Juan Pablo Montoya's Nextel Cup win two weeks ago in Sonoma was the latest example of a former open-wheel driver succeeding in NASCAR.
It certainly won't be the last.
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| Juan Pablo Montoya is one of only two drivers to win a Cup race, Formula One and the Indy 500. (AP) |
Montoya, who left a stellar career in both Indy Car racing and Formula One before moving over NASCAR, is just the latest talent to come over to the promised land of stock-car racing.
Like Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears, J.J. Yeley, Robby Gordon, A.J. Allmendinger and even Jeff Gordon, Montoya decided the best path to the top of the motorsports ladder was in NASCAR.
"Obviously NASCAR has grown to become just about the biggest thing in racing," said Montoya, who is one of only two drivers to win a NASCAR Nextel Cup race, Formula One and the Indy 500, joining Mario Andretti in that accomplishment.
"I was at a point in my career where I wanted to try something challenging and do something that would get me involved with what I think still has the potential to be even larger than it is today."
After spending a few seasons with the McLaren Formula One team, Montoya also longed for an opportunity to race in side-by-side competition, something today's F1 often doesn't offer, with little or no on-track passing.
"When the offer came and I saw the racing you guys do here, I was really ecstatic about it," Montoya said about a year ago when the announcement was made that he would join his former open wheel owner Chip Ganassi's NASCAR stable.
Although Montoya could have commanded millions more in salary to stay in F1, his decision wasn't based completely on financial considerations.
"I don't think you're going to be happy getting more money and being miserable all day," he said. "When I called Chip, I said, 'Chip you know what? I want to come back racing, and I think the best place to do racing is here."
The opportunity to race in a competitive environment and on arguably racing's biggest stage might play into more former open wheel stars taking the plunge into NASCAR.
Two-time Indy Racing League champion and Indy 500 winner Sam Hornish Jr. appears next in line to make the move with reports circulating this will be his last year driving Roger Penske's Indy Car, opting for a spot in "The Captain's" NASCAR stable in 2008.
