California race a learning experience for former open-wheel drivers

MIKE HARRIS
AP Auto Racing Writer

Published: February 25, 2008

(AP) - The race was a learning experience for the open-wheel contingent.
Juan Pablo Montoya, last year’s top Cup rookie, finished 20th, while fellow former open-wheel stars Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. had considerably less success. Patrick Carpentier didn’t even get a chance to make the race when qualifying was rained out Friday.
Franchitti never ran among the leaders and wound up two laps down in 32nd, while Hornish had even less luck, getting crashed out shortly after Sunday’s rain-delayed start. He finished last in the 43-car field.
“It started pretty bad, but we got it better,” Montoya said. “Today, we got pretty good and before the last stop I hit the wall coming in, in the middle of (turns) three and four. I guess I knocked the toe-out and I went from running 11th to 20th.”
Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Franchitti viewed it as another stock car learning experience.
“I learned a lot,” he said. “We went through a lot of different conditions between last night and today and I’m just getting used to driving the car and racing the cars as well.
“You know, we were looking good for a top 30 there and we think we dropped a valve with five (laps) to go. That was unfortunate.”