NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: GEICO 400

Topics:  GEICO 400

Juan Pablo Montoya
September 13, 2013

JOLIET, ILLINOIS

THE MODERATOR: Let's roll into our post qualifying for Sunday's 13th Annual Geico 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race here at Chicagoland Speedway and our third fastest qualifier for Sunday's race is Juan Pablo Montoya. He drives the No. 42, Target/Kraft Chevrolet for Earnhardt Ganassi. Juan, talk about your lap out there today, certainly starting up front here on Sunday's race has to be a good deal for you?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Kind of disappointed we didn't get the pole. Our car was really, really good in practice. Looking at it, I was losing a little on one and two, and I nailed one and two in qualifying. I went into three, thinking I know what I got to do, and I lifted and never turned. I got back to the garage, and I was like, oh, oh great, you know? I know that feeling.
So, yeah, I was actually surprised we finished third. But when it bogs down like that and you still got to make it to the start/finish line, normally that's not a good sign. But it was okay.
We ran pretty good the last few weeks. Around Indy they decided to bring in new cars and better things, and we've been running a lot better so it makes it more fun.
THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions for Juan.

Q. NASCAR is planning a meeting with the teams tomorrow to talk about new rules for officiating and things like that?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: Nothing motors? Not F1 team motors?

Q. Well, I think there's a lot on the table, but having raced with three of the top Motorsports series, what do you think needs to happen so we don't have another night like Saturday night at Richmond?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: I don't know. The question I asked when coming in here is maybe qualifying third I could make the Chase too. I don't know. That's all I'm going to say. I don't know.
I don't want to get involved. It's way above my head. Thank you. Yeah, I ain't getting involved in that one.

Q. Restarts were a big deal after Richmond, and I know you were involved in something like that at Dover with Jimmie. How do you think the series kind of understands it right now going into the final ten? Do you think everybody has a good sense of how it's going to be officiated?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: They say rules are clear, but I mean, I don't know. Even talking to Jenna Fryer this week, we talked about the Lucky Dog. I felt like I had the Lucky Dog on the 24, and the 24 had to drive around me to get the Lucky Dog when we were on the same lap. I thought that was kind of weird. I was pretty mad about that one, but, I don't know.
When you start making judgment calls, it's bad. When you make them black and white, the rules, it's easy. If the rules say you don't beat the leader to the line, but if you do, get off the gas. But it seems there is a gray area there.
THE MODERATOR: Before you leave, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you for your Hispanic fans and the media that cover you, Hispanic media that cover you, just talk about your outlook this week and at Chicagoland Speedway and your qualifying effort here today, if you would, please?
JUAN PABLO MONTOYA: [SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE].