Talladega Superspeedway Advance

Race: UAW 500
Track: Talladega Superspeedway (2.66-mile oval)
Location: Talladega, Ala.

Juan Pablo Montoya and the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Avenger Team Facts:

• Sight that started it all: Juan Pablo Montoya made his first official start for the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) stock-car operation at Talladega Superspeedway one year ago in the ARCA race. Montoya qualified on the outside pole before experiencing drafting for the first time in a heavy stock car. Montoya raced several laps three wide, was involved in an incident on the track and dropped back as far as 31st before driving the No. 42 Dodge Charger across the finish line in third place.
  
  In his first start in a NEXTEL Cup car at the 2.66-mile track in April, Montoya was running in the top 10 on lap 149 when a steering failure forced him to bring the Texaco/Havoline Dodge to pit road. The team repaired the car, but fell six laps down to the leader to finish the Talladega 499 in the 31st position.


• Standings: Montoya slipped one spot in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings after his 28th-place run at Kansas Speedway last weekend. He now sits 20th in the Driver Standings with just seven races left in the 2007 season. Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline team have earned three outside-poles, one win, three-top five and five top-10 finishes this season.


• Meet Montoya: Montoya will be signing autographs for fans from 4 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 6 at the Talladega -Texaco Walk of Fame. The signing will be held at the Davey Allison Memorial Park in downtown Talladega. The park is located between Spring Street and Court Street.


• Ladies’ Night Returns to CGRFS: After a successful debut in 2006, Ladies’ Night is returning this October to the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) Concord, N.C., race shop Wednesday, October 10 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET), with more fun festivities. In addition to free admission and a complimentary behind-the-scenes tour of the CGRFS race shop, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be on the house for all attendees. Guests will also be treated to a fall fashion show that will include apparel designed by the CGRFS Drive4Design contest winner Heath Harmon, as well as a sneak peek at the new fall fashions. Special guest speakers will stop by to visit and talk about their racing careers and lives. Raffle prizes will also be given away with all proceeds going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Reservations are required, so don’t delay. Call 1-800-888-6388 to reserve your spot for CGRFS Ladies’ Night 2007 today. To learn more go to www.chipganassiracing.com and click on “Charlotte Race Week 2007.”


• Rookie Race: Montoya leads the Raybestos Rookie Standings by 14 points over David Ragan (223-209) with seven races to go. Montoya’s 20th-place standing in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup points is also the best of any rookie. The late Davey Allison, while piloting a Texaco/Havoline car, holds the record for most laps led by a Raybestos® Rookie in the fall race at Talladega. Allison led seven times for 77 laps on his way to a second place-finish in 1987.


• Chassis: Crew Chief Donnie Wingo and the Texaco/Havoline team are bringing chassis #750 to Talladega for the first Superspeedway race in a Dodge Avenger. Montoya and the team tested this chassis at the NASCAR-sanctioned test September 10. Montoya and the No. 42 crew were fourth quick in single car runs on Monday morning in their Dodge Avenger; third quick in single car runs Monday afternoon and fifth on the speed charts in Monday afternoon’s drafting session. Teammate Reed Sorenson took over for Montoya on Tuesday with the No. 42 crew for the second day of the test.


• New Teammate, Old Friend: Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) announced reigning Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series Champion Dario Franchitti signed a multi-year deal with the organization to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2008 in the No. 40 Dodge Avenger. He will make his debut, like Montoya did one year ago, in the ARCA event at Talladega on Friday. Franchitti now teams with Montoya, a fellow Indianapolis 500 Champion and former CART competitor, after the duo took the 1999 CART title to the wire. Montoya won via a tiebreaker in the season finale.

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