NASCAR Targets the Open Wheels

Last year, Chip Ganassi shocked the racing world by signing former Indy Series Champion Juan Pablo Montoya to a deal that would land him in the world’s leading stock car venue for the 2007 season.  To date, that deal has impressed many, yet disappointed several.  In his rookie season in Cup Racing, Montoya has managed only 3 top five finishes and 5 top tens through the first 30 races of the year, but did score a victory at Infineon as well as a Busch Series win down in Mexico.  However, one thing about this driver that nobody can deny is his passion for what he does and his unwillingness to back down from anyone the track can throw at him.

While you or I may not be overly impressed with the results Montoya has given so far in 2007, one person that appears to be is car owner Chip Ganassi.  Last week, Ganassi announced the signing of another IndyCar Series Champion and winner of the 2007 Indianapolis 500, Dario Franchitti.  Franchitti made his stock car debut in the ARCA race at Talladega this past Friday and is gearing up to run a full schedule in the Sprint Cup Series next year driving the no. 40 Dodge for Ganassi.

In addition to the pickups that Ganassi has made in each of the past two seasons, Ray Evernham announced yesterday the signing of two-time former Champ Car World Series race winner Patrick Carpentier.  Carpentier made his NASCAR debut by finishing second in the Busch race in Montreal earlier in the year, and then a week later led seven laps in the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen.  It’s uncertain which car Carpentier will drive in 2008, but the likely choice would be the no. 10.  As we’d discussed last week, former F1 Series Champion Jacques Villeneuve made his stock car debut at the Cup Series race in Talladega this past week as well.  Villeneuve qualified his Bill Davis Racing Toyota in seventh position and then voluntarily dropped to the back of the pack for the start of the race.  Villeneuve went on to finish the race in 21st position.

More open wheel drivers are expected to make the jump from their current series to the NASCAR circuit within the next couple of years, some possibly even before the drop of the green flag at Daytona this February.  I know a lot of racing fans out there are discouraged with some of the evolving that NASCAR has experienced as of late – this issue inparticular – but, I have to say that I’m a fan.  I like the added exposure that NASCAR continues to receive as a result.  I like being able to catch up on some NASCAR news on ESPN.  Truth be told, I like the added competition that these drivers will bring to the field in due time.  In reality, the only people who should find a problem in any of this are those of you that can’t stand the slightest of changes in your lives.  That’s okay, though … at least they haven’t swapped the dates of Daytona and Homestead on you yet.