Team News

Target Team Rallies to a Top-10 Finish at Pocono

June 7, 2010

Target Team Rallies to a Top-10 Finish at Pocono

Results from Pocono Raceway
1.    Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota
8.    Juan Pablo Montoya, No. 42 Target Chevrolet
36.  Jamie McMurray, No. 1 McDonald Chevrolet

Long Pond, PA. (June 7, 2010) – Juan Pablo Montoya and the Target team were able to rebound and pull out a top-10 finish yesterday in Pocono. The team overcame a rain delay, concerns about handling, and a pit road penalty to come back with a solid eighth-place finish. The top-10 finish marks the seventh of the season for the Target team.

The Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 presented by Target was delayed a little over two hours after severe weather moved through the area just after driver introductions on Sunday. When it came time for the green flag, Montoya was lined-up in the seventh position and ready for 200-laps at the two-mile “Tricky Triangle”.

Within a few laps of racing the handling concerns were radioed in to crew chief Brian Pattie. Montoya was experiencing a tight race car. A multitude of stops were made throughout the race to make adjustments due to the changing weather conditions and track temperatures. On one such pit stop, Montoya received a pit road penalty on lap 77 for exiting pit road too fast. The Target Chevrolet served a pass thru penalty and Montoya was displayed in the 27th position when he returned to the track. The team rallied back with pit/fuel strategy and in the closing laps Montoya found himself in contention for a top-10 finish. When the checkered flag flew, the No. 42 Target Chevrolet crossed the finish line in the eighth position.

"It was a crazy day for the Target team,” Montoya remarked. “We had a good starting position and it became apparent pretty quick that we had some work to do on the car when the race started. The guys made adjustments all afternoon and Brian made some calls on pit road that put us in position to finish in the top-10."

The “Irish Hills” of Michigan is up next on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. The Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400 will air on TNT Sunday, June 13 at 1:00 pm (ET).