Juan Pablo Montoya Says "Hello Speed, Wanna See My Birdie?" (And Gordon’s On The Pole)

Can I get a witness here?  I know it might be tough.

I guess it just shows that I truly have no life to speak of, but, I was watching Busch Series practice tonight on Speed TV.

Yes, you heard that right, Busch Series practice.

Yup, I have no life.

But, I can’t be the only one that caught Juan Pablo Montoya giving a Speed camera a nice how-do-ya-do at just about 10:15 p.m. from Phoenix International Raceway.

Do you think a few of the Cup guys took Juan off after a driver’s meeting and told him that the really cool thing to do when a camera man sticks his lens in the passenger window of your car when you’re sitting on pit road is to extend your middle finger high to the sky.

Because that’s just what I saw on Speed while Krista Voda talked about Montoya.

I kind of did a double take and I think Montoya did too. Anybody else getting the feeling that Juan must have just been thinking, it’s practice, the cameras really can’t be on for this?

Montoya quickly put the canary back in the cage, offering instead a more welcoming little wave.

Wonder if someone was in his ear, saw it on a monitor and told him, just how cool he looked flashing a big birdie to Speed’s announcers.

Welcome to NASCAR Juan.

So last week at Texas Motor Speedway Jeff Gordon started from the pole but still lost out another chance to knock one of those three tracks off the list that he hasn’t been able to win at. He gets another chance to do again this week from the front. Along with Texas, Gordon has never won at Phoenix or Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Gordon will start from the front Saturday night after winning the pole in Thursday’s qualifying.

Jamie McMurray will start second and Denny Hamlin third.

By the way check below the points going into Saturday night.

Shawn Courchesne, 11:12 p.m.

(graphic and photos courtesy of NASCAR/Getty Images)

 

(click to enlarge)

Comments

[Lynn]

I'll never understand all the hype around JPM? Sure it's cool to invite the Hispanic community into NASCAR but I honestly think the guy is a jerk in disguise. I recall Tony Stewart calling Carl Edwards Eddie Haskell last year. Well move over Carl!!! I think the real Eddie Haskell has arrived!!!

[Carrie Poulter]

Oh yeah, I seen that & recorded it on my DVR! Obviously, you aren't the only one that doesn't have a life, LOL! Juan is too cool, he'll get used to the cams. But, after rewinding & watching the "birdie" several times, I think JPM was shooting the bird to somebody toward the front of the car, seen the cam, then the wave. He's my fav driver anyway, a lil Columbian firecracker!!
Go Juan... Rookie of the Year 2007!!!

[Margaret]

Perhaps I have no personal life as well, but I saw it too! Lord knows what Juan was thinking. Nice ignoring what happened from the crew in the booth, by the way.

Think Juan will get a nice bill in the mail from the TV Police?

[Mike]

Oh my! I am so offended! Really, have you ever listened to these guys on the in car radio? If this offended you, I advise you to never subscribe for trackpass, as your ears will never be the same.

Mike

[Jodi]

I think people are giving Juan to much credit. He needs to prove himself here in Nascar before he should be getting any sort of respect, just like any other rookie. Learn the cars and drivers then try to showoff you "skill".

[louie]

jodi i think you need to get the facts about Montoya straight and do your homework before you say he's getting too much credit. For a guy that just started racing stock cars almost a couple of months now he's won a Busch series race (making history being first latino to win a nascar event), He has 2 top 10 finishes and a top 5. has no dnf's. Did you even see the side by side battles he's been involved in? Even Tony Stewart couldnt hang with Montoya. Only the yellow stripes means he's a "rookie", Montoya has more trophies that these drivers can only dream of. He's also 1st in the rookie of the year standings. And you say people giving him too much credit???? Please! Even matt kenseth compared Montoya to being the next Jeff Gordon. know your role sweetheart and just enjoy the races. when Montoya wins his first nextel cup race cause he will win this year. Give him the credit he does deserves.

[Jodi]

louie i only wish i could see Montoya the way you do. The man is a good driver, and in time he may become a Nascar great. But in my point of view, which everyone is intitled too, I feel he is getting to much credit without proving himself on the Nascar circuit. His trophy's dont mean anything here in nascar the only trophy that matters is the championship one. And what other rookie this year is even out there, no Denny,or J.J or even a Reed. So what if he wins the rookie award. Does all his trophys give him the ok to give someone the bird?

[louie]

The ones that are giving Montoya most of the credit are the drivers. So if the "Drivers" are the one giving him most of the credit then....you get what i'm saying? For a guy that just came in last year to stock cars and already winning a race (busch) still a nascar series race i think he deserves credit. Maybe not alot like you say but he's already making his mark. Remember he's only been driving stock cars for a couple of months now. Denny and the rest of the young guns drove only stock cars or something similar most of their lives. As for the middle finger you tell me a stock car driver that hasnt saluted with a bird. From what i heard he was playing around. come on now jodi. By the way i'm a Jr. fan. But Montoya's driving made me notice him. You may not but i definately give him the credit he deserves. I just hope dale Jr can suck it up and kick some butt. hes had some bad luck lately. :(

[Jodi]

How many drivers are actually going to say this guy doesn't belong here? .And I am not saying he doesnt belong either. But I understand what you are sayin'. I wish him all the luck trying to win at this level right now. He doesnt drive a chevy and they are kickin' butt. I feel for you being a jr. fan.lol just kidding my whole family except for me are jr. fans. He has had bad luck this year and made some mistakes. I like jr. I just am a true Tony fan.

[Cam Martinez]

ehh Steweart, DEI Even Gordon would say that, they will SURELY say that Montoya has no talent if indeed it was true. These are drivers that dont need to "suck up" to anyone and they are quite well known for voicing out whatever they want. The credit that Montoya is getting is that in such a small time he has achieved a win and two top 10's and one top 5. I dont think that is much for him, but after being that the change that he has done is so big I can see why he is so talented and that he deserves all the credit. And for the other rookies I can say that tehey dont suck, they are just in their NORMAL learning curve. Montoya is just above it and that is the whoooole credit he is getting. And yes you are surely entitled to your opinions.