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CART: Team Target drivers remain in the hunt for fifth CART title

19 July 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Brooklyn, Mich. -- Following the first 10 races of the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) FedEx Series, Team Target driver Juan Montoya's average starting position is third. However, his average finishing position is 14th.

The defending CART champ has qualified no worse than eighth this season and has tallied four pole positions. If Montoya's finishing position matched his location on the starting grid in each race this year, he would be ranked first with 159 points, more than 70 points ahead of the competition.

Montoya is looking at the second half of the year like a new season, in which he hopes his qualifying brilliance leads to improved race results.

"It's been great to be starting so many races toward the front of the field, but at the same time, it's been frustrating to not take advantage of our starting spot," Montoya said. "A bunch of little problems and some bad luck have been preventing us from reaching the podium recently. Team Target will bounce back and we'll challenge for the points lead before this season's through. These last 10 races are a new season for me, and I plan to finish the races as close as possible to where I've been starting them."

Montoya came within inches of claiming last year's Michigan 500, his first race on the Michigan Speedway two-mile oval. Tony Kanaan captured the checkered flag as Montoya finished second, one of his nine podium appearances in 1999.

"Last year's race was amazing -- I can still see the image of the checkered flag waving with Tony [Kanaan] just ahead of me," Montoya said. "Even though I didn't win, it's one of my favorite memories from my rookie season. After a couple of street races, this two-mile oval will be a bit of an adjustment, but I've had some success on big ovals already this year, so I'm very excited for this race."

Montoya isn't the only Team Target driver to taste success on the oval in Brooklyn, Mich. Jimmy Vasser won the inaugural Michigan 500 from the pole and earned the pole position in 1999.

"I think Michigan was my last pole position, so it will be nice to get back there where we've had some success, and maybe it will carry over into this year's race," Vasser said. "Even with a few car problems, we've been able to score some much-needed points in the last few races, and I'm confident the Toyota-Lola will be up for 500 miles this weekend and we can gain some more ground on the points leaders."

With two straight top 10 finishes (eighth in Cleveland and ninth in Toronto), Vasser believes the field is within striking distance and the championship is still up for grabs.

"It doesn't take long for someone to pull away or for someone to make up a lot of ground," Vasser said. "All it takes is for a driver to get hot and put together a few good races. With 10 races left, the title is anyone's for the taking, so I would love to jump right back into this with another win at Michigan Speedway."

Text provided by Jana Griffith

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