The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NorthernLight IRL/CART: Montoya gets a feel for Indy Racing Car at Vegas test

31 March 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
LAS VEGAS- The road to Indianapolis went through Las Vegas Thursday for defending CART champion Juan Pablo Montoya, as he tested for the first time in an Indy Racing car.

Montoya turned laps in his Target/Chip Ganassi Racing G Force/Oldsmobile/Firestone in windy conditions on the 1.5-mile oval at Las Vegas Motor Speedway as he prepares for his Indianapolis 500 debut. His teammate, four-time Indianapolis 500 starter Jimmy Vasser, turned his first laps in an Indy Racing Northern Light Series car Wednesday at Las Vegas.

Ganassi Racing is the only full-time, CART-only team to have entered the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" this year. The 84th Indianapolis 500 is May 28.

"I think the race, running 500 miles, is going to be very interesting," Montoya said. "When we get there, Im sure its going to be a lot of fun."

While Vasser found many similarities between the Indy Racing and CART cars during testing of his G Force on Wednesday, Montoya encountered more contrasts. The biggest change was the Oldsmobile engine, Montoya said. Indy Racing cars are powered by 3.5-liter normally aspirated engines, while smaller, turbocharged engines propel CART cars.

"Its completely different from what I expected," Montoya said. "Running an aspirated engine makes a big difference.

"They are just two different engines, you know. They are different from what we run. Its a completely different car, and theres no point of comparing one or the other."

Montoya and Vasser plan to participate in the Indianapolis 500 Open Test April 7-11. The two-day test session at Las Vegas will help Ganassi Racing prepare for the Open Test and the race in May.

"Well make some distance runs there," Montoya said of the Open Test. "We wont do too much fine-tuning until qualifying. I will have my engineer there.

"Right now, Im working with Jimmys engineer, and Ive never worked with him before. So, thats a little strange."

Text provided by Paul Kelly

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.