Quote from AAAintheBeltway:
Montoya is going to the 42 team, which has been middle of the pack at best. Can a guy with no stock car experience take them to the front? Doubtful.
Juan Pablo found himself on the way out the door in the Formula One Series. Nobody wanted him around anymore due to his attitude - combined with really poor performance as of late. Just a few weeks ago (at Indy) he caused the Lap One pileup which eliminated much of the field (including team mates). As you mentioned, Ganassi hasn't exactly lit up the Cup Series either. Together, these two (Ganassi & Montoya) should make for an entertaining show. At least, nobody will be able to blame Robby Gordon for wrecking half the field anymore. Montoya will take care of that honor now.
With respect to the huge deals for Waltrip and Jarrett,
Big Mistake. While Waltrip continues to bill himself as NASCAR's walking billboard, and Jarrett provides some slight amusement with the
Big Brown Truck commercials, neither has the ability to win a championship anymore - nor finish in the top ten in points. Toyota, no doubt, shopped around for drivers who, brought sponsorship with them - NAPA and UPS - in order to provide the appearance of legitimacy. Of course, a sponsor receives plenty of airtime when the cars end up a pile of crumpled sheet metal along the wall of turn three.
As far as Danica goes, NASCAR is drooling all over itself trying to lure Ms. Patrick into stock car racing. The publicity level alone brings in a whole new group of fans. As far as her abilities go, she can handle an Indy Car, and she did, after all, lead in the final laps of the 2005 Indianapolis 500. However, NASCAR doesn't seem to care about her lack of wins in the IRL series. It's the publicity they are after.
- Spydertrader