Montoya, 48, has 255 NASCAR Cup begins, however none since 2014. The versatile racer, although, is a confirmed winner at Watkins Glen, capturing the checkered flag there in 2010. Saturday, Montoya was fifteenth in observe earlier than qualifying thirty fourth within the 38-car discipline. As for his teammates, Bubba Wallace was thirty second and Tyler Reddick was sixteenth.
“It’s actually good to be again – thrilling,” stated Montoya, who’s driving the No. 50 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing at Watkins Glen. “I don’t know what to anticipate — I don’t know. I feel I ought to run fairly effectively, however that’s all I can inform you proper now. It’s so tough, since you come right into a weekend the place you get — I drove the automobile at VIR, and did about 40 laps, simply to get comfy — be sure the seat and every little thing was working. I felt fairly good with the automobile. I felt prefer it was simpler to drive than the final automobile.”
Juan Montoya, 23XI Racing, Mobil 1 fiftieth Anniversary Toyota Camry
Picture by: Gavin Baker / NKP / Motorsport Photos
He has pretty easy expectations for this weekend’s occasion, hoping for a clear race and a considerably aggressive exhibiting.
“I feel the brand new factor and I’m glad there may be two practices, however the exhausting factor is – you’re going to exit and they’ll wish to see the tires and you’re going to exit and do a long term, you’re by no means going make a qualifying sim — again within the day, you used a qualifying sim and you’d actually put together for qualifying, however now you go there and drive it and with the tire degradation that they’re speaking about — you’re in all probability going to get a lap. It’s type of robust as a result of should you overdo it, you screw up and also you under-do it, you screw up – so nice. (laughter).”
Getting a really feel for the automobile
He ran 26 laps in observe and managed to keep away from any points as he acquired to know the Subsequent Gen automobile, noting that it was a fairly large studying curve “the primary few laps” of the session.
“I do know the place fairly effectively. i raced right here loads so I do know the place fairly effectively. The bus cease modified, in order that was a studying curve, and getting used to the automobile — the way in which it behaves is slightly completely different. So, you do not wish to throw it off within the first observe, however as we went, it gave the impression to be getting fairly good.”
Reflecting on his NASCAR profession, Montoya was content material with how he did over time. “I believed it was fairly good actually, for the automobiles that I used to be in and the gear we have been in, I feel in a few years we weren’t nice, however we made the Chase, we fought for the championship — we did loads of issues with loads lower than the opposite groups, personally considering.
Juan Montoya, 23XI Racing, Mobil 1 fiftieth Anniversary Toyota Camry
Picture by: David Rosenblum / NKP / Motorsport Photos
Nevertheless, he nonetheless regrets a crew chief change at Ganassi that preceded a drop-off in efficiency. “I feel our greatest run was with Brian [Pattie]. When Brian was there, he was taking good care of every little thing. When the brand new crew chief got here in, and he stayed there till I left, it was a little bit of a joke, however what are you able to do.”
Watkins Glen makes its first look within the playoffs this 12 months — however understands this run is a one-off in comparison with the 16 different drivers preventing for the title.
“I shall be good and respectful of everybody that’s good and respectful for me,” he laughed. Certainly one of Montoya’s most memorable moments was when he almost got here to blows with Kevin Harvick down in Flip 1 at this very monitor. He is definitely not shy about utilizing the fenders on these heavy inventory automobiles.
“I don’t wish to get in a pissing contest with anybody. I wish to run effectively. If I get to you, and I’m faster than you — I’m going to attempt to cross you. In the event you get to me, and you’re faster than me, there may be motive — the race is lengthy sufficient. Like all the time, you watch for the adjustment and make the automobile higher — should you make somebody depressing at first of the race, they’ll return the favor later. I do know I’m doing a one-off. I shall be respectful of everybody that’s respectful of me. It isn’t that onerous.”
Montoya is not in opposition to exhibiting up for extra one-off makes an attempt both, telling the assembled media: “I don’t know. Let’s do that weekend after which we’ll see. Truthfully, I in all probability some day — if somebody involves me in the future and asks me if I wish to do a one-off, I might in all probability say sure, however it’s Saturday morning, so we’ll see.”
