made available, I'm sure it'll be at Lakeland," Ganassi said. Ganassi said he also expects to see defending Indy Racing League champion Dan Wheldon test a Nextel Cup car after his season ends Sept. 10. "We haven't formally talked about it, but we both know it's coming, so that's good," he said.(St Petersburg Times)(8-5-2006)
Dodge's Fernandez to Ganassi? UPDATE 2: Hearing that Dodge Motorsports Director, John Fernandez, will assume the General Managers position at Chip Ganassi Racing on July 1st. Fernandez would replace Andy Graves, who stepped down a few months ago.(6-19-2006)
UPDATE: Dodge’s motorsports czar, John Fernandez, rumored to be headed to Chip Ganassi’s team to replace deposed team manager Andy Graves, is apparently still with Dodge — for the moment, anyway. A Dodge representative said Fernandez was still at his office in Michigan, while Ganassi’s people declined comment on whether Fernandez was going to work for the team.(Speed Channel)(6-24-2006)
UPDATE 2: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced Friday John Fernandez, former Director of Dodge
Motorsports, has accepted a new position with the organization to serve as Managing Director of its Concord racing operation. "John has been involved in racing for a long time as an engineer with Dodge and as head of its racing programs," said Chip Ganassi. "I am
very excited to add someone to the team that has so much experience in a number of different areas. He brings so much to the table."
Fernandez will manage all aspects of the organization's racing operation in North Carolina, including overseeing all four teams, as well as the engine, fabrication and paint shops. Fernandez' move to CGRFS follows a long career with the DaimlerChrysler Corporation, where he served for 35 years.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(8-4-2006)
Bully Hill Vineyards interested in sponsor Montoya in Busch race at Watkins Glen UPDATE 2: Watkins Glen International has partnered with Bully Hill Vineyards to work on a potential sponsorship opportunity for Chip Ganassi Racing driver Juan Pablo Montoya for the upcoming Zippo 200 NASCAR Busch Series race on August 12. "When the announcement was made regarding Montoya's involvement with NASCAR we thought; what better place for him to race, than right here at The Glen," stated Craig Rust, President of Watkins Glen International. "We hope Juan Pablo makes his NASCAR debut here in 2006 and is able to take advantage of Bully Hill's generous offer."
"Juan Pablo Montoya is an iconic figure, and his entry into NASCAR will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on the sport," comments Lillian Taylor, owner of Bully Hill Vineyards. "We would be proud to have him represent our winery at The Glen." Although an announcement regarding Montoya's NASCAR debut has not been made, Watkins Glen International has been contacted by members of the Columbian press for media credentials anticipating a possible track debut at The Glen. Montoya's history at The Soul of American Road Racing includes a 6th place finish in the open-wheel cockpit of a Barber SAAB Pro Series race in 1994. During the 15 lap Skip Barber support race, he reached speeds of 103.751 mph driving for Nectar/Autoniza/Avianca Airline.(Watkins Glen International PR)(7-19-2006)
UPDATE: From Ganassi Racing: "Nothing has changed for us. As far as Juan Pablo, we don't know what the timeline is for his debut in a stock car. We hope that over the next few weeks the dust will settle and we will have a much clearer picture as to how this will all play out. The one thing that I can tell you for sure is that Juan Pablo Montoya will be in the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in 2007."
AND Being a Champ Car, Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix champion isn't enough to ensure Juan Pablo Montoya of a Nextel Cup license, NASCAR officials hinted this Wednesday. Speaking to NASCAR's official website, the sanctioning body's VP of competition, Robin Pemberton, recommended that the 30-year old Colombian, recently signed to drive Chip Ganassi's #42 Dodge next year, start out in the Busch Series before dipping his toes in Cup waters - at least as far as ovals are concerned. "We would recommend that [Montoya and Ganassi get a couple of Busch races under their belt and get the dynamics of full-body, side-by-side racing and the problems that may arise on pit road at different places," he said. Ganassi himself isn't bothered by the demand, as that was his plan for the Colombian anyway.(SpeedTV.com)(7-20-2006)
UPDATE 2: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates confirmed that Juan Pablo Montoya will not be driving a Dodge festooned in Bully Hill Vineyards colors at Watkins Glen Inter-national, but it isn't out of the question for the international star driver's Nextel Cup Series debut to happen at The Glen. “(Ganassi) said he's already set up with his sponsor commitments, but he didn't say anything about (Montoya) debuting here,” said Eiron Smith, WGI's press liaison. “He appreciated it, but wasn't interested.” Officials from WGI released a statement Tuesday that revealed a pitch made to Ganassi's Nextel Cup operation from Bully Hill Vineyards owner Lillian Taylor. Taylor expressed interest in sponsoring a car driven by Montoya if the Colombian driving star made his stock car debut at The Glen. However, Ganassi has contracts with companies Chevron Corp., Dayton Hudson Corp. and Molson Coors Brewing Co. - to name a few - and told the WGI marketing staff “thanks, but no thanks.”
“She would have love to be on the hood of (Montoya's) car,” Smith said of Taylor. “She had high hopes, and we were working as liaison, but it didn't happen. Its disappointing we couldn't confirm (Montoya) would be in a car, but he could still race, (Ganassi) still hasn't released where or when Juan Pablo would make his debut, but I hope its here. It would be awesome.”(The Corning Leader)(7-21-2006)
Montoya Schedule? BUT: no word when Juan Pablo Montoya will run his first race [Watkins Glen? MIS? Calif] but been told he will run in a combined 22 events, scattered thruout Nextel Cup, Busch and ARCA.
BUT: McLaren boss Ron Dennis has made it very clear that Juan Pablo Montoya will not be able to drive a Dodge Nextel Cup car for Chip Ganassi until the end of his contract at the end of the year – unless a financial deal of some kind is made in the interim. There is a DaimlerChrysler link between the two camps, but that does not seem to have helped smooth the waters. “He is a contracted McLaren driver and it will stay that way until the end of his contract unless there is some other commercial arrangement between ourselves and the NASCAR team, or Juan himself,” Dennis said Friday at the French Grand Prix. He added that Montoya would not be allowed to test for Ganassi this year, and that the contract extended beyond the end of the racing season. “There is a conflict of sponsors, advertising campaigns and a whole raft or reasons why that is not a practical proposition.”(Speed Channel site)(7-14-2006)
Montoya could debut at Michigan or Calif in a stock car UPDATE: Juan Pablo Montoya has suddenly become the hottest property in NASCAR, and folks at Michigan International Speedway would like to make the former Formula One star at home there as soon as possible. MIS management contacted Montoya's new race team, Chip Ganassi Racing, on Tuesday to invite the Colombian to run both the ARCA Re/Max and Busch Grand National races at the Irish Hills track during the Nextel Cup weekend in August. Bill Janitz, MIS public relations director, confirmed contact with Chip Ganassi Racing. "We would be proud to welcome back an MIS champion in August, perhaps in an ARCA or Busch race, or both," Janitz said. Montoya is booked to drive the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge, which Casey Mears will vacate, in 2007. As a NASCAR rookie, Montoya may need to have gained superspeedway stock car experience before he would likely be allowed to start in the Daytona 500, the first race of the series next season. He could do that at MIS Aug. 18-19, or at California in September or Talladega in October. "Michigan is big, fast and wide," Janitz said. "It would make a lot of sense for Montoya to race here next month. He knows the track and he's a winner at MIS."(Detroit Free Press)
UPDATE: Juan Pablo Montoya is no longer competing in Formula One, but when he will start driving in NASCAR for Chip Ganassi Racing is still to be determined. Team owner Chip Ganassi said Wednesday he has not received the details of Montoya's release from his McLaren-Mercedes ride in F1, and he does not know when the 30-year-old Colombia will be allowed to test and/or race. The owner said he hoped to have Montoya in a car by the middle of August.(SceneDaily.com)(7-12-006)
Could Montoya be dropped from F-1 ride? UPDATE 3 released from F-1 ride: The Spanish TV station Tele 5, which broadcasts F1 races is reporting that Juan Pablo Montoya may be dropped by McLaren and replaced for the rest of the year by Pedro de la Rosa. There is a certain amount of logic in all of this as Montoya wants to start preparations to go into NASCAR as soon as he can. The key point in all this is that McLaren is partially-owned by DaimlerChrysler and Montoya will be driving next year in a Dodge, an American brand also owned by DaimlerChrysler. Thus it makes sense for let Montoya get on with his new project and not force him to stay on racing in a series where he has no future and little to gain. All that is really needed is some kind of a financial settlement. De la Rosa should be able to score points, as he did when Montoya was out with injury last year, and he is sure to be highly motivated as he wants to convince the team that he is the best man to be Fernando Alonso's team mate next year.(grandprix.com)(7-10-2006)
UPDATE: Juan Pablo Montoya’s Formula 1 career may be over sooner than anybody thought after McLaren announced on Tuesday morning that the Colombian will play no further part in the 2006 season. The team issued a statement saying that test driver Pedro de la Rosa will take Montoya’s place in the second race seat alongside Kimi Raikkonen with immediate effect, starting from this weekend’s French Grand Prix. McLaren said Montoya’s departure was by mutual agreement to enable him to adjust to his new life in NASCAR.(itv-f1.com)
UPDATE 2: In an expected move, F1 team McLaren announced Tuesday that driver Pedro de la Rosa would replace Montoya in the seat of the team's car, effective immediately. "Juan Pablo is an exciting driver and immensely likeable character who will undoubtedly make a successful transition to the NASCAR scene," said Ron Dennis, McLaren CEO and chairman. "We have agreed that with so many things happening in Juan Pablo's life right now, he should take some time out of the car and prepare professionally and personally for the future." The move allows Montoya, who lives in Miami with his family and wife Connie – who is pregnant with the couple's second child (due in September) – to begin testing immediately with his new NASCAR team. "We believe that Juan Pablo's decision to move to NASCAR is very important for him professionally and we will give him every support to ensure that it is a successful transition," said Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport vice president.(Yahoo Sports)
UPDATE 3: Chip Ganassi, the team owner who signed Montoya to the NASCAR deal, told The Associated Press on Tuesday he does not yet know the details of the driver's release from McLaren. "But if Juan is available earlier than we expected, our program for him will definitely get an early start," Ganassi said. In making the announcement Sunday, Ganassi said that Montoya would likely make a few starts in the Busch Series after the F1 season ends in October. Asked Tuesday if the possibility of having Montoya in NASCAR earlier than expected means he also could run a few Nextel Cup events this year, Ganassi said, "It's certainly possible, but that's about the third or fourth step in this whole situation. We need to know all the details first before we start making plans."(ESPN.com/AP)(7-11-2006)
Montoya to NASCAR? #42? UPDATE: Another big F1 name which very recently surfaced in regard to a possible American move is former open wheel champion and Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya, who likely is losing his F1 ride with the Mercedes-McLaren team at the end of this season. In the past few weeks, Montoya's name has been linked to his old boss, Chip Ganassi, who last month told Autosport magazine, "I'd love to have Montoya back. I'd take him in a second," a comment which many had interpreted as having the Colombian take a seat in one of Ganassi's IRL cars. However, according to sources close to Montoya, what the 31-year-old former CART champion really is interested in is Ganassi's soon-to-be vacant #42 Nextel Cup car. Despite never having competed in a Cup car, Montoya did spend some time behind the wheel of Jeff Gordon's Monte Carlo in June 2003. Most observers agree that Montoya did a fine job his first time in a stock car, although he did misjudge the braking power of the much-heavier stock car and overshot the first turn. He went on to run six laps at full speed. Last weekend at the U.S. Grand Prix, Montoya was part of a press conference with DaimlerChrysler chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche [Ask Dr Z], his current boss Ron Dennis and NASCAR team owner Ray Evernham, who helped usher Dodge back into NASCAR. DaimlerChrysler is the manufacturer of both the Dodge and Mercedes Benz brands, and Ganassi, of course, runs Dodges in Nextel Cup. Although staged during the F1 race weekend, the press event was designed to reaffirm DaimlerChrysler's commitment to motorsports and specifically to NASCAR, which it recently has been rumored to be leaving. However, it also provided an excellent opportunity for Montoya to be reintroduced to the American press and linked to NASCAR, as well as to be embraced by DaimlerChrysler's top execs. They see Montoya as a strong link between their company and the Latino audience, especially in regard to a series like Nextel Cup. Should Montoya take up residence with Ganassi's NASCAR team, he would replace another former open wheel racer in Casey Mears, who heads to Hendrick Motorsports next season.(in part from Yahoo Sports)
MORE: been told that Montoya has been signed by Ganassi to take over the #42 Dodge in 2007 and will run a few Busch Series races this year.
UPDATE: Juan Pablo Montoya is leaving the elite Formula One series at the end of the season, bringing star power and international appeal to NASCAR. The Colombian driver will reunite with team owner Chip Ganassi, with whom he had considerable success in Indy-style racing before moving up to Formula One in 2001. Montoya joined Ganassi at Chicagoland Speedway on Sunday morning, meeting with his new crew members and attending a closed-door meeting with NASCAR president Mike Helton and other series officials. Ganassi said Montoya will drive the #42 car full-time next season, but may enter selected Busch Series this year after he finishes the F1 season with the McLaren-Mercedes team. Montoya, who won a CART series championship in 1999 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2000 with Ganassi, will replace Casey Mears, who will drive for Hendrick Motorsports next season.(Associated Press)(7-9-2006)
Marco Andretti to Ganassi...in Cup? UPDATE Denied: not much to report...but on the Fox Sports pre-race show at Sonoma, it was just mentioned in their news of the week, IRL driver Marco Andretti could be headed to Ganassi Racing as the driver of one of the three cars?(6-25-2006)
UPDATE - Denied: Indy Racing League rookie Marco Andretti will be in Kansas City, Kan., this weekend, but he's not going to NASCAR. As he prepared to head for Kansas Speedway for Sunday's Kansas Lottery Indy 300, the 19-year-old third-generation racer seemed truly puzzled when queried about driving NASCAR stock cars in his future. Several print media reports and FOX-TV commentators, during the pre-race segment of last Sunday's telecast from Sonoma, Calif., had Marco being a candidate to join Chip Ganassi's Nextel Cup team. "Absolutely not. No way. No talk about NASCAR with anyone," the youngest Andretti said. "I don't know where that rumor started, but that's a part of our sport." Andretti insisted it was news to him when he received a recent call from his cousin, John Andretti, a NASCAR veteran currently racing in the Busch Series. "Man, you're actually the third person who told me -- next to John," Andretti said Wednesday. "He called me and said, 'Man, why don't you tell me these things?' I told him he just told me for the first time." Marco is a rookie Indy car driver under contract to his father's Andretti Green Racing organization. "Man 19 years old I'm just happy to be where I am. I'm definitely loving to be where I am here at AGR for the next three years," Andretti said.(Express Times)(7-2-2006)
Pruett not thinking about Nextel Cup: How far have the conversations progressed for Scott Pruett to succeed Casey Mears at Chip Ganassi Racing? "We've joked about it a couple times," said Pruett, 46. Pruett runs for Ganassi's Grand American Rolex Series team and has filled in at road courses Infineon Raceway and Watkins Glen International for the last four years. Still, Ganassi doesn't have Pruett on his list: "Not really. We had a talk, and Scott said if he was five years younger, he wouldn't let me get anybody else. But he just enjoyed his life pretty well as it was and wants to win the Grand Am championship." Added Pruett: "I'd like to be, but I'm a realist. ... (Teams are) looking for the next best young kid. There's a lot to be said for that. If I come in, I'd be here one or two years. When you're talking about a 19- or 20-year-old kid, you're talking (about him staying) 20 years." The three-car Ganassi Cup team has two rookies — Reed Sorenson and David Stremme — in its stable. Mears, 28, signed two weeks ago to run with Hendrick Motorsports in 2007, leaving a hole to fill. "Right now everybody's being considered," Ganassi said. "There are a lot of good drivers out there, good people, and we're going to give it a shot, pick the best driver and go with it."(USA Today)(6-29-2006)
OFFICIAL - Mears to Hendrick #25 team in 2007: Car owner Rick Hendrick today announced the signing of driver Casey Mears to pilot Hendrick Motorsports' #25 Chevys in the Nextel Cup Series beginning in 2007. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Mears, 28, inked a multi-year agreement that will keep him with the team through at least the 2009 racing season. He will replace Brian Vickers, who is slated to complete the current schedule after being granted a release from contractual obligations to Hendrick Motorsports beyond 2006. "Casey is a talented driver and a high-character person who is going to be a great fit with our organization," Hendrick said. "He has the ability to win races and ultimately contend for championships, so we're thrilled to welcome him to Hendrick Motorsports." In the midst of his fourth full season, Mears has posted two pole positions, five top-five finishes and 21 top-10s on the NEXTEL Cup circuit. The Bakersfield, Calif., native kicked off the 2006 campaign with a career-best second-place performance in the Feb. 19 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, where on Jan. 29 he became the first full-time NASCAR driver to be part of a winning Grand American Rolex 24 team. "I'm committed to winning races and going after championships with the No. 25 team," said Mears, the son of legendary off-road racer Roger Mears and nephew of four-time Indianapolis 500 champion Rick Mears. "This is an opportunity for me to work with close friends and start fresh with one of the top organizations in all of sports. It's an exciting situation for me, both personally and professionally."(Hendrick Motorsports PR)(6-14-2006)
Wheldon to Ganassi Cup team? UPDATE 2: ESPN's Mike Massaro reported on ESPNEWS Monday Night NASCAR the time could be right for Dan Wheldon, Ganassi's IRL Driver, to move to a Chip Ganassi Racing Cup team in 2007, since the team will have an open seat with Casey Mears leaving the #42 team.(6-13-2006)
UPDATE: According to an official at Chip Ganassi racing :”There is no truth to the Wheldon story.”(CupSceneDaily.com)(6-13-2006)
UPDATE 2: Dan Wheldon wouldn't comment directly about reports he would be switching to NASCAR next season, but did say he would consider driving stock cars sometime in the future. Wheldon, the 2005 Indianapolis 500 champion, spoke to reporters Tuesday during IndyCar testing at Kanasas Speedway. "It's certainly something that intrigues me," said Wheldon. "Everybody knows I went to some of the races last year to look and to see what it was all about. The one thing that does appeal to me is the schedule. I don't have a family or other commitments. All I love to do is be in the race car. Would I be good? Yes, but it would take awhile." Wheldon said it would have to be an owner who knows his ability and would be willing to give him the proper time to perform.(Racinboys.com - Sports Radio 810 WHB)
AND Car owner Chip Ganassi, who has an unexpected hole to fill on his NASCAR team, said Tuesday that IRL driver Dan Wheldon is not a candidate to replace Casey Mears. "There is no story here," Ganassi said. "Dan has a commitment to Target right now to drive an Indy car and that's where he'll stay."(AP)(6-14-2006)
Mears to Yates? or is it Hendrick? hearing that Casey Mears, current driver fo the #42 Texaco Dodge for Chip Ganassi Racing could leave and go to Robert Yates Racing to drive the #88 Ford in 2007....no word yet on sponsor.
MORE: but hearing now that Mears is more likely headed to the #25 Hendrick Chevy that Vickers is leaving....(6-8-2006)
Preparing a Texaco celebration: The 2007 season will mark Texaco/Havoline’s 20th year as a sponsor in NASCAR. From Davey Allison to Mears, Texaco/Havoline has a rich history in the sport. To commemorate its history, Texaco/Havoline is printing a one-of-a-kind book filled with photos and stories submitted by fans, drivers, crew members and media. Fans can submit their favorite story, interesting tale or special moment in their life involving the Texaco/Havoline race team beginning May 24 at www.texacohavoline42.com or by calling 800-518-0028.(PR)(5-25-2006)
RYR Hopes to hear from UPS on decision soon; 4 Cup teams? UPDATE 2 Mears? Vickers?: Robert Yates Racing hopes to hear in the next two to three weeks whether UPS will return as a sponsor [on the #88 team], team general manager Eddie D'Hondt said Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. UPS is trying to decide whether to stay with RYR, move with current RYR driver Dale Jarrett over to Michael Waltirp Racing, where Jarrett will run a Toyota starting in 2007. or go to another team. "We're still talking with them," said D'Hondt, who added that there is no timeline for UPS to decide. "In three weeks time, I think we'll all know what we're all doing." The team is still in the early stages of looking for a replacement. It has two development drivers - Stephen Leicht and Matt McCall - currently running part-time Busch schedules. "There is a chance you may see them in a Cup car to get a race under their belt as the year goes on," D'Hondt said. "That's not written in stone, but it has been talked about. We're not going to rush them beyond what they are capable of. ... A year from now, I think Matt and Stephen will be ready." D'Hondt said eventually RYR would like to have four Nextel Cup teams and two Busch Series teams. "We're setting ourselves for a good future; we just have to live with what we're going through now," D'Hondt said.(SceneDaily.com)(5-20-2006)
UPDATE: RYR is also waiting to hear if #88 team sponsor UPS will remain with RYR next year, move to the Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota team with Dale Jarrett or go to another team entirely. If UPS moves to Waltrip’s organization, that may bump the team from two to three cars. Waltrip’s own Toyota will be sponsored by NAPA and a second team car will fly the Burger King colors in 2007, leaving UPS as a possible sponsor for a third MWR car. On the driver front, the Yates crew is said to be hot after Casey Mears, the biggest remaining name free agent.(Speed Channel)
AND Who's the lead candidate for the #88 (possibly UPS) Ford in 2007? One name mentioned more than once is Brian Vickers, driver of the #25 GMAC Chevy owned by Rick Hendrick.(CircleTrackPlus.com)
UPDATE 2: In response to the CircleTrackPlus.com posting up on the site today. The "Unsubstantiated Rumors' as they're classified as on the Web-Site are in fact just that. Vickers and Hendrick Motorsports remain committed to each other.(Hensrick Motorsports)(5-22-2006)
Red Bull Shop...and rumors: Mears? Sadler? Knaus?: Toyota's Marty Gaunt has turned the lights on over at Roger Penske's old shop [in Mooresville, Lakeside Park], hired about 40 people for NASCAR's newest team, and is now looking for a couple of good men to run Dietrich Mateschitz's Red Bull [Toyota] Camrys on the Cup tour next season. #42-Casey Mears may be signing with Red Bull for 2007, leaving Chip Ganassi. Mears, in the final year of his Ganassi contract, was courted by car owner Richard Childress, either to fill Kevin Harvick's ride if Harvick had decided to leave, or to run a fourth Childress car. #38-Elliott Sadler [but is signed with RYR thru 2008] may also be signing with Red Bull, leaving Robert Yates, who is already dealing with the defection of Dale Jarrett to Toyota's Michael Waltrip for 2007. #48-Crew chief Chad Knaus, who has put Jimmie Johnson in the thick of the Nextel Cup championship race for four years now, may also be getting a major offer from the Red Bull team, though his current contract with car owner Rick Hendrick runs through 2007. Hendrick just extended Johnson's contract through 2010, but Knaus said that no one has talked with him about a contract extension.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-21-2006)
Mears still talking to Ganassi about extension: #42-Casey Mears says he has yet to sign a new contract extension with car owner Chip Ganassi; however talks have stepped up in recent weeks and have been positive. “We’ve been talking a lot in trying to work things out” said Mears during a break in Busch Series testing at Lowes Motor Speedway. If his phone has been ringing more often concerning possible rides Mears isn’t biting. “Anybody’s that’s had an open ride has had interest but I haven’t really pursued any of it, said Mears. I’m just focused on what I’m doing right now and talking to Chip. We’ve got our best run going that I’ve ever had in cup so
far and we’re really focused on trying to make that chase. Chip and I haven’t finalized anything yet but neither one of us are really panicked about it.”(PRN's Garagepass Radio Show)(5-11-2006)
Mears looking? 88? Garage insiders say that Casey Mears is the frontrunner for the #88 Ford ride and that UPS would stay on as a sponsor at Yates if the company hires a young gun that could compete with the marketing image of Denny Hamlin and Fed Ex. It is speculated, however, that Mears may have a letter of intent to run a fourth car at another organization already [RCR was rumored last week].(Motorsports.com)
BUT: Casey Mears’ contract ends after this season, but he says he’s talked to car owner Chip Ganassi about an extension.(Virgina Pilot)(5-6-2006)
4th RCR team,,,with Mears? denied: RCR team sources tell [Marty Smith - NASCAR.com] the organization would like to add a fourth team with [Casey] Mears [current driver of Ganassi's #42 Dodge] as driver, but RCR spokesman David Hart discounted the speculation Wednesday. "No decisions have been made to add a fourth team with Casey Mears or any other driver," Hart said.(NASCAR.com)(4-27-2006)
Fennig to Ganassi? Denied: hearing former #26/97/6 Rosuh Racing crew chief, Jimmy Fennig is the new team manager at Chip Ganassi Racing.
UPDATE: been to by folks at Ganassi that the hiring of Jimmy Fennig is not true.(4-25-2006)
NASCAR Looking at Kyle Busch - Mears incident UPDATE no penalties: #5-Kyle Busch didn't have much to say and #42-Casey Mears probably didn't feel there was much to say about Busch's running into Mears under the red flag following their accident on lap 100 of the Nextel Cup race Saturday. Busch was mad at Mears over the accident in the Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix International Raceway and showed his displeasure with the light tap. Busch was about 45 laps down when he returned to the race and NASCAR held him five laps for rough driving, but Busch would have finished in the same position with or without the five-lap penalty. NASCAR will revisit the issue this week to determine whether any additional penalties are warranted. After meeting with NASCAR officials in the hauler following the race, Busch left the track without commenting to reporters, and Mears, frustrated with his car even before the Busch tap, was atypically terse. "I'm not really worried about Kyle," Mears said. When asked if he was surprised Busch hit him during the red flag, Mears replied: "I'm not surprised with anything he does."(SceneDaily.com)(4-24-2006)
UPDATE: NASCAR has decided it will neither fine nor take points away from #5-Kyle Busch for running into the back of #42-Casey Mears during the red flag period of last Saturday's Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, according to NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp. NASCAR officials met with Busch following the race and Tharp indicated on Tuesday that NASCAR now considers the issue closed. After leaving the hauler, Alan Gustafson, Busch's crew chief, said he hoped the team would not get a penalty. "[NASCAR said] just that we need to respect the red flag, and I agree with them," Busch's crew chief, Alan Gustafson, said after leaving the hauler. "he No. 1 priority in that situation is the safety of other people and that's what we've got to worry about."(SceneDaily.com)(4-25-2006)
Graves Steps Down as Ganassi Team Manager: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that Andy Graves has resigned his position as team manager and will be reassigned to a different position within the company. "Andy Graves has been a passionate and valued member of Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates for the past seven years," said Team Owner
Chip Ganassi. "I have an extremely high regard for him both professionally and personally and look forward to his continued
contributions here at Chip Ganassi Racing."
"It has been a privilege to work with Chip, Felix and the whole team over the last seven seasons," said Graves. "These years with the team have been a part of my life that I will never forget and for that I am truly grateful. I am now just looking forward to the next chapter of my career here at Chip Ganassi Racing." Graves was in his sixth season as team manager for CGRFS. He joined CGRFS in 2000 as one of its first employees and was promptly named team manager for the Indianapolis 500 team that would go on to capture the
2000 Indianapolis 500 crown. Graves was also instrumental in the transition from SABCO to CGRFS. On an interim basis the duties of team manager will be absorbed by the current management staff that is in place.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(4-18-2006)
Mears Tested at Caraway: #42-Casey Mears, crew chief Donnie Wingo and the Texaco/Havoline team tested at Caraway Speedway last week and on Wednesday in preparation for the Food City 500 at Bristol and next week's race at Martinsville.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(3-23-2006)
Mears Comments on being the possible points leader: Circletrackplus.com reports/comments - Does Casey Mears know something we don't? In a teleconference transcript from Dodge Motorsports, Mears responded to a question [which was from the media and read: HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE POINTS LEADER?] about being the Nextel Cup Series points leader and here's what he said, "We kinda thought about that, too. We thought about the scenarios if they are going to take points away from the 48 car. In that case we'd be leading the points. It's awesome. Obviously it's one event. Next week everything can completely turn around and go backwards, but leading into California we've got a lot of confidence. That's been a good race for me. It feels great. Obviously I've left Daytona in worst shape." CircletrackPlus.com contacted NASCAR immediately and 1:30pm/et, a source stated that Casey was not the points leader but Jimmy Johnson. Who's right here? Mears or NASCAR? (CircletrackPlus.com), Mears said 'IF" and NASCAR has not made any announcement on a #48 Team penalty as of 3:30pm/et.(2-21-2006)
Felix 1 spot from being bald: Felix Sabates, minority owner at Chip Ganassi Racing, told CGR driver Casey Mears that he would shave his head if Mears won the Daytona 500. Sabates' mane is safe, barely. Mears finished a career-best second in the #42 Texaco Havoline Dodge.(Dallas Morning News)(2-20-2006)
Ganassi doesn't want wing: While the wing on the NASCAR "car of tomorrow" is intriguing, team owner Chip Ganassi said that he didn't want to see a wing on the cars. Ganassi said he is happy that NASCAR has had dialogue with the teams and considered their input - and he hopes that could include eliminating the idea of a wing on the cars. Ganassi has had experience with wings in open-wheel and road racing. "There better not be a wing on the car of tomorrow," Ganassi said. "It is an area that is wide open and rampant for cheating, and it's an area that's very hard to police. Why they would want to get involved in something that's hard to police, I have no idea."(NASCAR Scene Daily Newsletter)(1-31-2006)
Ganassi's comments about Toyota: Q) Does the new Manufacturer's Lineup [now with Toyota] surprise you and would you consider joining them [Toyota]? A-Chip Ganassi - #40, #41, #42 team owner) "I've been in Phoenix all week, so I'm not exactly sure what they announced or who they announced. Whoever they go with, I think you saw in the truck series they made winners out of teams that were otherwise not. I don't really know what their plans are for teams or drivers, but I can assure you they'll do it right no matter who they're with. We were with them for a lot of years and had some success with them on the Indy car side. Right now we don't have any plans to switch off from Dodge. We'll see what happens down the road, but right now that's not in our plans."(Clear!Blue PR)(1-26-2006)
2005 News
Mears to the #42; McMurray released; Ganassi staying at three cars UPDATE 4 OFFICIAL: now hearing that Ganassi is going to remain at three teams with one of the four Cup sponsors they have may change their sponosrship around and appear on more of the Ganassi cars [#40,#41,#42 and #30?]. WIth...McMurray moving to Roush Racing and Kurt Busch to Penske Racing.(11-6-2005)
UPDATE: hearing Mears to the #42, with Texaco staying as the primary sponsor and Home 123 as a major assocciate and being hte primary in a few races as they were this year on the #42. Expect an announcement early this week and could be as soon as Monday.(11-6-2005)
UPDATE 2: There is speculation that if Ganassi can't get a top-name driver for the McMurray-Texaco ride, he is willing to promote Casey Mears.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-7-2005)
UPDATE 3: been told the deal is done, Ganassi stays a 3-car team, #40-David Stremme, #41-Reed Sorenson and #42-Casey Mears with Texaco.(11-7-2005)
UPDATE 4: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) and its sponsor Chevron Products Company announced today that they have selected Casey Mears to pilot the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge starting in 2006. In addition, CGRFS has agreed to release Jamie McMurray from his contract to drive for the organization through the '06 NEXTEL Cup Series season. "We've been working hard to find a driver solution for Texaco/Havoline and we are fortunate that we could offer them Casey," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "Some recent positive developments have allowed us to make this move and we couldn't be happier with how things are shaping up for the 2006 season. Casey is a driver and a person that we think a lot of and have a lot of faith in."
Mears has been with CGRFS since being selected by the organization to drive its #41 NEXTEL Cup Series entry in 2003. He has competed in 106 races and recorded two poles, three top-five finishes and 17 top-10 finishes.
"I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to drive the Texaco/Havoline Dodge next season," said Mears. "Texaco/Havoline has
been a sponsor in this sport for a long time and they've had an impressive list of drivers compete and win in their cars. I look
forward to joining that group and taking them and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates back to Victory Lane." In 2006, Texaco/Havoline will embark on its 19th season as a NASCAR sponsor.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(11-7-2005)
OFFICIAL - Busch released from Roush Racing Contract, McMurray in: Roush Racing has announced that Kurt Busch has been released from his Roush Racing contract obligations effective at the end of the 2005 year and that Jamie McMurray has signed to drive for Roush Racing commencing in the 2006 season. Newell-Rubbermaid and Diageo [Crown Royal/Smirnoff] will continue as primary sponsors of the McMurray driven entry in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series.(Roush Racing)(11-7-2005)
Ganassi/Home 123 part ways: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced today that CGRFS and Home123 have mutually chosen to terminate their sponsorship relationship. "We have enjoyed working with Home123," said team owner Chip Ganassi. "This was a good decision for us both and our separation was amicable. We wish them well in their future endeavors."
"While we have enjoyed working with the Ganassi organization and have seen benefit in the team sponsorship, we will be refocusing our 2006 dollars in other areas," said Pat Flanagan, Chief Executive Officer of Home123 Corporation. "We are committed to having marketing programs that strategically position the Home123 brand among our target audiences. We will continue to support the racing sport as the official mortgage company of NASCAR. In addition, we continue to be excited about announcing the winner of the Home123 "Pay Off Your Mortgage Sweepstakes."(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(11-7-2005)
Bobby Labonte to the #43? Bobby Labonte to the #43 Petty Enterprises ride Jeff Green would vacate [for the #0 Chevy].(Sporting News)(10-17-2005)
UPDATE: Speed Channel's Bob Dillner reported on Saturday's Speed News that he is hearing Bobby Labonte will go to Petty Enterprises and drive the famed #43 Dodge....while I WAS hearing he would go to Ganassi Racing in the #42, it seems that deal broke down and ALSO hearing Labonte could end up in the #22 Caterpillar Dodge....looks like the Dodge part is a lock.(11-6-2005)
UPDATE 2 - Yeley to the #18? #18-Bobby Labonte has refused for several months to talk about his future plans, and he has become increasingly testy when pressed on the issue. Labonte is being actively wooed by both Bill Davis and Kyle Petty for 2006, and Joe Gibbs, Labonte's current car owner, has been told that Labonte won't be back, according to sources. Gibbs has tentatively set a press conference for next week at Phoenix to announce J. J. Yeley as Labonte's replacement, regardless of which direction Labonte takes.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-7-2005)
Latest on Busch-McMurray deal: Expect to see #97-Kurt Busch and #42-Jamie McMurray be released from their respective contracts with Jack Roush and Chip Ganassi in short order. That’s the word from Roush, who said Friday he figures the deal to send McMurray to Roush’s #97 and Busch to Roger Penske’s #2 Dodge to be completed very soon. “I think that if Jamie and Kurt are going to be mutually released — and I would put it in that order — then I think it’s very close to the time that’s going to happen,” Roush said.
None of the remaining Silly Season dominos, most notably who will replace McMurray in Ganassi’s #42 Dodge next season, were resolved on Friday, but could be before the weekend is out.(Speed Channel)
AND Jack Roush said yesterday afternoon that an agreement still hadn't been reached in the three-way negotiations to move Jamie McMurray to Roush Racing and Kurt Busch to Penske in 2006. The deal, which also would send an unnamed driver to Chip Ganassi Racing to replace McMurray, has been in the works for weeks and was reported done by ESPN on Monday.(Richmond Times Dispatch)
AND II Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray still don't know if they will be driving for new teams next year. The anticipated swap of drivers involving three teams isn't done. If a deal is done, the changes are these: Busch will leave Roush Racing and drive the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge next season, replacing Rusty Wallace. McMurray will replace Busch for Jack Roush. And someone – possibly Bobby Labonte or Ricky Rudd – will replace McMurray in the #42 Havoline Dodge. "Ultimately it's Jack's decision if we want to separate and move on," Busch said. "If we can work out all the details, great." Jack Roush said he isn't sure everything will get resolved. "I don't have a drop-dead date," he said. "Geoff Smith [team president] is handling those negotiations, and he said it needs to be done quickly."
Roush was asked if he and Busch had spoken recently. "I haven't had a conversation with Kurt of any consequence since he told me he wanted to be released from his contract for 2006. I'm immune to frustration when it comes to Kurt Busch."(Dallas Morning News)....yikes!(11-5-2005)
More on the Busch McMurray 'swap': You get the feeling a formal announcement could come at any time, however Roush
Racing President Geoff Smith denies reports a deal has been cut between car owners Jack Roush, Roger Penske and Chip Ganassi involving the early release of Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray. Smith said “The fiction is the deal is done and the fact is the deal is not done. All the parties are working to try to have a solution that’s acceptable to everyone and we’re still a few pieces short although everyone is working in good faith trying to make it happen. My feeling is that we are at a 70-75% probability that it’s going to be done, but there are about twelve moving pieces and every single piece is conditioned on another. They all have to close or the whole thing unwinds.”
(PRN's Garage Pass Radio Show)(11-1-2005)
Dominos Should Fall this week - Busch-McMurray released? UPDATE 2 McMurray release DENIED:: This will be the crucial week for a decision, Roush Racing president Geoff Smith says, in the long-running driver-swap negotiations involving Jack Roush's Kurt Busch, Chip Ganassi's Jamie McMurray, and Roger Penske. If it does happen, McMurray would join Roush [#97], and Busch would join Penske [#2]. "In order for it to work, there has to be a driver for Chip," Smith said. "Ten days ago it wasn't working for Chip, but now it can work, so I presume he's got somebody." That could be Ricky Rudd, who isn't saying what his 2006 plans are, but who is reportedly very close to a decision simply to retire at the end of the season. Or it could be Bobby Labonte. Or Labonte could be headed to Bill Davis, according to sources. If Labonte leaves Chevrolet's Joe Gibbs to join the soon-to-be-Toyota Davis team as Michael Waltrip's teammate, that would be a major pick up by Toyota, expected to join the Nextel Cup tour for the 2007 season. If Davis doesn't get Labonte, he will likely get Dave Blaney, according to sources. Blaney once drove for Davis. Penske officials, saying that Rudd isn't one of their options, agree that this is the week that will tell the tale, and they agree with Smith that the complicated deal will in fact be completed.(Winston Salem Journal)(10-31-2005)
UPDATE: ESPN's Mike Massaro is reporting that Roush Racing has released 2004 Nextel Cup Champ #97 Kurt Busch from his 2006 contract obligations, allowing Busch to go to the #2 Miller Lite Dodge that Rusty Wallace will be retiring from at the end of 2005. ALSO Massaro is reporting that Jamie McMurray has been released from his 2006 Ganassi Racing contract to drive the #42 Texaco Dodge, allowing him to go to Roush Racing, taking over for Busch in the #97/#28 car or whatever number they will use with Crown Royal as the primary sponsor.(ESPN.com) So......who goes to the #42 Texaco Havoline Dodge? I am still hearing it'll be Bobby Labonte, and other reports have Ricky Rudd taking the #42 ride over.(10-31-2005)
UPDATE 2: Jamie McMurray has not been released from his 2006 contract commitments at this time.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(11-1-2005)
Labonte to the #42? UPDATE 2: Hearing Bobby Labonte, driver of the #18 Interstate Batteries Chevy, is the top candidate to replace Jamie McMurray in the #42 Texaco-Havoline Dodge at Chip Ganassi Racing, which would allow #97-Kurt Busch to drive the #2 in 2006 and McMurray to head to Roush Racing and drive the #97. Both McMurray and Busch signed deals to go to those teams in 2007 and both are trying to get out of their contract to run with their new teams in 2006.(10-21-2005)
UPDATE: Bobby Labonte could hold the key to the Jack Roush-Chip Ganassi-Roger Penske driver-swapping puzzle that has bedeviled the NASCAR garage area since July. Labonte's name has been circulating for months in the NASCAR rumor mill, though he has insisted several times he's not particularly interested in leaving Gibbs, his boss for more than a decade. However several car owners have said they are actively pursuing him, if he is available. Labonte's contract with Gibbs isn't up, but that would apparently not be a stumbling block if the two do decide to split.
The scenario under debate: Labonte moving to Ganassi, who would in turn free Jamie McMurray to join Roush as a replacement for Kurt Busch next season and then as a replacement for Mark Martin in 2007. In turn, Roush could then release Busch to join Roger Penske as a replacement for Rusty Wallace, who is retiring at the end of this season. Kyle Petty, meanwhile, said if Labonte is looking, Petty Enterprises wants to talk to him: "Oh, gosh, yes, if Bobby were available, his name would be in our hat." Petty is in the market for a driver to take over Jeff Green's ride in the team's 43 car.(Winston Salem Journal)
AND Queried about his plans for where he’ll drive in 2006, Bobby Labonte declined to offer any specifics. “It’s not in my best interest to tell you, so I’m not going to tell you,” said the 2000 NASCAR Cup champion. Labonte did confirm that he has two years left on his contract with Joe Gibbs, but he’s been rumored to be on his way out, possibly to drive for either Petty Enterprises or Chip Ganassi.(Speed Channel)(10-24-2005)
UPDATE 2: Native Texan Bobby Labonte laughed off a rumor that he is being considered for the driver's job with Hall of Fame Racing, the start-up Cup team co-owned by former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach. Labonte, the 2000 Cup champion, has driven for Joe Gibbs Racing since 1995. Interestingly, Hall of Fame Racing's 2006 Chevrolets will be supplied by Gibbs, making the team a satellite operation of Joe Gibbs Racing. Labonte declined to divulge the duration of his current contract with Gibbs. "That's my business, not yours," Labonte said. "As far as I know, I'm driving their car."(Fort Worth Star Telegram), no mention of the #42 rumor........(10-26-2005)
UPDATE 3: hearing that Bobby Labonte has signed with Ganassi Racing for next season. Supposedly they are only waiting for the lawyers to finish up with the paperwork. There was no mention as to whether or not Interstate Batteries would be going with him.(11-1-2005)
Rudd to the #2? #97 to #28? MORE: Lee Spencer reports on Around the Track that Roger Penske spoke with Ricky Rudd
regarding taking over the #2 ride if Kurt Busch is not released from the #97 team. The #97 is expected to switch to the #28 in 2006. Around the Track runs on Fox Sports South [TV] at 10:30pm/et tonight.(10-30-2005)
MORE: Bobby Labonte might be the most popular driver in the garage right now when it comes to teams that need drivers. What team wouldn't want to tease potential sponsors with a former champion? He has been mentioned as a candidate to drive the Nos. 43, 42 and 22. If Labonte drives the No. 43 for Petty Enterprises, Shell looks good as the sponsor. If Labonte jumps into the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing ride, that opens the door for Jamie McMurray to move to Roush Racing to drive the #97 (which could switch numbers and become the 28). Kurt Busch could in turn take over the No. 2 Penske Racing car after Rusty Wallace retires. Roger Penske admitted in Atlanta that he had spoken to Ricky Rudd about possibly doing a one-year deal if Busch were not released, but the surest bet in the driver's roulette would be on Busch in the #2 at Daytona.(Sporting News)(10-31-2005)
Are the Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray contract deals any closer? A: Yes. Now that team owner Chip Ganassi apparently has softened his stand against releasing McMurray from his contract one year early to join Roush Racing next season, the de facto three-way trade — McMurray to Roush, Busch to Penske, suitcases full of cash to Ganassi — could happen soon. Roush has always been willing to let Busch go to Penske a year early, provided the team gets another driver to take his place next season (preferably McMurray). And Roush Racing president Geoff Smith says he has convinced the #97 team's sponsors to extend their deadline for having a driver made final for next season. "My probability meter has gone from 2% to probably 50-50," Smith said.(USA Today)(10-28-2005)
OR is it Rudd to the #42? Speculation has run rampant around what Ricky Rudd's plans are for next season, but thus far he's kept quiet. But I [Yahoo Sports] heard an unconfirmed rumor Friday at Martinsville that perhaps makes the most sense of any buzz that I've heard in a long time. Instead of retiring at the end of this year, Rudd could leave the #21 car to drive the #42 car [Rudd ran for Texaco with RYR 2000-2002] for Chip Ganassi next season. Jamie McMurray would be released from the final year of his contract with Ganassi so that he can drive the #97 Ford for Roush Racing, thus freeing up Kurt Busch to get out of his contract with Roush one year early to replace Rusty Wallace in the #2 Dodge next season. Sources indicate that Ganassi could also receive payment from the Roush camp, which in turn likely would receive funds from Penske Racing South and primary sponsor Miller Lite for Busch's early release to replace Wallace. From what I've [Yahoo Sports] heard, Texaco Havoline is not pleased with having McMurray as a moody, unhappy lame-duck driver in 2006 and has been applying pressure to Ganassi to let McMurray go. Texaco Havoline would then build a significant one-year farewell tour marketing campaign around Rudd. As for the Wood Brothers, John Andretti [denied by the team] is rumored to be a possible one-year fill-in until Jon Wood is ready to go full-time on the Cup level in 2007. The #21 car still needs sponsorship for next season, which is one more thing Rudd would not want to worry about. Rudd added that he has no plans to race in the Busch or Craftsman Truck ranks.(Yahoo Sports), Jayski Note: heard that Bobby Labonte could be headed to the #42..see story below.(10-23-2005)
McMurray may get release from Ganassi....if UPDATE: Chip Ganassi has softened his stance regarding driver #42-Jamie McMurray, who wants out of his contract so he can drive for Roush Racing. McMurray signed a contract in July to drive for Roush beginning in 2007 [supposedly the #6, but now the #97], hoping that the early announcement would force Ganassi to let him leave at the end of this year. Ganassi steadfastly refused to even negotiate an early release. But on Friday, Ganassi sounded a little bit more flexible about finding a solution.
"There are no talks at this time, but there could be if someone came to me with a solution," Ganassi said. "I need a solution, not a pile of money. I need a driver to replace Jamie." The McMurray situation got complicated when Kurt Busch said he was leaving Roush to drive for Penske Racing in 2007. Penske has an opening next season in the #2 Miller Lite Dodge because Rusty Wallace is retiring and would like to put Busch in the car right away. But Roush will not let Busch leave because it would give him two holes to fill: Busch's ride, plus the seat McMurray was supposed to fill upon Mark Martin's retirement. It was believed Roush and Penske were trying to work out a deal, but any solutions would likely have to include Ganassi giving McMurray an early release. "Look, I am not going to be Jack Roush or Roger Penske's whipping boy," Ganassi said. "I'm the end of the line on this thing and I'm trying to put together my team, too."
If nothing changes, Martin has indicated he will postpone retirement and drive one more season for Roush in the #6 Ford. If that happens, Roush said he'd likely put McMurray in Busch's seat (assuming Busch stays through 2006) and move Todd Kluever up to Martin's ride in 2007.(ESPN.com/AP)(10-15-2005)
UPDATE: Penske South officials remain optimistic that Kurt Busch will replace Rusty Wallace in 2006, but they say it will not happen unless Jamie McMurray is released to join Roush Racing. That would open the door for a three-way deal in which Penske would get Busch, Roush would get McMurray and Chip Ganassi Racing would get a driver to replace McMurray. “Jamie has to get free first,” said Penske Race president Don Miller before Saturday night’s Nextel Cup race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “That’s the only way it’s going to work.” Roush president Geoff Smith agreed. “For us, that’s step one,” he said of McMurray, who is signed for the 2007 season to drive Busch’s No. 97 car. “They know what our criteria are. I believe there are discussions with Chip from Penske.” Ganassi, who has insisted for months that he would not release McMurray, softened his stance this weekend, saying he would be willing to listen.
“I need a solution, not a pile of money,” he told reporters. “I need a driver to replace Jamie.” Because of tampering rules, most of the talks are between Busch’s attorneys and the attorneys at Penske and Roush Racing. Smith said he has made sure Busch’s lawyers have a list of available drivers that might interest Ganassi. But Smith and team owner Jack Roush said that driver will not come from Roush Racing.
“I am not in negotiations for, nor do I have any personal preference to having him driving my car in 2006,” Roush said of McMurray, who originally was signed to replace Mark Martin in the No. 6 before Busch announced his deal with Penske for 2007. “I want him in my car in 2007. If things develop so he’s available, then there will be something (done) about that. I’m not going to offer up a junior driver and two choices in the future.”(The State)(10-16-2005)
McMurray's car flunks post-insp at Talladega: Following a weekend of rules controversies, Jamie McMurray’s #42 Chip Ganassi-owned Dodge flunked post-race inspection when right-rear quarter panel didn’t meet the minimum height requirement. No penalty will be issued, NASCAR officials said, because McMurray’s car was one of many that had been damaged in a wreck during the race.(Speed Channel)(10-2-2005)
More on McMurray/Busch moving on in 2006: #42-Jamie McMurray said leaving Chip Ganassi Racing a year early to join [#6] Roush Racing remains a possibility. "If people above me get things worked out and it happens, I'd rather be at Roush Racing next year because that's where my future is," said McMurray, who has a year left at Ganassi and signed with Roush for 2007. "It's going to be tough to stay with a team that you know you're not going to be with the following year." This week, #97-Kurt Busch affirmed #2-Rusty Wallace's comment at Dover that lawyers are working to move up Busch's departure from Roush Racing to Penske Racing South by a year.(Richmond Times Dispatch)(10-1-2005)
Shine On Scheme for #42 at Talladega: The #42 Dodge will sport a special "Shine On" paint scheme this weekend, with the hood displaying the only hexagon Texaco logo ever released by the company. During this time (1963-1980) the company launched the very
popular advertising slogan, "trust your car to the man that wears the star." The "Shine On" series of four different paint schemes pays
tribute to Texaco/Havoline's successful NASCAR history while emphasizing the iconic status of the star. The other "Shine On"
events included Texas (April 17), Charlotte (May 29) and Infineon (June 26).(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR), see schemes of each one on my #42 Team Schemes page.(9-28-2005)
McMurray in the #97 instead of #6? UPDATE 2: here is a new one....from the Tampa Tribune: When Jamie McMurray [current #42 Texaco driver] joins Roush Racing in 2007, he may drive [Kurt] Busch's #97 Ford rather than Martin's #6 Ford as originally planned, Roush said. McMurray is scheduled to join Roush in 2007, after his contract with Chip Ganassi Racing expires. Busch is leaving no later than 2007 to take over Rusty Wallace's #2 Miller Lite Dodge at Penske Racing South in 2007. Busch's contract with Roush runs through next year.(Tampa Tribune)(9-13-2005)
UPDATE: Jack Roush confirmed on Sunday that Jamie McMurray, who is slated to move from Chip Ganassi Racing to Roush Racing in 2007, might wind up in the #97 Ford, which is being vacated by Kurt Busch. McMurray originally was pegged as the driver to take over the #6 Ford driven by Mark Martin. "Yes, there is a possibility of that," Roush said. "We're having discussions right now with sponsors and have several things on the table." Roush said he's close to finalizing his 2006 plans.(Atlanta Journ