Aug 17 2008. Montoya Finishes 25th in Texaco/Havoline Dodge at MIS RACE REPORT - 3M PERFORMANCE 400 AT MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Results from Michigan International Speedway
1. Carl Edwards, No.60 Ford
2. Kyle Busch, No.18 Toyota
3. David Ragan, No.6 Ford
25. Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge


BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 17, 2008) --- Juan Pablo Montoya and the No.42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge finished 25th at Michigan International Speedway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) 3M Performance 400 on Sunday.

Montoya and the No. 42 crew opened the race weekend laying down the third-fastest lap time in first practice Friday. Later that afternoon, the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) team went on to earn a top-20 staring position, landing 19th on the final qualifying rundown.

As the 200-lap competition got underway Sunday, a loose-handling problem that had visited the team earlier in the weekend returned with a vengeance. Although the car fought to escape Montoya’s grips multiple times throughout the run, Montoya kept his No.42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge underneath him and inside the top 25 the majority of 200-lap competition.

On pit road, Crew Chief Brian Pattie and the No. 42 crew made multiple air pressure and chassis adjustments to try to improve the car’s handling and help it get better grip on the two-mile speedway. The No.42 pit crew put forth a strong effort all day on pit road as the over-the-wall warriors either gained or maintained position during every pit stop. Altogether, the pit crew picked up more than 15 positions throughout eight stops.

Unfortunately, the No.42 Dodge never took to the track like the CGRFS driver and team wanted it to and they finished the day one lap down in 25th place. It was Montoya’s best finish at the track that has proved to be one of the most difficult for the driver and team. Montoya finished 38th at MIS in June.

The No.42 CGRFS team advanced one position in the NSCS owner standings, moving up to 22nd as Montoya advanced in the NSCS driver standings, as well, into 21st.

Next up for the NSCS teams is Bristol Motor Speedway, where they will race under the lights at the short track Saturday, August 23. The 500-lap event is scheduled to go green at 8 p.m. ET with live coverage on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m. ET.

About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams, Inc.
With 14 wins already in 2008, the team continues to add to its tally of 103 trips to victory lane. Chip Ganassi created his own one-car IndyCar team in 1990 and established a partnership with a new sponsor, Target. Today, his teams include two IRL IndyCars, and along with Felix Sabates he has two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, one entry in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and a Daytona Prototype in the world of Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series racing. Ganassi’s IndyCar teams have amassed five Championships and 64 wins since 1994; his NASCAR teams have 12 wins and two Rookie-of-the-Year titles; and the Grand American team has won two Rolex Series Daytona Prototype Championships and are the three-time defending Champions of the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Chip Ganassi Racing operates out of state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis, Ind., and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Pa.