| La-Z-Link SPEED Channel LIVE With Gordon-Montoya Car Swap
Written by:
Charlotte, NC – 6/2/2003
Jeff Gordon and Juan Pablo Montoya will swap cars on June 11 at Indy (Photo: Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)
SPEED Channel will strap in with four-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon and Formula One standout Juan Pablo Montoya as the pair swap hot rods for the afternoon on June 11 at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The two-hour, live program, entitled Gordon/Montoya Tradin’ Paint, will begin at noon ET and be hosted by Bob Varsha, former NASCAR crew chief Larry McReynolds and former F1 mechanic Steve Matchett. Both drivers will be wired for sound and the cars will be equipped with multiple on-board cameras. “We hear a lot of speculation from SPEED viewers about who is the best driver out there these days,” said SPEED Channel President Jim Liberatore. “Jeff Gordon and Juan Montoya are two of the most talented racers in the world, so this special will offer an entertaining glimpse into how these two might fair in different machines. For SPEED Channel, it’s a great opportunity to bring fans of both NASCAR and open-wheel racing together for one event.” Both drivers have scored victories at the famed track -- Montoya at the 2000 Indianapolis 500 and Gordon with three Winston Cup wins, including the inaugural Brickyard 400 in 1994. Statements from both camps highlight the curiosity. "I'm fascinated with the technology involved in Formula One racing and am excited about the chance to drive an F1 car,” Gordon said. “It should be a lot of fun to see firsthand what F1 drivers face during a lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway." "The experience would be very interesting and driving a big, heavy NASCAR car would certainly be different,” Montoya said. “I don't think Jeff should be concerned that I will take away his job, but I would enjoy driving his Chevrolet and letting him take my BMW Williams F1 car for a drive on Indy's road course." Montoya, fresh of his impressive win at the Grand Prix of Monaco, is expected to bring his 2002 race car – the FW24. The engine alone has 5,000 individual parts. This year, Montoya is racing a FW25 with the next generation P83 BMW powerplant. A comparison of the two cars: No. 24 Hendrick Chevrolet Monte Carlo Horsepower: 770 HP @ 9,000 RPM
Engine: Cast iron 5.7L V8
Top speed: 200 mph
Fuel: 110-octane gasoline
Chassis weight: 3,400 lbs. (w/o driver) HP Williams BMW FW24 Horsepower: 900 (max RPM of 19,000)
Engine: 3L BMW P82 V10 (aluminum block)
Top Speed: 225 mph
Fuel: Unleaded racing gasoline
Chassis weight: 1322.76 lbs. (w/driver)
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