MONTOYA FINISHES 17TH AT RAINY ACS

Target Team Finishes 17th in a Race Against the Rain

FONTANA, Calif. (March 25, 2012) – Once again “Mother Nature” played a part in the race weekend as teams used different strategies to try and beat the rain Sunday afternoon in California. The Target team lined-up 23rd and ran mid-field before the rain came through and ended the race 75 laps earlier than anticipated. The Target team finished the rainy afternoon in the 17th position.

Teams visited Southern California for race number five of the 2012 season. Juan Pablo Montoya was looking to defend his pole award and better his 10th-place finish from last year’s event. The Target team worked on handling throughout the three practice sessions and qualified the No. 42 Chevrolet in the 23rd position. Come race time, Montoya radioed in that the car was not handling properly. The team made a total of three pit stops and by the halfway point the car was running lap times consistent with the top-five. With 77 laps remaining, rain moved into the area. The Target Chevrolet stayed out until the red flag was displayed. NASCAR made the call shortly after to end the race early and the No. 42 was credited with a 17th-place finish.

“I’m proud of my Target team,” Montoya stated after the race. “No one gave up and we just kept working on the car until it handled right. I just wish we were able to go back to green and make a run to the front.”

NOTES

- Montoya remains 18th in the point standings. He is 72 points out of first place.
- Montoya has 10 starts at Auto Club Speedway with one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
- Chevrolet has won the last 12 of 23 races at Auto Club Speedway.

Up next is the Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. The race will air live on FOX and radio stations affiliated with MRN on Sunday, April 1 at 12:30 pm ET.