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

CART: Rookie Montoya Chases Share Of Fedex Championship Series History At Motorola 300

26 May 1999

DETROIT-- Fresh from becoming the first FedEx Championship Series rookie to win three consecutive events, Juan Montoya of Target/Chip Ganassi Racing chases an even rarer achievement in Saturdays Motorola 300 at Gateway International Raceway outside St. Louis (3 p.m. ET, live, ABC-TV).

Following victories at Long Beach, Nazareth and Rio de Janeiro, Montoya (Target Honda Reynard) seeks to become only the third driver in the 21-year history of the FedEx Championship Series to win four consecutive events. By doing so, he would join Al Unser Jr. (1990) and Alex Zanardi (1998), both of whom won multiple championships .. Unser Jr. in 1990 and 94, Zanardi in 1997 and 98.

Already, Montoyas three consecutive victories have invoked a compelling historical precedent. That feat has been accomplished 11 times by eight different drivers in FedEx Championship Series. In all but one of the previous 10 cases, the driver recording the triple has gone on to the championship.

That roster includes Rick Mears (1981), Bobby Rahal (1986), Emerson Fittipaldi (1989), Unser Jr. (1990), Michael Andretti (1991), Unser Jr. (twice in 1994) and Zanardi (1997 and 98). The only driver not to win a championship after winning three straight events is Paul Tracy, who captured three straight in 1997 .. capped by a victory in the inaugural Motorola 300 at Gateway .. but saw the championship go to Zanardi, who won three straight later that summer.

Not surprisingly, Montoyas three consecutive victories have propelled him into the FedEx Championship Series points lead in the quest for his first FedEx Championship Series title. Through five rounds, Montoya has 66 points, followed by Dario Franchitti (KOOL Honda Reynard) with 51 and Christian Fittipaldi (Big Kmart Ford Swift) with 49.

Interestingly, the top three drivers in the championship finished in identical order to their championship standing May 15 at Rio de Janeiro. Franchittis runner-up effort was his third podium performance of the season, following third at Homestead in the season opener and second at Long Beach.

Fittipaldi, in his fifth year in the FedEx Championship Series, is enjoying a run of success unrivaled at any other time in his Champ Car career. He has finished ninth or better in all five events this season, with podium efforts at Japan (third) and Brazil, and comes to Gateway after claiming the first pole position of his career before his countrymen at Rio de Janeiro.

Following the Motorola 300, the FedEx Championship Series continues with Round 7, the Miller Lite 225, on Sunday, June 6, at The Milwaukee Mile in West Allis, Wisc.

Editors Note: For hundreds of hot racing photos and racing art, be sure to visit The Racing ImageGalleries and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.