Owner Chip Ganassi said Wednesday he'd like to have Juan Montoya in a stock car by sometime next month. Credit: AP

Ganassi: No timetable for Montoya's Cup debut

Plans are under way to have Formula One star Juan Montoya in a NASCAR Busch Series or Nextel Cup race by the middle of next month.

Montoya announced on Sunday that he would drive the No. 42 Cup car for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates next season. Within 24 hours he was released from his F-1 team of McLaren-Mercedes.

On Wednesday, Ganassi said there are details of the release that must be clarified before Montoya can begin driving for him. He denied speculation that Montoya might begin his transition into Cup at the Aug. 13 road course race at Watkins Glen.

"We're hoping we can get something going on by the middle of August,'' Ganassi said. "We certainly want to get him into every type of track we can. ... When we get the details of his release and what we can and can't do, we will be all over every opportunity we get to put him in good cars in circuits he needs to see.

"On the list of important things I want him to learn, I've got to tell you driving a Cup car on a road course is way down on the list.''

Ganassi said the important thing for Montoya is getting comfortable with his new car and surroundings, whether it's in testing or in a simulator or just observing at the track.

"It's about getting to know these cars and getting to understand the nuances of the circuit, getting to understand the difference in a Bristol and a Richmond versus a Martinsville and Charlotte,'' he said.

"The good thing is you're talking about somebody that is used to a lot of racing at a high level of competition. There's certainly a lot of information to be downloaded to Juan in the next six months, however that information is delivered.''

Montoya is letting Ganassi and his people make all the plans.

"It's a new world for me, and they know it and I don't,'' he said. "You cannot damage their programs for this year because I got released a little early.

"We shouldn't be arguing whether [my debut] should be in a month now. The main focus is 2007.''