TEAM TARGET 20TH AT POCONO

Results (starting pos.) from the Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway
1.   (27) Jeff Gordon, No. 24 Chevrolet
18.    (16) Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Allstate Chevrolet
20.    (1)   Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet

Target Team Finish 20th in a Rain Shortened Race at Pocono

LONG POND, Pa. (August 5, 2012) – The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series raced against the rain during Sunday afternoon’s Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Juan Pablo Montoya and the Target team nabbed their first Coors Light pole award of the season, led the opening laps and played on pit strategy before the rain hit the area and shortened the race by 62 laps. The No. 42 Chevrolet would have to settle for a 20th-place finish.

Rain showers played a major role in how the 400-mile race at Pocono played out on Sunday. The start of the race was delayed by nearly two-hours due to rain in the area and when it finally got underway, the No. 42 Target Chevrolet led the field for a total of seven laps. Shortly after the opening laps, Montoya reported in some handling woes. Unfortunately long green flag runs would limit the amount of time the No. 42 could spend on pit road for adjustments. When a lengthy caution did present itself, the crew made major adjustments in hopes of charging back to the front of the field. That opportunity would never arise as rain showers returned and the race was called with 62 laps remaining. The Target team would settle for a 20th-place finish.

“What a crazy weekend,” Montoya stated after the race. “It was huge for us to get on the pole award in Pocono and it just goes to show how hard these Target guys are working everyday to get this program turned around. I’m proud of them. Come race time we struggled with the handling a bit and unfortunately we didn’t see a lot of cautions to work on the car at length plus with it being shortened at the end we had to settle for 20th.”

Notes:
- Montoya started from the pole position at Pocono. It marked the first pole award for the No. 42 Target team since April 2011.
- The pole award will now place the No. 42 Target team in the 2013 Bud Shootout in Daytona.
- The race was shortened by 62 laps as severe storms moved through the Long Pond, Pa area
- Kellogg’s and Target announced on Friday a promotion in which Montoya will be featured on select Kellogg’s products starting August 19th in Target stores
- Montoya remains 21st in the point standings; 179 out of the Chase for the Sprint Cup

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at The Glen will air live on ESPN and radio stations affiliated with MRN next Sunday,  August 12 at 1 p.m. ET.