MARTINSVILLE, Va.
Twice in the first five races of the 10-race Chase for NASCAR's Sprint Cup championship, Juan Pablo Montoya's frustration because of something that happened on the track has been aimed at Mark Martin, a fellow contender for the title.
The first time he was annoyed that Martin, running just ahead of him, faked him out on a late restart. And last week, Martin ran into him from behind, denying both a solid finish.
But for all his frustration with Martin in the heat of the moment, Montoya has often sought Martin's advice as he made his transition to NASCAR racing.
"I ask Mark Martin a lot of questions and he helps me out a lot," Montoya said yesterday as the Sprint Cup Series arrived at Martinsville Speedway, the site of Sunday's race.
During his Formula One days, Montoya said, rivals don't give other racers advice and revel in watching them struggle.
NASCAR is different, he said.
"It makes no sense. It's crazy, but he does it and he helps," he said. "There's something great about this sport. People are really open about it. Once you're on the racetrack, you are by yourself.... Off the racetrack, you can go to anybody and they'll help you."
Martin is among the most sought-after for advice, and the most willing to help.
"First of all, one of the biggest forms of flattery is to have someone come and want to talk to me and want my opinion or advice," he said. "It's very flattering."
Martin also isn't alone in his willingness to help out the new guys.
Montoya's first experience came during a test session in Miami, before his debut, when Kevin Harvick saw him taking the wrong line around the track and offered some pointers.
"He came to me and said, ‘You've got to go a little deeper and do a little of this and a little of that,' he said. "I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? You actually came to help me?' "
Tony Stewart, another former open-wheel racer, lists Martin, Jeff Burton and former Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Bobby Labonte among his early mentors as he made his transition. Now a two-time series champion and owner of his own race teams, Stewart said he also was surprised to see a different culture than what he was used to in his IndyCar series days.
"I think it's because the guys respect each other more here, but at the same time, if the guys that you're racing with are out there making mistakes, they're putting you at just as much risk, especially in a 500-lap race," Stewart said. "At some point you are going to be around them and if they're doing things wrong, that puts you in a bad spot."
Speeding up another driver's development, Martin said, is just honorable.
"Do I think Montoya could beat me?" he said. "Sometimes. He's probably going to beat me whether I answer his question honestly or not. And I'd much rather be honest than dishonest."
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