(Photo by Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Whether it's a driver in the top 12 trying to win a championship, a rookie trying to prove himself or a go or go home car just fighting to get back in the top 35, every weekend NASCAR provides 43 unique story lines for the fans to follow. He did, however, win the 2000 CART race there.
From Michigan to Miami, Patti Rodisch and I will be bringing you “The Lugnut Report”, a special look into the weekends of two different drivers—whether it's the conservative Chase driver racing for points or a non-Chaser putting it all on the line to win, you'll follow their weekend from qualifying to race day.
This weekend's driver lineup: Juan Pablo Montoya and Casey Mears.
“Our real goal this year was making The Chase. When we sat down with Brian (Patti, crew chief) a year ago, we said next year we need to make sure to make The Chase and if we don't, we have to be a contender for it. We can't run 20th every week. We did that. We've been working, we are getting better every week and we just have to keep doing the same thing. By the time The Chase stars, we will see. I think you can start taking some more risks and see what happens.”
Michigan International Speedway hasn't been kind to Juan Pablo Montoya. On the verge of a Chase berth, Montoya has an average finish at MIS of 27.6, thanks to four straight finishes outside the top 20.
The bright spot? Montoya finished 6th in his last visit to the track, and has experienced Victory Lane—in CART.
Montoya was also riding the wave of momentum—his sixth place finish last Monday at Watkins Glen continued his streak of nine finishes in the top 12, and no DNFs. Oh, and the car he'd brought to MIS? His dominant Brickyard car, which led 116 laps in June.
The Colombia native, though, wasn't getting his hopes up.
“Normally, we really suck here,’’ Montoya told the media on Friday. “We really do!’’
And despite sucking, Friday's on track activities shined a bright light on was hopefully a good weekend to come for the No. 42 Target Chevrolet team. Montoya qualified third for Sunday's Carfax 400 after ending the weekend's first practice in the same position.
Saturday's morning pratice continued the momentum, as again Montoya put his car third on the charts. Happy Hour, however, wasn't so happy for the former Indianapolis 500 winner, as his car ended practice 20th.
Up and down pratice sessions would be a precurser of what was to come.
Taking the green flag shortly after 2:20 p.m. Eastern time, Montoya began falling back early after giving polesitter and eventual winner Brian Vickers a push. After being passed by the likes of Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano, the No. 42 EGR Chevrolet settled into sixth when the first caution for rain came out.
ESPN's Jamie Little interview his crew chief, Brian Pattie, during the caution. Pattie told Little he didn't plan to pit the car when the cars restarted 18 minutes later. A smile on his face, he told Little he plays poker "every Sunday."
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