Juan Pablo Montoya
NNCS Homestead Advance
Race: Ford 400 on Sunday, Nov.18
Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval)
Location: Homestead, Fla.
Juan Pablo Montoya and the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Team Facts:
Back where it started: It was one year ago at Homestead-Miami Speedway that Formula One star and Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya made his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup debut. Montoya, without a guaranteed starting spot, qualified his Texaco/Havoline Dodge in the 29th position last year. He drove the car up to as high as 13th before he was tapped from behind on lap 252, 16 laps before the checkered flag, and sent into the outside wall. He was not able to return to the track and was scored in the 34th position.
For Colombia: Montoya and his wife Connie are hosting a charity gala in Miami, Fla., to increase awareness about his country of Colombia, as well as raise funds in conjunction with five other Colombian charitable foundations. The stage is set for a red carpet affair that will involve more than 500 sport, business and entertainment celebrity guests. The event will be held Thursday, November 15 at the Karu & Y restaurant in Miami’s Art and Entertainment district. The red carpet is set to begin at 7 p.m., with dinner, a fashion show by Colombian Fashion Designer Silvia Tcherassi and an exclusive concert by 12-time Grammy Winner Juanes. Montoya and Connie’s foundation Formula Smiles, is one of six charities that will benefit from the Gala. Several NASCAR sponsors, executives and drivers have either contributed to the event or will be attending the Gala Thursday evening including Montoya’s three teammates and two co-owners.
Standings: Montoya remains 21st in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings following his 17th-place finish at Phoenix International Raceway. He and the Texaco/Havoline team look to move into the top 20 this week at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Montoya sits just 17 points out of 20th behind JJ Yeley, and 61 points behind 17th-place driver Jamie McMurray.
Rookie Race: Montoya was the Raybestos® Rookie of the Race in the November 11 Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix (Ariz.) International Raceway. Montoya scored a 17th-place finish and took top rookie honors for the 16th time this season. He has been the top rookie in three of the last four races. He currently leads David Ragan by 21 points (236-215) in the Raybestos® Rookie standings entering the November 18 Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway. Ragan can not catch Montoya in points at Homestead, but it comes down to a panel vote to determine the 2007 Rookie of the Year. Montoya is poised to become the fourth driver for Texaco/Havoline to earn the Raybestos Rookie honor (Davey Allison, Kenny Irwin and Jamie McMurray).
Chassis: Crew Chief Donnie Wingo and the No. 42 team are bringing chassis #707 to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the season finale. The is one of the most successful chassis in the team’s stable, in fact this chassis finished second at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this year. This will be the seventh and final race for chassis #707.
Celebrating 20 Years: In celebration of Texaco’s 20th anniversary in sponsoring stock car racing and a successful season for rookie Montoya, Chevron Products Company introduced its special limited edition gift card carrying the image of the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline race car and Montoya. The Texaco/Havoline branded gift cards are now available for purchase in denominations up to $100 at participating Texaco stations or online at www.texaco.com.
Sirius-ly: Montoya and the team will be featured weekly on Sirius Satellite Radio’s Driver2Crew Chatter. Driver2Crew Chatter puts fans in the car and in the pits. Fans can listen to Montoya’s radio communication with Crew Chief Wingo, Spotter Tab Boyd and the rest of the Team on channel 119. Listen in every Monday at 5 p.m. ET on channel 128 for the “Juan Pablo Montoya Report.” Montoya provides exclusive updates on the No. 42 Team; gives post-race downloads and shares his own personal experiences on his jump full-time into the NEXTEL Cup Series.
