The Frontstretch: Rating The Nextel Cup Rookies : Indianapolis Edition by Tony Lumbis -- Sunday July 29, 2007

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Rating The Nextel Cup Rookies : Indianapolis Edition

Tony Lumbis · Sunday July 29, 2007

 

Rookies in the Starting Lineup: Juan Pablo Montoya (2nd), Paul Menard (28th), David Ragan (30th), David Reutimann (34th).

Unofficial Finishing Positions: Juan Pablo Montoya (2nd), David Ragan (16th), Paul Menard (20th), David Reutimann (38th).

Rookie of the Race: Juan Pablo Montoya. When Montoya qualified his Texaco Havoline Dodge on the outside of the front row for the Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, he accomplished more than simply securing his best career starting spot. Making his first start in a stock car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Montoya made history before the race even began – he’s now the first driver in the famed race track's history to start in all three major series to run there (Indy Racing League, Formula One, and NASCAR). His experience showed on Sunday, as the No. 42 car was a mainstay in the Top 5 for much of the event; the car was strongest late in the race, and Montoya wound up battling Kevin Harvick in the latter stages to come home in second place. It was the ninth time in 2007 that the former open wheel star finished as the race's top performing rookie.

Tony's Take: In the Chicagoland Rookie Report, I mentioned that Juan Pablo Montoya might start seeing improved results if the team learned to qualify better. Well, I think two thirds of Chip Ganassi's team got the message, placing both Reed Sorenson and Montoya on the front row; luckily, the starting spots paid off for both of them in the race. In fact, I would rank Montoya's Indy performance as the most impressive for him so far in 2007, even more so than his Sonoma win. The team appeared to have the full package together on this past weekend: the car qualified well, didn't lose the handling as the race progressed, stayed out of trouble during the entire event, and finished the deal with a top 5. Furthermore, this performance was turned in on an oval, where many of Montoya's skeptics were still waiting for the rookie to perform well on. Maybe it was just the nostalgia of the Brickyard that raised the Colombian's game; however, if this is truly a sign of things to come, Montoya could start dominating the rookies the way many thought he would entering the season.

Rocky Rookie Performance: David Reutimann. On a weekend where Jason Leffler brought home Toyota's first ever Busch Series win at O'Reilly Raceway Park and Dave Blaney finished with an impressive 9th, the sport's newest manufacturer can be pleased with its team’s performances. However, David Reutimann's blown engine for the second consecutive race was a cruel reminder of the reliability issues that Toyota must still overcome. Even before the motor let go, Reutimann as not making any headway from his 34th position, running in lower third of the order for much of his abbreviated race. However, he continues to lead the way for Michael Waltrip Racing, this week outqualifying two former Nextel Cup champions in the Nos. 44 and 55 entries. However, this team will not be considered a true contender until they can finish a race, and finish it well on a consistent basis.

Rookie Wrecks of the Day: None.

For the second week in a row, none of the rookies were involved in an on track incident. This is saying a lot for their skill, luck, or maybe both this week. Twice, a wreck clogged the entire race track, collecting numerous cars as they tried to dodge the mayhem; but luckily, none of which were the freshman four.

Who Wasn't Here? : A.J. Allmendinger.
Given his open wheel background, one has to think that missing the event at Indy may have been the hardest pill to swallow yet this season for A.J. Allmendinger. In Frontstretch.com's exclusive interview with Allmendinger in June, he mentioned that traveling at 220 mph in an open wheel car at The Brickyard would've scared the daylights out of him. However, going slightly slower in a car with a bit more protection probably would've been pretty cool for the California kid. Truth be told, Allmendinger and company need to find out what they were doing differently during their six-race streak of making races earlier this season. Whether it was a certain car set up, favorite Friday morning breakfast, lucky pair of underwear…whatever it was, Team Red Bull and Allmendinger need to find it…fast!

One driver who will no longer appear in this category for the foreseeable future is Paul Menard. As many of you know from the Frontstretch.com's coverage of the D.E.I./Ginn merger, that No. 15 team inherits the points of the Bobby Ginn's former No. 14 entry, formally driven by Sterling Marlin. The swap gives Menard's team the 30th owner points position and a new lease on life for the rest of the season. The goal here is to turn in performances every week and not blow this golden opportunity.

Rookie Quotes of the Week:
Juan Montoya comments on if his prior experience at this racetrack helped him on Sunday.

Q: Did you find anything from your Indy 500 experience that helped you in these big cars?
“Yeah, a little bit. Maybe it’s just the race line and where you get out of the gas and stuff like that to pass people. It’s exciting. I tell you, I’m happy. It’s the first actual race that I get to people and (then be able to) pass them. Normally I get to like 12th and you start to try to get runs on people and you can’t and today it was something. I could really go at it.”

Q: How much of (your good run) today was your experience on the track here?
“The track, to learn, is pretty simple. At least, I found it pretty simple when I came here the first time. It’s a very different oval but it’s a mixture of an oval and a road course. I like it. It’s funny because I was telling my crew chief most of the times when we have problems, it's just past the center of a normal oval and here, just past the center, you’re out of the corner. I think it worked pretty good.”

UNOFFICIAL Raybestos Rookie standings:
Montoya 208
Ragan 184
Menard 141
Reutimann 126
Allmendinger 77

Next Up: The series returns to Pocono Raceway for the second time this season. The rookies were cheated by Mother Nature of precious track time back in June when rain shortened the 200 lap event just past halfway. Look for this weekend to serve as a continuation of the learning session when the newbies continue trying to figure out the most unique configuration on the Nextel Cup schedule.

Tony's Top Finishing Rookie Pick: I'm back on track at the Brickyard as my pick Montoya came home as the top finishing rookie with his third top 5 of the season.

You Make The Pick: This week's pick appeared to be a nobrainer for all of us, as 40% of you also chose J.P. as the top finishing rookie. Nice job!

Tony's Pick for Next Week's Top Finishing Rookie: David Ragan has not let his rookie counterpart Montoya pull out too far ahead of him with several top finishes this season. I think Ragan will close this gap once again next week, benefiting the most from his June experience and from having Jimmy Fennig, who won this race with Kurt Busch in 2005, calling the shots from atop the pit box.

Event Track Tony’s Pick Finish Reader’s Pick Finish Top Finishing Rookie Finish
Subway Fresh Fit 500 Phoenix David Ragan 41st —- —- Paul Menard 25th
Aaron’s 499 Talladega David Reutimann 32nd —- —- David Ragan 17th
Crown Royal Presents The Jim Stewart 400 Richmond Paul Menard 16th Juan Pablo Montoya 26th Paul Menard 16th
Dodge Avenger 500 Darlington Juan Pablo Montoya 23rd Paul Menard 31st Juan Pablo Montoya 23rd
Coca-Cola 600 Charlotte Juan Pablo Montoya 28th No Pick DNS Juan Pablo Montoya 28th
Autism Speaks 400 Dover David Ragan 14th David Ragan 14th David Ragan 14th
Pocono 500 Pocono A.J. Allmendinger 39th David Ragan 26th Juan Pablo Montoya 20th
Citizens Bank 400 Michigan David Ragan 21st David Ragan 21st Paul Menard 12th
Toyota / Save Mart 350 Infineon Juan Pablo Montoya 1st Juan Pablo Montoya 1st Juan Pablo Montoya 1st
Lenox Industrial Tools 300 New Hampshire Paul Menard 39th David Reutimann 38th David Ragan 15th
Pepsi 400 Daytona David Reutimann 26th David Ragan 12th David Ragan 12th
USG Sheetrock 400 Chicagoland Paul Menard 42nd David Ragan 25th Juan Pablo Montoya 15th
Allstate 400 at the Brickyard Indianapolis Juan Pablo Montoya 2nd Juan Pablo Montoya 2nd Juan Pablo Montoya 2nd

Season Score : Tony 5, Readers 4.

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Message Board Quote of the Week: “I don’t see how Rusty + DEI + COT = competitive on the racetrack in 2009. I do see how Rusty could hook a sponsor, though, which DEI needs more than ever with Paul Menard leaving and taking the Menards money with him.” Scott B on rumors that Rusty Wallace would be making a return to NASCAR behind the wheel of a DEI-owned machine

 

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