1] Montoya, a golf szt�r Nicholas Thompson r�szt vettek a M�dia Challenge-n
January 17, 2011

Juan Pablo Montoya r�szt vett a golf szt�r Nicholas Thompson ellen a Miamiban tartott Media Challenge-n ma. Montoya (aki d�l-floridai lak�) �s Nicholas Thompson egy napot t�lt�ttek el a Doral Golf Resort and Spa ter�let�n. Az esem�ny a m�dia tagjainak ad lehet�s�get ahhoz, hogy versenyezzenek mind atl�tikai mind vezet�si feladatokban, az atl�t�k pedig lehet�s�get kaptak, hogy megtapasztalj�k, milyen elismer�sre m�lt� sport a vezet�s �s ez egy kis el�revet�t�se volt a febru�r 20.-�n (szombat) megrendez�sre ker�l� Daytona 500 futamnak, a Daytona International Speedway-en, amelyet �l�ben k�zvet�t a FOX.

(forr�s: Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)

2] Versenyz�k, akik fel�lm�lj�k az elv�r�sokat a 2011-es szezonban

A NASCAR.COM szerkeszt�i szavaztak arr�l, kik lesznek azok a versenyz�k, akik fel�lm�lj�k az elv�r�sokat. Ketten is Juan Pablo Montoy�ra voksoltak

BILL KIM

A 2011-es szezon Juan Montoya 5. szezonja lesz a Sprint Cup-ban �s itt az id� hogy a karrierje felfel� �veljen. N�gy �v tapasztalat�val a zseb�ben itt az id� hogy megmutassa, a legjobb versenyz�k egyike az univerzumban �s azt hiszem, ezt meg is fogjuk l�tni a 2011-es szezonban.

A 2010-es �vad frusztr�l� volt sz�m�ra t�bb szinten is. Montoya nem tudta a 2009-ben 8. helyet �r� pontjait �sszeszedni, m�g akkor sem, ha ez statisztikailag nem volt borzaszt�. Montoya 2010-ben egy gy�zelemmel, 6 top-5 helyez�ssel �s 14 top-10-es helyez�ssel nem �llt messze a '09-es statisztik�j�t�l. A nagy probl�ma Montoya sz�m�ra a m�lt szezonban a DNFsek voltak. Nyolc alkalommal elesett att�l, hogy nyerjen, legt�bbsz�r rossz id�ben volt rossz helyen. Ez 2011-ben m�r nem t�rt�nhet meg.

Earnhardt Ganassi megmutatta m�lt �vben, hogy egy stabil b�zissal a nagy fi�k versenyk�pesek lehetnek. Ha Montoya �llhatatos lesz, t�bbsz�r�s gy�ztetes lehet a szezonban, karrierje sor�n el�sz�r.

 JOE MENZER

Ha szereted a statisztik�kat, �s elhiszed, hogy a statisztik�k besz�desek, akkor nyilv�nval�, hogy egyetlen versenyz� lesz az, aki bev�lthatja az �sszes rem�nyt a 2011-es szezonban, � pedig nem m�s mint a 42-es rajtsz�m� Chevrolet, az Earnhardt Ganassi Racing tulajdon�ban. Juan Montoya, aki 2009-ben a Chase pil�t�i k�z�tt volt, vitathat�an, de kiz�rta saj�t mag�t a Chase-b�l, mikor folyamatosan visszaesett �s a 37. helyen v�gzett a m�sodik �s harmadik futam�n a szezonnak.

Az els� �t futam�n a szezonnak �jabb �s �jabb probl�m�kkal tal�lta szembe mag�t, mikor 26. vagy ami m�g rosszabb, a 34. helyen tal�lta mag�t. Soha nem volt teljesen nyugodt, b�r a k�s�i gy�zelem az utcai p�ly�nak sz�m�t� Watkins Glenben 5 top 10-es helyez�shez vezetett ami csapata val�di erej�nek felvillan�s�t jelentette.

Annak ellen�re hogy Montoy a 17. helyen v�gzett a pontversenyben, � az egyetlen nem Chase-beli versenyz�, aki a top 10 versenyz� k�z�tt v�gzett a legt�bb Sprint Cup Sz�ria statisztik�ban: 6. helyen v�gzett a leggyorsabb k�r�k list�j�n; 6. volt a top 15-ben futott k�r�k sz�m�ban; 7. volt az el�z�sek ar�ny�ban; 7. leggyorsabb volt az �jrarajtol�sok tekintet�ben; 8. volt a legt�bbet vezetett versenyz�k sor�ban; 8. az �tlagos elfoglalt poz�ci�k tekintet�ben; 10. az �sszes vezet� helyen elt�lt�tt k�r�k tekintet�ben.

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1] Montoya, PGA Star Nicholas Thompson Participate in Media Challenge
January 17, 2011

Juan Pablo Montoya is participating in a PGA Star versus Media Challenge today in Miami.  Montoya along with fellow South Florida resident and PGA golfer Nicholas Thompson are spending the day at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa.  The event gives members of the media the opportunity to compete against both athletes in a drive, pitch and putt contest on the first hole of the course.  Both athletes will also be discussing what “drives” them in their respective sport and preview the upcoming 53rd annual Daytona 500.  This season’s Daytona 500 will run on Sunday, February 20, at Daytona International Speedway and will air live on FOX.

(from Earnhardt Ganassi Racing)

2] Montoya, Logano favorites to exceed expectations

As Daytona inches closer on the calendar, the NASCAR.COM writing staff looks ahead to the 2011 season and offers up some predictions. The focus for Wednesday is which driver will exceed expectations in 2011.

BILL KIMM

The 2011 season marks the fifth season for Juan Montoya in the Sprint Cup Series and it's time for him to take off. With four years of experience, it's time for him to show he is one of the best drivers on the planet, and I believe we could see that in 2011.

The 2010 season was a frustrating one on many levels. Montoya didn't live up to his eighth-place points finish from 2009, yet statistically it wasn't horrible. Montoya ended 2010 with a win, six top-fives and 14 top-10s, not too far off from his '09 stats. The big problem for Montoya last season were the DNFs. Eight times last season he failed to finish, most of the time in the wrong place at the wrong time. There's no way that happens again in 2011.

Earnhardt Ganassi showed last year they could compete with the big boys on a regular basis. If Montoya can be consistent like he was in 2009, another Chase berth isn't out of the question. Not only will he be consistent, he will have multiple wins in a season for the first time in his career.

JOE MENZER

If you like statistics, if you believe they tell you something, then it's obvious the one driver who is poised to exceed all expectations in 2011 is the driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Juan Montoya, a participant in the 2009 Chase, arguably found himself knocked from the running for a return appearance when tough luck not of his doing led to back-to-back 37th-place finishes in the second and third races of the season.

In five of the first eight races last season, Montoya encountered problem after problem while finishing 26th or worse, including four times when he placed 34th or worse. He never fully recovered, although a later victory on the road course at Watkins Glen led to a string of five consecutive top-10 finishes that showed a flash of his team's true potential.

Even though Montoya eventually had to settle for 17th in the final standings, he was the only non-Chase driver who routinely showed up in the top 10 of the most telling Sprint Cup Series season statistics: sixth in percentage of fastest laps run; sixth in number of laps run in the top 15; seventh in number of quality passes; seventh-fastest on restarts; eighth amongst mile leaders; eighth in average running position; 10th in total laps led. In average running position, he placed one spot ahead of title contender Denny Hamlin and four other Chasers -- hinting at his strong chances of a huge turnaround in 2011.

If Montoya can eliminate even a couple of his really poor finishes and finally win on an oval -- he's way overdue -- he not only will be back in the Chase, but might just end up having a chance to win it.

Montoya megtal�lhatja �jra a form�j�t?

A NASCAR Sprint Cup mez�ny�ben senki nem volt olyan elsz�nt �s gyorsan sz�m�z�tt a gy�zelemt�l, mint a kolumbiai Juan Pablo Montoya, az IndyCar �s a Forma-1 sz�trja.

2009-ben Montoya els� alkalommal bejutott a Chasbe �s a Chase fel�ig komoly ellenf�lnek sz�m�tott. Term�szetesen, a 2010-es �vben is hasonl�an magas elv�r�sai voltak.

Montoya, a versenym�rn�ke Brian Pattie �s a 42-es sz�m� kocsi szem�lyzet�nek szerencs�tlens�g�re ez nem t�rt�nt meg. Term�szetesen az �vadnak volt n�h�ny kiemelked� pontja: Montoya megnyerte a Watkins Glen-i nem oval-p�ly�s versenyt, �gy ez m�r a m�sodik NASCAR-beli futamgy�zelme volt. H�rom pole poz�ci�t szerzett �s 411 k�r�n kereszt�l vezetett a versenyeken.

De a 8 DNF-s a csal�d�st kelt� 17. helyhez vezetett �s 4 teljes Cup szezon ut�n Montoya m�g mindig nem nyert oval p�ly�n, �gy musz�j valamit tennie, hogy val�s bajnokjel�ltt� avanzs�lja mag�t.

Ez az �v Montoya sz�m�ra kritukus lehet abb�l a szempontb�l hogy visszaszerezze a Chase-be a poz�ci�j�t �s bev�ltsa a rem�nyeket amiket m�r 2009-ben elkezdett. Egy j� h�r, hogy az EGR CHevrolets eg�szen j� sebess�get mutatott m�lt �vben. Most, Montoy�nak min�l t�bb futamot be kell fejeznie �s olyan gyorsnak lennie, amilyen csak tud.

Ezt � is tudja.

"Azt gondolom, hogy volt sebess�g�nk a Chasbe jut�shoz, de nem tudtuk bev�ltani ezt �s ez sz*r �rz�s." - mondta m�lt �vben - "Azt hiszem mindk�t aut�nknak megvolt a k�pess�ge ehhez. De ez a versenyz�s... Meg�ri, ha a Chase-ben vagy, de ha nem vagy ma a top 3-ban az senkit sem �rdekel."

�s a m�lt �vekben Montoya kor�n kezdte az �vadot Dayton�ban a Speedweeks-en �s a Rolex 24-�r�s versenyeken is r�szt vett a Chip Ganassi's Telmex/Target BMW-Prepared Riley Daytona Protot�pusok egyik�vel. Montoya, a k�tszeres Rolex gy�ztes ebben az �vben megosztja az �k�st a Sprint Cup-beli csapatt�rs�val Jamie McMurray-vel ugyan�gy mint ahogy az IndyCarban versenyz� Scott Dixonnal �s Dario Franchitti-vel.

Egy pozit�v dolog m�gis volt az elm�lt szezonban Montoya sz�m�ra: a karitat�v tev�kenys�ge.

Jel�lve volt a Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year d�jra a Formula Smiles alap�tv�nnyal v�gzett tev�kenys�ge miatt, az alap�tv�nyt feles�g�vel Connieval alap�tott�k hogy seg�ts�k az �letsz�nvonal emelked�s�t a kil�t�stalan helyzetben �l� kolumbiai gyermekek sz�m�ra.

Az alap�tv�ny kiakn�zza a sportol�si- �s tanul�si lehet�s�geket �s azt hogy fejlessz�k a motiv�ci�s k�pess�geiket tanul�s k�zben �s hogyan t�lts�k el hasznosan a szabadidej�ket �gy, hogy nem az utc�n band�znak, drogoznak vagy er�szakos cselekm�nyekben vesznek r�szt. A k�l�nb�z� esem�nyeken az Egyes�lt �llamokban �s Kolumbi�ban, Montoya 1,5 milli� doll�rt gy�jt�tt az alap�tv�nya sz�m�ra.

(SAJ�T FORD�T�S!!!)

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Can Montoya Find Form Again

By: Tom Jensen, SPEEDTV.com

January 14, 2011

Of all the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers who appeared poised to have a breakout season in 2010, none seemed more ready than Juan Pablo Montoya, the fiery and fast expatriate Colombian and former star of IndyCar and Formula One.

In 2009, Montoya had made the Chase for the Sprint Cup for the first time and for the opening half of NASCAR’s playoff round was in serious title contention. Naturally, based on that, expectations were set high for 2010.

Unfortunately for Montoya, crew chief Brian Pattie and the rest of the No. 42 Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team, it didn’t happen. Sure, there were some high spots: Montoya won a race on the Watkins Glen road course, earning his second career Sprint Cup race victory. He also earned three poles and led a career-high 411 laps.

But a whopping eight DNFs lead to a disappointing 17th-place finish in points, and with four full Cup seasons under his belt, Montoya still has yet to win a race on an oval track, something he needs to do to legitimize himself as a true championship contender.

This year will be a critical season for Montoya as he looks to regain a Chase position and fulfill the promise he showed in 2009. The good news is, the EGR Chevrolets showed plenty of speed last season. Now, Montoya needs to finish races as well as just run fast.

And he knows it.

“I think we had the speed to make the Chase, but we didn't and it's a bit of a shame,” he said last season. “I think both cars have the capabilities of making it. But it's racing. ... It's worse if you're in the Chase and you're not in the top three today, nobody even cares."

As in years past, Montoya will get an early start to Daytona Speedweeks, as he’ll compete in the Rolex 24 Grand-Am Series race in one of Chip Ganassi’s Telmex/Target BMW-Prepared Riley Daytona Prototypes. Montoya, a two-time Rolex winner, will share a seat this year with his Sprint Cup teammate, Jamie McMurray, as well as Ganassi indyCar drivers Scott Dixon and Dario Franchitti.

One positive for Montoya last season came off the track in the form of his charitable endeavors.

He was nominated for the Home Depot Humanitarian of the Year award based on his work with Formula Smiles, the foundation he and his wife Connie established to help improve the quality of life for Colombian children in vulnerable situations.

The foundation utilizes sports to complement the basic education these children receive in an effort to teach essential values, provide motivation in the classroom and to create an outlet that lets the children make good use of their free time, keeping them off the streets and away from situations involving drugs and violence. Through various events in the United States and Colombia, Montoya has raised more than $1.5 million for the foundation.

Story from SPEEDTV.com