Montoya would caution Patrick about multi-tasking
Friday, Oct. 09, 2009
Getty Images
FONTANA, CA - OCTOBER 09: Juan Pablo Montoya, driver of the #42 Target Chevrolet, climbs into his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway on October 9, 2009 in Fontana, California. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Getty Images
HOMESTEAD, FL - OCTOBER 09: Danica Patrick drives the # 7 Boost Mobile/Motorola Andretti Green Racing Dallara Honda during practice for the IndyCar Series Firestone Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on October 9, 2009 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
AP
Driver Juan Pablo Montoya, of Colombia, prepares for practice for the NASCAR Pepsi 500 auto race at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., Friday, Oct. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
FONTANA, Calif. – Juan Pablo Montoya has some advice for Danica Patrick: Don’t drive in both the IndyCar and NASCAR series at the same time.
“I wouldn’t be driving both cars, to be honest,” said Montoya, a former Formula One driver and Indianapolis 500 winner who is now third in points in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.
“I wouldn’t do it because they drive so different. You’re going to get comfortable in one thing and then you’re going to make it to the other thing, and every time it’s going to be like night and day.”
Granted, Montoya didn’t offer up his opinion without being prompted by reporters, some of whom have been asking virtually everyone's opinion on what Patrick should do in absence of her own comments.
Patrick hasn't announced agreement with any NASCAR teams for 2010, although both JR Motorsports and Michael Waltrip Racing have expressed interest in part-time programs for her.
Jimmie Johnson said Montoya had a point but thinks Patrick would need seat time regardless of when she mad a move to NASCAR.
“It is tough because she is obviously going to have a big spotlight on her. Hit walls, tear up equipment, make mistakes,” he said. “You have to go through that. You cannot short cut that aspect.
“It doesn’t matter is you are Juan Pablo, who has been an F1 driver coming in, or a guy coming from a local short track.”
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