NASCAR fans have reason to rejoice. Not only is the Cup Series ready to resume now that the Olympic break has come to an end, but Juan Pablo Montoya is making a sensational return to NASCAR after a ten-year hiatus. Yes, you read that right!
The former Formula 1 driver, known for his aggressive yet skillful driving style, will drive the Toyota Camry no. 50 23XI Racing at Watkins Glen International later this year.
Although he is no longer at his best, fans flock to The Glen to see the veteran in action, which could be the last time he competes in the Cup Series. However, according to Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi, expectations must be kept on how Montoya will fare after his long break from stock car racing.
Jordan Bianchi tempering his expectations from Juan Pablo Montoya
Watkins Glen International has been a happy hunting ground for Juan Pablo Montoya, especially during his two Cup Series stints. He won the circuit in 2010, finished fourth in 2008 and fifth in 2013, amassing a total of five top-10 finishes at the 2,450-mile course. However, none of these results were achieved with the Next Gen car and the 48-year-old driver did not compete in the Cup Series for some time. What made him finally return to the Cup Series? It’s his love for running, of course! The 48-year-old driver wanted to give his NASCAR career a proper farewell. Despite Montoya’s incredible record at Watkins Glen International and vast experience, NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi keeps expectations in check.
Speaking on Dale Jr.’s shooting podcast, Bianchi said: “I mean, for me, Juan Pablo Montoya is 48 years old, and so is Jimmie Johnson. Mark Martin has reached his 50s, when you look at the guys who haven’t raced regularly and come back for back-to-back starts. Montoya hasn’t raced a stock car in about 10 years. This will be a very difficult task.” I don’t have high expectations. »
Bianchi, writing for The Athletic, added: “I have no expectations for his performance after such a long absence. The car drives like a sports car, but he has no experience with Next Gen other than this proves that he did.” While he’s inexperienced, Montoya will be in good hands for his once-in-a-lifetime return to the Cup Series, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, who has impressed with his recent performances , with Tyler Reddick sitting third in the drivers’ standings while Bubba Wallace has a realistic chance of making the playoffs. 23XI Racing’s third entry has only been twice this season.
Kamui Kobayashi has driven the car in the Circuit of the Americas as rising star Corey Heim made his only Cup Series appearance in the black and gold Camry at Nashville Superspeedway. As for Montoya, while the motorsport veteran may lack experience in a next-generation car, he has the ability to adapt to new challenges, having raced in Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR during his career.
Juan Pablo Montoya aims to be competitive at The Glen
Anyone familiar with Juan Pablo Montoya’s career knows how competitive the Colombian driver is. Although NASCAR drastically changed his last competitive appearance in the Cup Series for Team Penske in 2014, the 48-year-old driver hopes to put on a great show in his return. Watkins Glen International is one of the two tracks that the Colombian has won during his NASCAR career, the other being Sonoma Raceway in 2007. This means that some of the younger drivers, who are not familiar with Montoya’s winning mentality , will make a big mistake by underestimating the winner twice. of the Indianapolis 500.
Of his race at Watkins Glen International, Juan Pablo Montoya said: “I’m at a point in my career where I’m not looking for a job … but an opportunity like this presents itself and I think .I can still be very competitive and have a chance. So why not? I’ve been to the Glen many times with IMSA and IndyCar. I know the track well. I thought this would be a fun activity to do. People forget why I run. I run because I love to run. If I didn’t think I could compete, I wouldn’t. »
Montoya is one of only three drivers to have won races in Formula 1, IndyCar and NASCAR. If there is one driver capable of adapting to the challenges of the Cup Series and making the most of the performance of the next generation car, it is the veteran driver. Montoya’s career has been defined by his ability to adapt to the different disciplines of motor sports, and he aims to hit the road to victory when he finally makes his long-awaited return to NASCAR. What do you think of Montoya’s return to NASCAR? Tell us in the comments!
