Motorsports

Montoya to start second

By TIMES WIRES
Published October 6, 2006

TALLADEGA, Ala. - Juan Pablo Montoya qualified second for his stock car debut, today's ARCA Food World 250 at Talladega.

"They told me come out of the pits and just floor it and run as high as you can," the former Formula One star and Indianapolis 500 champ said Thursday. "And when you've got to start the second lap, just aim at the apron and stay low. It takes a lot longer to slow down. That's the hardest thing so far."

Montoya, 31, is set to become the first F1 driver to join NASCAR full time next year, replacing Casey Mears in Ganassi's No. 42 Dodge in Nextel Cup.

Bobby Gerhart, in a Chevrolet, won the pole with a fast lap of 189.485, .034 faster than Montoya and his Dodge.

Martin leaving Roush: Mark Martin, 47, is leaving Roush Racing at the end of this season to drive a partial Nextel Cup schedule for MB2 Racing, the Associated Press reported. MB2 general manager Jay Frye has scheduled a news conference for this morning.

[Last modified October 6, 2006, 01:51:15]