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Frank Montagny to run Grand Prix of Indianapolis for Andretti Autosport

Photo Credit: F1 Finatics Blog

Andretti Autosport announced earlier this week that Frank Montagny will drive the No. 26 Honda-powered car for the inaugural Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 10th. Montagny is driving the same entry in which AA has entered into the Indianapolis 500 with Kurt Busch behind the wheel.

 

“I am very happy to be back with Andretti Autosport; I have already felt ‘at home’ during my visits,” Montagny said per team press release. “Participating in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis in the temple of motorsport that is the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a true moment of happiness.”

 

Montagny made his Verizon IndyCar Series debut in 2008, finishing second at Long Beach with Forsythe/Pettit Racing. He made one star the following season with Andretti Autosport – a 20th place finish at Sonoma. The GP of Indianapolis will mark his first IndyCar start since then. The 36-year-old has four podium finishes in a dozen starts in the 24 Hours of Le-Mans.

 

The French driver is scheduled to take part in the open test on the 2.46-mile, 14-turn road course on April 30th.

Toyota NSCS Richmond Clint Bowyer Notes & Quotes

Photo Credit: Barry Albert

Scott still “mad and frustrated” after coming up short last year at Richmond

Photo Credit: Don Dunn

Last fall, Brian Scott had the dominant car and looked to be on his way to his first career Nationwide Series win. Then an unexpected caution came out. The ensuing restart, Brad Keselowski was able to get the advdantage and cruise to victory lane – a restart that Scott is still mad and frustrated that NASCAR didn’t call Keselowski out on for jumping.

“I’m just frustrated and mad that we didn”t get to victory lane,” he commented. “I’ve got a chip on my shoulder and I want to get out there this spring and show that we can dominate a race just like we did last fall here and we can get it done in the closing laps, as long as we don’t have any misfortune and bring home the checkered flag this time.”

Last year’s fall trip to Richmond really put Scott on the map for many fans, and he says that before then he never liked the track. He attributes the success to the Richard Childress Racing’s short track package and how well it suits his driving.

“I have a lot of confidence here now and on the short tracks because they made my life a whole lot easier last fall,” he commented. “We unloaded right off the track really well and this can be a place that be challenging to practice. You can easily dial yourself out as we practice in the heat of the day versus racing at night. It’s a place that really tests your wit versus your ability and I feel the smart drivers are the ones that are able to capitalize and normally win here. I think that’s why you’ve seen consecutive Sprint Cup drivers win here because they’re smart. I think we hit on it well last year with unloading quick and not dialing ourselves out; we were able to set-up the car and run well.”

Scott is hoping to have that win this weekend in hopes to give his season that extra kick that it needs as he currently sits sixth in points with one top 10.

“I think for the most part our cars have been fast and competitive,” he commented. “The thing that we’ve failed to do thus season is failed to finish races where we’ve been running. We’ve qualified in the top five more often than not, and ran there for most of the race but it seems after the last pit stop in these races we keep falling back and finishing 11th or 12th when we run fifth, sixth, seventh all race.”

Scott added that he feels that they’re in a better place so far this year but are capable of being in the top five in points and contending for the championship.

“We just need to stop giving away positions near the end of races and finish where we run,” he commented. “Really, near the end of races, we should be trying to gain positions and capitalize.”

Scott is bringing back the same car to this year’s Richmond race that he ran last year as it has been their primary short track car since Scott joined RCR.

“It’s had some updates,” he commented. “The guys in the shop continue to make developments and find improvements. we have a lot of confidence and a lot of good history with this car.”

Beyond racing for the Nationwide Series championship this year, Scott is running a limited Sprint Cup Series schedule that includes Talladega next weekend, along with the Coca Cola 600.

“I like getting in the Cup car and getting the experience,” he commented. “I feel it has helped me on the Nationwide Series side due to more horsepower and more competition. I think it helps my confidence in the Nationwide Series car.”

Scott says he hopes to do some more Cup races this year if they can land some sponsorship to do them, with a possibility of the full schedule in 2015.

“When I came into NASCAR and throughout my career, my goal has been to get to Sprint Cup,” he commented. “I’d like to be in the Sprint Cup Series next year but obviously we need to perform in the Nationwide Series and in the Sprint Cup Series. So hopefully we can have some good runs and get some more opportunities.”

Hot 20 – The battle of the rookies was always going to be a two man battle

Photo Credit: Kala Perkins

A week off, and some time to think. You have to know nothing good can come of that. Still, there are a few things worth observing.

For example, there are only two drivers in the battle for the year’s top rookie. That has always been the case in 2014. The top gun was going to be either Austin Dillon or Kyle Larson. They had the equipment, the others did not. It is sad that financial woes have messed with the cars of Cole Whitt and especially for the now parked Parker Kligerman, for I enjoyed the battle between the young drivers with the underfunded teams. Anyone notice that while Justin Allgaier is 27th in points, Harry Scott’s driver is ahead of both Martin Truex Jr and Danica Patrick?

So, what happened to Furniture Row Racing? I know Kurt Busch is gone, but Martin Truex Jr is not exactly hamburger helper. No Top Tens, a couple of Top 20’s, and the rest are way back in Danicaland. Thus far he has experienced a blown engine, suffered from a lack of grip, got bit by pit strategy, had to repair a cracked splitter, paid the price for speeding on pit row, lacked forward bite, and then got bit by the fence at Darlington. In short, most of their problems have been of their own making. Kevin Harvick and Kurt Busch have not had stellar results either, but their victories come with a lot of forgiveness. There are some who might make the Chase even without a win. Truex is not one of them.

Chase Elliott finished 15th at Daytona in the Nationwide opener, just behind Matt Kenseth. He finished 5th at Las Vegas, just behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. Elliott was 6th at Fontana, just ahead of Kenseth. He won at Texas, ahead of Kyle Busch, Larson, Harvick, Earnhardt, and Kenseth. When he won at Darlington, it was Elliott Sadler behind him, with the Cup regulars beyond that in the rear view. Some think Chase Elliott might be the next big deal. I think he already is.

Some are ringing their hands over the fact Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, and Kenseth have not won a race yet this season. Here is a news flash: of the 16 drivers who won during the 2013 campaign, only five have claimed the prize this season. Four of the 16 did not even win a single race until the start of the Chase. That might mean the point standings of Gordon, Kenseth, and Johnson might actually hold up on their own to provide a berth. Just eight races in, this isn’t a storyline worth following.

When will NASCAR adopt this system of awarding up to 70 points per win and dumping the Chase? Never. However, as we are seeking “the” driver of the year rather than a champion, it does not matter. So far, Carl Edwards, Gordon, Kenseth, Junior, and Kyle Busch have been our most dominant in 2014. As for Harvick, two wins gets him back in the conversation, but four finishes beyond 35th leaves him among the also rans to this point.

1-Carl Edwards – 300 pts (1 win)
2-Jeff Gordon – 297 pts
3-Matt Kenseth – 296 pts
4-Dale Earnhardt Jr – 293 pts (1 win)
5-Kyle Busch – 291 pts (1 win)
6-Jimmie Johnson – 270 pts
7-Brad Keselowski – 268 pts
8-Joey Logano – 267 pts
9-Ryan Newman – 236 pts
10-Austin Dillon – 235 pts
11-Kevin Harvick – 230 pts (2 wins)
12-Greg Biffle – 227 pts
13-Brian Vickers – 224 pts
13-Tony Stewart – 224 pts
15-Denny Hamlin – 223 pts
15-Kyle Larson – 223 pts
17- Clint Bowyer – 219 pts
18-Marcos Ambrose – 216 pts
19–Paul Menard – 206 pts
20–A.J. Allmendinger – 202 pts