Formula One news

Montoya: I need to learn NASCAR first

Juan Pablo Montoya announced on Sunday evening he will race in NASCAR next season and thus leave Formula One after six years. Montoya revealed he has signed a multi-year deal with Chip Ganassi and told them the team shouldn't expect him to win straight away.

Montoya's multi-year deal was made because Montoya needed time to swap to NASCAR. He explained talking to Speed: "We needed to commit because I was going to swap from Formula One to NASCAR, and I know I'm not going to perform in my first year. Now, yes, I will have some success in two or three races or so, but generally, it's going to be a tough season. We're all going to be learning and there's going to be mistakes made by me. I know that's going to be part of it. That's why it's a multi-year deal."

Montoya believes the road courses could be an advantage for him but he has a lot to learn on the oval tracks. He explained: "Well, I'm sure when we go to the road courses we should do pretty well, or at least I hope so. I think I have more road course experience than any other driver here (in NASCAR). And I think going to a road course race, people will expect me to do well. We'll see. At the same time, this is a different deal and different ballpark and it's a different car - even though it's going left and right."

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