Montoya to return to Daytona for Rolex 24
Juan Pablo Montoya has been a busy boy since leaving F1. After working his way up the American stock-car racing ladder – and winning the NEXTEL Cup Rookie of the Year award for his troubles – the Colombian driver is still planning on making a return to Daytona to defend his title in the Rolex 24.
Montoya made his Grand Am debut behind the wheel of a Daytona Prototype at the event last year, taking the checkered flag to become the first driver in the history of motorsport to win the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona. At the next race in January, Montoya will be sharing driving duties in the #1 Chip Ganassi Racing car along with his NASCAR team-mate Dario Francitti, as well as Scott Pruett (with whom he shared victory last year) and Memo Rojas.
This year at Daytona, Ganassi will be fielding two cars. The second Daytona Prototype will be driven by Salvador Duran (who shared victory with Montoya and Pruett last year), IRL IndyCar champions Dan Wheldon and Scott Dixon, and Indy Pro Series champ Alex Lloyd.
Altogether Ganassi is heading to Daytona in January with a star-studded line-up of drivers in pursuit of their third consecutive win at the famous race.
[Source: Autosport]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Luis 5:38PM (12/11/2007)
Wheww! That was an eye-full to read. Continued success to Montoya...
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VP 5:49PM (12/11/2007)
Most teams have one good lineup, but for Ganassi both his rides have a lot of starpower. They should be the odds on favorite this time.
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judd 5:53PM (12/11/2007)
Must suck to be a Montoya hater and see the success he is having so far.
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Doug Parmenter 6:25PM (12/11/2007)
This is going to be a race for the history books, can't wait! They AREN'T the only really strong 2 car team.
For example, how about Wayne Taylor's Sun Trust team, which is now a 2 car effort. The partner? Roger Penske! New name, Penske-Taylor Racing. Drivers of the added #9 car are Helio Castroneves, Ryan Briscoe and Kurt Busch. The usual # 10 car will have Michael Valiante as a season long partner to Max Angelelli and probably Jeff Gordon at Daytona.
Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen are 2 of the new drivers for the Ruby Tuesday Porsche.
Krohn Racing have Ricardo Zonta (ex F1), Darren Turner and Nic Jönsson in one car, Oliver Gavin and Eric van de Poele drive with the team owner in the other.
Lots more stars are sure to show too.
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Gooch 6:49PM (12/11/2007)
It's Franchitti...
I didn't know Ricardo Zonta was driving in Grand Am, or is this just a one-off? I've always liked him -- he's fast and smooth. He just wasn't with the right team in F1, but he was a hell of a sports car driver.
Although I am a Montoya fanboy, you have to give credit to Scott Pruett as well. He is a very strong racer and vastly experienced.
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dougjp 5:59PM (12/14/2007)
Zonta is there for the whole year! Also just announced was Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal teaming up for Daytona. I wonder if this has anything to do with where Justin will be racing next year? It should further fuel the rumours of him taking over Bourdais' seat at NHL.