May 03 2008 Multi-car Incident Relegates Montoya to 32nd at Richmond

Results from Richmond International Raceway
1.    Clint Bowyer, No. 07 Chevrolet
32.  Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge

RICHMOND, Va. (May 3, 2008)-Juan Pablo Montoya spun on lap 138 and then was collected in a multi-car incident on lap 231 that forced the No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge behind the wall for repairs at Richmond International Raceway (RIR).  The No. 42 crew repaired the damaged Dodge in 20 laps and then sent Montoya back on the track to take the checkered flag in 32nd place.

Montoya had his best qualifying effort of his career at the .75-mile track on Friday.  He posted a lap time quick enough to earn the sixth-place starting position for the 400-lap race.  He began dropping back in the field after the green flag waved and was 11th when the first caution flag waved on lap 65.  He told Crew Chief Jimmy Elledge the car was pretty loose.  When Montoya drove the car down pit road for service, Elledge called for air pressure and wedge adjustments along with four tires and fuel.

Montoya continued to run in the top 15 until the second caution waved for debris on lap 128.  He pitted for tires, fuel and the removal of a spring rubber.  Racing resumed on lap 133 with Montoya in 13th, but five laps later the car snapped loose on Montoya and spun him into the outside wall.  He came down pit road for left-side tires on lap 140 and right-side tires on lap 142, while the team was repairing the damage.  The crew was able to keep Montoya and the Texaco/Havoline Dodge on the lead lap for the restart on lap 144.

The team continued to adjust on the car and eventually fell a lap down to the leader.  By the midway point of the race there were only 21 cars remaining on the lead lap and the crew had finished making huge changes to the car.  Unfortunately on lap 231, a huge melee broke out and blocked the track.  Montoya was unable to avoid the wreck and damaged the rear of the car.  The race was red flagged for cleanup as the team prepared to fix the car in the garage.  Montoya drove the Texaco/Havoline Dodge behind the wall as the team went to work.

After 20 laps, Montoya was back on the track and sitting in the 37th position.  Several additional wrecks increased the number of cars that fell out of the race, and Montoya drove the No. 42 Dodge across the finish line in the 32nd position.   He dropped four spots in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings to 16th, but sits just 66 points out of 12th.

The team will be testing at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Monday and Tuesday before heading to Darlington Raceway this weekend.