Team Preview: Earnhardt-Ganassi
RacingOne.com
Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray are now teammates at Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and it couldn't have come at a moment too soon.
The two weren't exactly on the best of terms last season when Montoya tangled with McMurray, who spent the previous year with Roush Fenway Racing.
"We had a thing in Bristol," Montoya said. "He had old tires, I had new tires. You had about 15 cars in a line, and I got there and I ran out of patience."
The result was contact between Montoya's front bumper and the rear of McMurray's car, which ended with the No. 26 car spinning out.
"When you're not teammates with somebody, and you get wrecked, you're pissed," said McMurray. "I don't know how else to say it."
McMurray now has plenty of time to speak with Montoya as he comes to Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing to pilot the team's No. 1 entry for the departed Martin Truex Jr.
In Montoya's mind what's past is past and he has welcomed his new teammate with open arms.
"I tried to talk to him afterwards, and he was mad and didn't want talk about it," Montoya said. "I was OK. You're not here to make friends. But we have a really good relationship and we understand each other."
The same holds true for McMurray who is excited about joining Montoya and hopeful he can replicate the 42 team's run into last year's Chase.
"We race every single weekend, and it takes about two more weeks before someone else makes you mad," McMurray said. "You're not thinking about the other guy. Probably in Juan's case, it was good that Ganassi hired me because the Chase would've been hell."
McMurray expects to have an opportunity to succeed with wins and a potential Chase spot now that he returns to work for team owner Chip Ganassi, with whom he spent the early part of his Sprint Cup career.
"There are a lot of factors that can determine if you can win races or not, and just being able to compete for them is the key," McMurray said. "I think the 42 car was the fastest car in a lot of races but for one reason or another just didn't get to victory lane. They were competitive, and it's all about competing for the win."
McMurray's homecoming of sorts also has him looking forward to the start of a new chapter in his career.
"I had a lot of success when I was with Ganassi before, and I feel like their team is probably stronger than it has ever been, even in the years when I was there," he said.