Juan Pablo and Danica
Looks like Juan Pablo Montoya and Danica Patrick were the topics of conversation at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Monday. Mark Martin. Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne were at Indy testing for next month's Brickyard 400. They were all excited to see Montoya want to make the jump from Formula One to NASCAR. What else are they going to say? There's no room in NASCAR for snobby Formula One has-beens? At least Martin had some humorous comments about Montoya's move.
There is specualtion that Patrick will be next to leave the IRL for NASCAR. If she makes the jump, it looks like she won't be received with such enthusiasm. Martin and Kahne said she would draw fans. But it doesn't sound like either of them thinks she would be much of a threat in NASCAR. Kind of like her career in IRL.
Martin, who WILL retire after this season, had this to say about Montoya's move to the Nextel Cup Series:
"It's good timing. I think I'm going to watch with great enthusiasm from the couch with a remote control."
As for Danica Patrick, Martin said she would attract a lot of fans. Reading between the lines, though, it doesn't sound like Martin thinks she will have much success in stock cars.
"Oh, wow, you know, that would be another huge one for sure. I think it would be great, absolutely fantastic. She is definitely a major, major, major draw. It would be fantastic to see her getting involved at this stage in her career, which is in the early stages. It would give her enough time to really adapt to the cars and everything and make a go of it."
Kahne, smartly, echoed Martin's comments on Patrick.
"Yeah, I mean, I've always said that, man, if somebody like Danica, she does a great job in the IRL, if she was to come to NASCAR, that's pretty awesome for us, for her. I mean, NASCAR is a great sport, great racing series right now. Danica does draw a lot of people, it seems. You know, it would be pretty neat if she did come and race with us."
About Haddock
in the Paddock
Tim Haddock covers motorsports — including stock-car and open-wheel racing — for the Los Angeles Daily News.
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