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CART: Attrition, crashes takes toll on Toyota at Marlboro 500

31 October 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

- Juan Montoya was leading after Lap 218 on his way to a possible run at a record three 500-mile victories, but suffered an engine failure with just 31 laps remaining to finish 10th. Montoya's retirement stopped a streak of four consecutive Toyota oval track victories.

- When Juan Montoya took the lead on Lap 27, it marked the 16th time he's led in his last 17 oval track races.

- By leading 32 laps today, Juan Montoya finishes the season with a series-high 819 laps led this year - more than double the next highest competitor (Helio Castroneves). Montoya led an amazing 747 oval laps this season - almost/more than three times the next highest competitor (Michael Andretti).

- By leading 36 laps today, Toyota led 1016 laps this season - the only CART manufacturer to lead more than 1000 laps this year.

- After leading in the early going today, Jimmy Vasser was sidelined with a gearbox problem to finish 22nd. Vasser finished the season earning 14 top-10 finishes.

- Oriol Servia was running comfortably in the top-10 when he was caught up in an accident due to the blown engine from Tony Kanaan. Servia made hard contact with Michael Andretti, but was unhurt.

- Cristiano da Matta's race ended early when he was hit by flying debris from Paul Tracy's car after Tracy's engine exploded in the first 25 laps. The debris broke the front wheel suspension and put da Matta into the wall. He was unhurt.

- After scoring just 80 manufacturers points a year ago, Toyota scored 275 points this season - more than three times as many as its previous best season.

- Despite his gearbox troubles today, Jimmy Vasser still finished in sixth-place in the championship with 131 points in the FedEx Championship Series. Juan Montoya finished in ninth-place, while Cristiano da Matta made it three Toyota-powered drivers in the top 10 with a 10th.

Quotes

Jim Aust, Toyota vice president of motorsports: "Well, it was a tough race for everyone. Cristiano went out very early after he was hit by debris, but Juan, Jimmy and Oriol all appeared to have cars capable of winning. Juan was just cruising along in seventh gear conserving fuel. He had a lot left in reserve and looked to be in a great spot to win another 500-miler, but it just wasn't to be. I hope everyone appreciates what they've seen the past two years (from Montoya), he's a rare talent that we're all going to miss."

Manufacturer's Championship: Ford 335; Honda 312; Toyota 275; Mercedes-Benz 74

Text Provided By John Procida

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