Montoya 11th in Nascar debut

MEMPHIS – Former Formula One driver Juan Pablo Montoya of Colombia finished 11th Saturday in his official debut in Nascar stock car racing’s Busch Series.

The race was won by American Kevin Harvick, who has already wrapped up the Busch Series title and is also a contender in Nascar’s elite Nextel Cup “Chase for the Championship,” which includes a race in Atlanta on Sunday. While Harvick shrugged off a poor starting position to pad his lead in a wreck-strewn race, Montoya was getting to grips with a new style of racing in the glare of the spotlight.Montoya, also a former Indianapolis 500 winner, is preparing himself for joining Chip Ganassi’s Nextel Cup team next year.Racing three weeks after placing third in a minor-level ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway, Montoya spent most of the first half of the race in the top 10 before finishing 11th in a Dodge Charger.Nampa-AFPWhile Harvick shrugged off a poor starting position to pad his lead in a wreck-strewn race, Montoya was getting to grips with a new style of racing in the glare of the spotlight.Montoya, also a former Indianapolis 500 winner, is preparing himself for joining Chip Ganassi’s Nextel Cup team next year.Racing three weeks after placing third in a minor-level ARCA race at Talladega Superspeedway, Montoya spent most of the first half of the race in the top 10 before finishing 11th in a Dodge Charger.Nampa-AFP