Montoya patiently rolls to first Nextel Cup victory

	Juan Pablo Montoya is the first foreign-born racer to win a Nextel Cup race since 1974. Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
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Chip Ganassi laughed when he heard Juan Pablo Montoya radio his crew "it's too early to race."

Ganassi -- who hired Montoya almost 10 years ago to run in his open wheel program because of the Colombian's flat out driving style -- saw a new side of Montoya who has quickly become a fan favorite and media darling.

Coming into the Save Mart 350 road course race at Infineon Raceway the fiery driver was the favorite because of his admirable record in open wheel racing around the world. When he punted teammate Scott Pruett out of the way at the Busch race in Mexico City to take his first NASCAR victory, expectations were high that he'd give no quarter at the rolling 1.99-mile, 10-turn Northern California circuit.

Instead, coming from the 32nd spot, furthest back in NASCAR history at this track, he won by "patience" and "cruising," to save fuel.

When he pushed Kurt Busch out of his way in the sweeping hairpin, you might think, "Oh, boy, here comes the action." Instead, Montoya volunteered an apology in the post-race press conference for his actions because the incident happened in such close quarters.

Back when Montoya first raced in the U.S. he had several track run-ins with rivals. Last year, while driving at the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis, he crashed in the first turn with his McLaren/Mercedes teammate, which was the catalyst for him leaving the team and Ganassi rehiring him.

Montoya's a changed man, though. Ganassi just smiles listening to Montoya after the Colombian drove the perfect race to take that important breakthrough win for himself and put Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates back in Victory Lane. The last Nextel Cup victory for the team was in October 2002 when Jamie McMurray, who wheeled his racer into victory lane at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

It was a breakthrough day for the Dodge Avenger, winning its first Car of Tomorrow race, and even Montoya's crew chief Donnie Wingo added it was his first win since he won here in 1993.

Many people will say that Montoya has changed because of his marriage, or because of fatherhood. They'll be wrong. This guy is changed -- slightly --because he enjoys a challenge. Like the legend where the guy pushes a rock up the hill only to have it roll back time after time, Montoya laughs and pushes back harder, but patiently.

KEY MOMENT

It wasn't when Montoya made a failed attempt to pass McMurray for the lead, and it wasn't when he passed McMurray. The key was Montoya's newly learned skill at saving fuel and lasting to the end of the race. Rivals Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton were so sure that he'd run out of fuel they waited too long to press an attack.