NASCAR season is full swing — this is part 1 of a series in which I talk to NASCAR drivers about their take on cars — on and off the track.

Juan Pablo Montoya drives the #42 Target Chevrolet Impala for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Currently, he is in 13th place. Montoya was born in Bogata, Colombia and has also raced in CART,  and Formula One for McLaren Mercedes and BMW Williams. He began competing in NASCAR in the 2007 season.

When did you become interested in driving cars?
I became interested at a very young age. I was like 5 years old when I started racing go-karts and was hooked on going fast ever since then.

Was there someone in your family who was particularly interested in cars?
My dad raced go-karts so that’s what drew me to it.

What is the #1 skill required to be a good race car driver?
That depends on what series you’re racing in and what track you’re at. I don’t think there is one skill that’s required over another. It’s a combination of a bunch of things. Patience, knowing how to handle a race car, the relationship between you and your crew, understanding the technology behind the cars.

Is there another sport that is similar to NASCAR?
I’ve raced in several different racing leagues and there is nothing that compares to NASCAR. It’s the best racing in the world. No other sport allows you to race on an even playing field every weekend. It’s a combination of driver and the car that gets you to victory lane.

What tracks do you prefer?
I’ll tell you the truth; I don’t really prefer one of the other. Which might surprise people considering my performance on road-courses. I like each track in a slightly different way.

Are you involved in other kind of businesses?
No, when I’m not racing I’m spending time with my family.

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