Juan Pablo Montoya
Advance Notes for Las Vegas
Race: UAW-Dodge 400 on Sunday, March 2 (NSCS)
Track: Las Vegas Motor Speedway (1.5 miles)
Location: Las Vegas, Nev.
Juan Pablo Montoya and No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Team (NSCS)
NOTES
Back in Black: Juan Pablo Montoya will pilot the red and black colors of Texaco/Havoline this weekend for the UAW-Dodge 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Vegas Testing: Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline crew tested at Las Vegas Motor Speedway at the NASCAR sanctioned test in January. After testing for two days, Montoya posted the fastest lap of the test session during a mock qualifying run. His lap time of 28.914 sec./186.761 mph during the afternoon session bested the track record of 29.212 sec./184.856 mph set by Kasey Kahne in 2007.
Vegas Past: Montoya will make his second trip to Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race after his rookie season last year. Montoya and the No.42 Texaco/Havoline team had three unfortunate issues that relegated them to a 22nd-place finish in 2007 at the 1.5-mile track. Despite winning Rookie of the Race, Montoya was blocked in his pits during his first stop, received damage from the No.38 car and had a piece of debris push in the front grill that upset the handling of his Dodge Charger.
Golfing for Charity: Montoya and several other NASCAR drivers participated in Kyle Petty’s Victory Invitational Celebrity Golf Tournament Thursday, February 28, at Kierland Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. The tournament will benefit The Victory Junction Gang Camp and the ASU College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation.
2008 Standings: Montoya gained five positions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings following his 20th-place effort in California. Montoya finished 32nd in Daytona and now sits 27th in Cup points heading into the third race of the season.
So What Happened? For the second year in a row, spotter Tab Boyd will be posting an exclusive blog on TexacoHavoline42.com. Boyd recaps the race from atop the spotter’s stand as Montoya’s “Eye’s in the Sky.”
CHASSIS INFO
No. 42 Texaco/Havoline (NSCS): Crew Chief Donnie Wingo is bringing chassis #802 for the UAW-Dodge 400. This is the chassis the team tested with at Las Vegas during the preseason and posted the fastest lap of the test.
