Juan Pablo Montoya, Formula
One Ace, is coming to Nextel Cup. There are many sides to this story before JPM has turned the first lap in competition in
a stock car.
First, there are the
good old boy types that feel that “their” sport has been replaced with a new politically correct internationally
oriented big money machine. And they would not be incorrect.
There are also those
within the sport that understand what it takes to hit the track—that would be boatloads, no, make that shiploads, of
cash. They believe that to have an internationally acclaimed driver from South America enter the series is going to attract
a lot of new attention from the Latino demographic, and those folks will be buying not only what is on his quarter panel, but what is on everyone else’s as well. That also would be an accurate assumption.
No doubt Bernie Eccolstone
feels that his Ivory-Tower-Formula-One-Castle has been tainted, and conversely speaking, NASCAR officials are probably ordering
more wine and cheese than brats and beer these days. It is indeed true that NASCAR is moving up in the world, and F1, well;
Bernie had best be hoping that the European fans don’t decide to follow Juan’s progress in 2007.
But, although interesting, none of those sub-stories answer the
big question--Can he get the job done?
At first glance the task
is indeed daunting. Mr. Montoya will be climbing out of a car that has been a virtual extension of his body, accelerating
like a rocket, stopping on the proverbial dime, and cornering like a magnet stuck to a metallic track, and stepping into a
heavy, no-down force, car that is always on the brink of losing adhesion—with 40 or so other cars a bumper length or less away.
On one hand, AJ Foyt,
Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, as well as more recently Tony Stewart (and others) have successfully made the transition,
but on the other hand, there have been numerous sports car and open wheel types that have had difficulty staying on the lead
lap of the few stock car events that they have run, and have quietly disappeared back to the type of cars that they are successful
in.
Why would Montoya take
a chance at this point in his career? After all, he has notched the Indy 500 and has several Formula One wins to his credit.
It could certainly be argued that he has to win in Cup in order not to lose credibility. Why take the chance?
The answer is in the challenge.
Life is a constantly changing challenge, and repeatedly we find ourselves in new circumstances that are uncomfortable, and
unlike Juan Pablo, often not of our own making.
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The trick is to expect change, and make the absolute best of each challenge, to turn from darkness to light regardless of the
details of the actual situation, and to be able to console others in their time of need from personal experience. In fact,
the challenging details of personal strife are often precisely what lead to personal growth, for without them it would not
be possible.
There may be times in
2007 that Montoya asks himself just what he was thinking when he decided to go Cup racing. There may be times that he comes
in holding his helmet with the car on a flatbed that he questions his talent.
But stepping up to the
unknown was the first win, and if he is victorious in Cup, he will know in his heart that he now has not only won against
the “world champions”, he has also won against the best drivers in the
world.
NASCAR fans have big
hearts, and know what it is like to be in Juan’s position, for many of them, in one sense or another… are.
Welcome to Cup, Juan.
As you face perhaps the biggest challenge of your career, remember that many hearts, for many different reasons, go with you.
2006 StockCar Review.
