Now that Juan Pablo Montoya has agreed to return to IndyCar next season, the questions have already begun pouring in regarding the idea that he could run both the Indianapolis 500 and Coke 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway next May.
Juan Pablo Montoya considering the Indianapolis 500/Coke 600 double
Juan Pablo Montoya could conceivably compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 next season, becoming the first driver since 2004 (Robby Gordon) to “run the double.”
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Not so fast on pulling “double duty,” Montoya says.
“Right now we are focusing on the IndyCar program for next year, and as (Penske President Tim Cindric) said, if something comes up and something makes sense that we can work, we’ll do it,” Montoya said during Monday’s media call.
“But I’ve really got to focus in on what I’m going to do next year. I don’t want to be too distracted. We didn’t come here to play. We came here to get the job done and that’s what we want to do.”
Montoya could be the first legitimate option to win both stages of the double if competing for Penske in both tours.
Penske Championship Racing most recently won its first 600 in 2010 with Kurt Busch while the IndyCar branch has also won a record 15 times in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, most recently in 2009 with Helio Castroneves.
Penske currently runs two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, one for defending champion Brad Keselowski and another for Joey Logano. The team would have room for expansion to a third team for Montoya as the option has also been discussed for current Nationwide Series championship leader Sam Hornish Jr.
The double was last attempted in 2004 with Robby Gordon, who ran the first half of the 500 before rain delayed the event, forcing Gordon to depart for Charlotte. Jacques Lazier completed the 500 for Gordon and recorded a DNF following a broken axle.
Gordon finished three laps off the pace and finished 20th in the NASCAR race.
The 500 currently begins at Noon EDT with the 600 starting at 6:15 which makes it conceivably possible to do both. Kurt Busch is also working towards an attempt at running both races next season and could compete in the 500 for Andretti Autosport.
Would you like to see Montoya and Busch attempt both races and do you think either has a shot at winning both in Penske and Andretti/Stewart-Hass equipment respectively?
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