Montoya

[J.Clark]

I was at the Indy GP of Alabama this past weekend.  I volunteer there each year for that event.  It is good - work two shifts - get in free for the weekend - they feed breakfast and lunch on the days you work and I get to camp at the track free as well.  Volunteer badge gets me into everyplace except pit lane when it is hot.

I was in the garage area checking out Penske's cars, one of which is Montoya's.  In the corner of my eye I spot someone coming out of the trailer a few feet from me.  It was none-other than Juan Pablo.  I said his name and as I turned to approach him (no one else was there so he would not have been swarmed by a crowd) he turned and ducked back into the trailer.

Some things never change.  He is still the same prima-dona he was at McLaren.  "Fan friendly" is not a term one can use in the same sentence with his name.

The race was delayed by severe thunder storms for a while.  When they got it going, it didn't take long for a dry line to appear.   When they put on the soft dry tires, Juan was pushing through the field and had worked his way up to fourth when he lost it and spun onto the beach at turn 11 - the crowd along the fence there was cheering (over his misfortune) and he ended up a lap down.

[Scott]

Had a similar experience at a CART race in Vancouver many years ago...I was a CART scrutineer and had full access, Montoya walked within 6ft of me and when I smiled and approached him, he ducked into the tent by the pit wall.  Complete jerk.  Never liked him after that.