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Ganassi/Montoya Q&A: Steep learning curve
by Bob Dillner/SPEED,
Juan Pablo Montoya: I put a lot of thought into the last couple of weeks to really (figure out) what I wanted to do with my future. Last week, I called Chip. It was last week. I said, "Hey, what are you doing with the other seat? You've got a seat available. What are we going to do?" We just talked about it and went through it. It was pretty straightforward, and I'm just excited. I'm having great success in Formula One. I've done great races this year as well. I think the timing was right. I worked with Chip before, and he's always been really good to me. To come here and race these cars here is going to be a tough challenge, and I think that's one of the things that really drives me: the new challenge. There are going to be great drivers, and it's not going to be easy. Some people are going to think, "Oh, you're going to come here and win." But I think I'm going to come here, I'm going to struggle at the beginning, and hopefully I can work with all the guys and two cars on Chip's team and build it up from there.
Bob Dillner: There are a lot of young kids in IRL, Champ Car and Formula One racing. You're 30 years old now. NASCAR's been known to be a longevity-type sport. As you look on into your career, is that something you took into consideration that you can drive these NASCAR race cars for a long time?
Juan Pablo Montoya: Yeah, I think it's true. It's exciting. What I achieved in Formula One was great. Of course, I wanted to try to win a world championship, but things didn't ever pan out the way I wanted to. I come here. I know I can have 10, 15 more years of racing. I do this because I love racing. (Having) the chance to work with Chip again was really exciting.
Bob Dillner: Of course they won the championship in the CART Series back in 1999 and the Indy 500 in the following year. So Chip, the question is what is the status now? How do we get Juan Pablo ready for NASCAR? What is the plan?
Chip Ganassi: You know, we've got a winter of work here, Bob. He's got his Formula One commitments. Obviously we can't get in the way of that until the end of that season. It's going to be a lot, a lot of hard work, but I'll tell you what. I asked that kid time and time again, I said, "Are you sure you want to do this?" He said, "I want to do it. Let's go for it." You see just talking to him. He's an infectious guy. He's the kind of guy and the kind of driver that you want to work hard for.
Bob Dillner: Realistically, you know that Juan Pablo Montoya when he goes into a new racing series, he wants to win. He did it with you in '99 in the CART Series when he took over for Alex Zanardi. What is the timetable? What is the goal for next year realistically?
Chip Ganassi: Look, it's going to be a steep hill, a steep learning curve. We just have to get ourselves prepared for that, and we'll do the best we can. That's all we can do.
Bob Dillner: Chip Ganassi and Juan Pablo Montoya making a major announcement today at the Chicagoland Speedway. I believe for the first time ever a Formula One driver is coming over full-time to the NASCAR big leagues so a big announcement today at Chicagoland. Juan Pablo Montoya will be the driver of the No. 42 machine for Chip Ganassi Racing next year.
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