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CUP: Montoya A Triple Threat
Written by: Tom Jensen   
08/07/2007 - 07:00 PM
Harrisburg, N.C.
 
Montoya: gunning for another record. (LAT photo) » More Photos

Barely halfway through his rookie season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, Colombian native and former open-wheel standout Juan Pablo Montoya stands on the verge of making history.

Montoya, a former Indy 500 and Grand Prix of Monaco race winner, on Sunday will attempt to become the first driver in history to win three NASCAR road races in the same season.

Montoya, winner of the NASCAR Busch Series race at Mexico in March and the Nextel Cup event at Infineon Raceway in June, will campaign his Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Dodge Avenger in the Centurion Boats at the Glen Nextel Cup event on Sunday. He's also entered in Saturday's Busch Series Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen.

"I think driving the Busch race is going to be a big help to get much more track time before the Cup race, and hopefully we can get really good results," said Montoya, who showed his oval prowess two weeks ago with a runner-up finish in the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard. "It's going to be I think my last Busch race this year, so hopefully we can make something happen and have a really good weekend. It would be very important."

Montoya's victory at Infineon Raceway was the first Cup victory for the Ganassi organization since 2002,
and the entire team seems to have gotten its legs under it, finally. At the Brickyard two weeks ago, Montoya qualified second and finished second, while teammate Reed Sorenson won the pole and finished fifth in the race.

And although he downplays his part in the Ganassi renaissance, Montoya certainly has played a key role. "It's not really myself. I think I'm doing better because the whole team is doing better. I think the … the whole Ganassi organization, are getting more results, and I think the whole team is pumped up about getting good results every week, and it's just exciting to see that. It's exciting to be part of it," said Montoya.

"I'm proud to be driving for Chip Ganassi Racing," Montoya continued. "It's just – everything is set up to get good results. Look at how the whole front row at Indy was huge and being competitive over in Indy was huge, being good in road courses last week, we're good again. It feels good, and the spirit of the team is really high right now, and we've just got to keep going. We have really good momentum right now, and we can't waste it. At this point is the point we can't plateau and please ourselves with where we are. I think we have to keep pushing harder to make sure we're good every week."