Montoya out of F1 !

[Bruce]

De la Rosa to replace Montoya

McLaren have announced current race driver Juan Pablo Montoya will not drive for the rest of the 2006 season and test driver Pedro de la Rosa will race alongside Kimi Raikkonen for this weekend’s French Grand Prix.

Montoya confirmed at the weekend that he planned to leave Formula One racing for NASCAR next year.

De La Rosa has been a McLaren test driver since 2003. The Spaniard has only competed in a race for Mclaren once - in the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2005 - but managed to finish in fifth place to score four points for the team.

"I'm of course extremely thrilled to have this opportunity to race the MP4-21 - a car in which I'm really comfortable," said Pedro de la Rosa. "I know the MP4-21 better than anyone else and I'm confident that I can achieve important World Championship points for the team."

[Catriel]

Another shocking new!
I heard something about JPM was thinking about Nascar for 2007 and he "may" not drive in F1 but I never imagined Indianapolis was his last career race!
I´m sure Hamilton will race for McLaren one or two times this year and he will be Alonso´s team mate for next year.

Well done Juan Pablo, we expected more from him but he´s over now.

[xsi]

He talked to Chip Ganassi when he was at Indianapolis and was tempted to switch. He prefers to leave F1 and try to have some success in USA, they have about 36 races per year in Nascar. It was a wise move for him because he could not get a top team seat for 2007, his best option was Red Bull, but in my opinion it is insane to leave F1 once you get a seat.

[Lisa]

That's quite a shock it's happening so soon.

I agree with XSI - I do think he's a little crazy leaving right now as he's still a top driver in F1.

Do you think McLaren may have wanted him to leave sooner rather than later seeing as he has had a couple of incidents where he's been investigated by the stewards.

The last of which he actually tapped Kimi's car.... didn't that take both the Mclarens out of the race?

[Catriel]

Yes, he´s a Top Driver, he was the favorite here in Latin America since Senna´s death and after watching Rubens atitude in Ferrari (he never tried to win).

I heard that after Indianapolis incident (he crashed Kimi and they both ended the race in the first corner) the team decided to replace him by "Pedrito" this weekend. So when he announced his intention to move to Nascar, the team made it official.
Also, I heard that since the team has fired him so early, he will start racing in Nascar this year, within a month or two, instead of waiting for 2007.

[Laury]

Jacque Villeneuve said Montoya's character will be missed.

Jacques Villeneuve says the departure of Juan Pablo Montoya and possibly himself at the end of the season means the sport of Formula One is losing some of its characters.

Villeneuve says Montoya's presence on and off the track will be missed and his own future is in doubt as the sport seeks more of a corporate culture among its drivers. Asked directly if Montoya will be missed, the former champion said it all depends on who replaces him at McLaren.

"If it's a 20-year-old who is out of Formula Ford, then no, it won't be exciting because he will be groomed corporately," explained Villeneuve.

"I think the teams have decided that they can find the rare diamond that will be the next (Fernando) Alonso. And that guy will stay with their team and cost no money."

Villeneuve adds that kind of thinking falls flat, especially if another team swoops in and steals that driver away for more money. Then all the work which was done to groom him goes by the wayside.





"(But) because it has worked with one, they don't realise that it hasn't worked with 20 others."

As for his own future, Villeneuve says there hasn't been much discussion beyond the end of this season.

"It seems that experience is not wanted," the 35 year old says, adding what team's don't realize is that there are some experienced drivers sitting on the sidelines who would come at a much cheaper price than some of these untested rookies.

[Lisa]

Now McLaren are saying the JPM is still under contract to them and he can not race with NASCAR until 2007

Dennis insisted that Montoya is not free to test or race in NASCAR until his McLaren contract expires.


“No. He is a contracted McLaren driver and it will stay that way until the end of his contract unless there is some other commercial arrangement between ourselves and the NASCAR team or Juan himself.”


And despite the links between McLaren and Montoya’s NASCAR team Chip Ganassi Racing through Mercedes and Dodge’s parent company DaimlerChrysler, Dennis indicated that he would not waive the 30-year-old’s contractual obligations by allowing him to begin a NASCAR testing programme. "

[Bruce]

It seems De La Rosa will also replace Montoya for German GP.

[Marcelo]

Pedrito will take the chance he is always ready when they need him.