SONOMA, Calf. — The boys back in Britain might call this race rubbish.  Sunday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup race was, after all, decided by fuel mileage.
But days like this one made it all worth it for Juan Pablo Montoya, who last summer left Formula One to tackle bulky stock cars in the United States. He has won the Indianapolis 500, six F-1 grands prix and, now, a big-league NASCAR race.
Montoya, a Colombian, parlayed his deft touch on a road course and a generous gas tank into a victory in the Toyota Save Mart 350 at Infineon Raceway. It was his first Nextel Cup victory since reuniting with car owner Chip Ganassi. Earlier this season, Montoya won the Busch Series race in Mexico City.
“Winning here is my first big race in stock cars,” Montoya said. “I kind of think this is my favorite.”
Bigger than Monaco? Maybe. Bigger than Indy? Doubtful. Regardless, Montoya drove his No. 42 Dodge around the scenic wine-country circuit to near perfection when it counted most.
The rookie, who qualified 32nd, became the first driver to win on the northern California road course who started further back than 13th. He earned his first Nextel Cup victory in his 17th start and gave Ganassi his first triumph since Jamie McMurray won in October 2002.
“It’s huge,” Montoya admitted. “I would say right now it’s the biggest thing I’ve done. In open wheel, that’s what I was meant to be winning in. In stock cars, I wasn’t. To get our first win in our first year is huge. We know we’re a little bit behind on some of the ovals, but I think this is a big boost for everybody working in the shop.”
Montoya passed polesitter McMurray on lap 104 of 110 on the 1.99-mile, 11-turn circuit. He was running third, and his easy-in, easy-off approach in the corners helped him stretch his fuel mileage.
Kevin Harvick and Richard Childress Racing teammate Jeff Burton — both in Chevrolets — finished second and third, respectively. Clint Bowyer, in another RCR Chevy, ended up fourth. Greg Biffle was fifth in a Ford.
McMurray ran out of gas at the start of lap 109 and finished 37th, while Montoya conserved enough fuel to run a cool-down lap and perform a celebratory burnout before his fuel gauge read zero.
“I’ve been a big fan of Montoya’s since he came over,” Harvick said. “He’s a great road racer, but he wasn’t the fastest. The strategy won it for him today.”
Montoya’s crew chief, Donnie Wingo, felt confident in the team’s gamble.
“He did a great job on saving fuel,” Wingo said. “Without the fuel mileage, we would have never made it.”
Robby Gordon started alongside McMurray and also became a victim of fuel mileage. He led a race-high 48 laps but finished 16th.
Reed Sorenson, Montoya’s teammate, spun on lap 67, bringing out the last of the full-course yellows. Gordon and several other front-runners stayed on track, opting to pit later under green, but that’s when Montoya made his final stop on lap 68. He returned to the track in the 12th position and worked his way forward as others pitted for fuel.
“They kept telling me to be patient, and I’d be fine. They said don’t overdo it and try to save fuel,” Montoya said.
“That’s why we’re here, and that’s why we want to keep winning. That’s why success is here, and that’s why I came to Chip because Chip is like I am. I think the whole team wants to do the same thing. I think I’m more relieved than excited. We worked so hard to get here.
“Working with Chip is an awesome feeling, someone who works with me and believes in me and makes my life a lot easier.”