Wind surfer Montoya riding Chase wave of momentum

He has won just one race in 2 1/2 seasons in NASCAR's top series.

But it seems as if Juan Montoya, the former Formula One and IndyCar star, is just starting to get warmed up in stock cars. He has been much more consistent this season than ever before in the No. 42 Chevrolet he drives for Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, and ranks an impressive ninth in Sprint Cup points heading into this Sunday's Allstate 400 at the Brickyard.

Montoya spoke recently about the status of his race team and how he has turned to wind surfing to help him relax during down time away from the track.

Q: First of all, what is the significance of the retro paint scheme that you'll run this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

Montoya: Target has asked that we do this paint scheme, which is the same one that I ran when I won the Indy 500 in 2000 for Target. Target has such a rich history with Chip Ganassi Racing, as they are in their 20th season. They also have a history with me, when we won here in 2000 in the Target colors. I am excited that they have encouraged us to run the old paint scheme. Maybe it will end up in Victory Lane again.

Q: Do you think you should be winning more races and contending now for a points championship?

Montoya: I think we are bringing the team together to do that. It doesn't matter if I'm in a Hendrick car or a Ganassi car or a Gibbs car. It is what it is. I am happy where I am. I am working hard to make sure we become one of those teams.

Right now we are a smaller team and I don't think it makes a big difference. We've shown that as long as you have the right people working for you, you will be fine. I think our car today is as good as anybody's. We need a little bit more, but everybody does.

You see where we came from last year to where we are right now. When you run third, fourth, fifth ... you're getting there. You are getting close. Then you just have to go from there to winning. We keep working, keep trying to come up with new ideas, new things. (Continued)