Montoya: Schumacher a "nobody" in States

Daytona Beach, Florida:

Michael Schumacher apparently can't understand why Juan Pablo Montoya would leave Formula One for Nascar. Montoya, for his part, doesn't seem to care what the seven-time world champion thinks. "Schumacher in America is nobody," said Montoya, who's steadily building on an already strong United States fan base. Montoya, preparing his new Dodge Charger this week for the Daytona 500, was responding to comments Schumacher made last weekend. "Personally, I wouldn't do it. What do you do in Nascar? What is exciting there? I can't see that, running around on ovals," Schumacher told the New York Times. Although Montoya said he thinks Schumacher could make the transition, he said he's learned firsthand that stock cars are much harder than his former F1 foes believe. "People don't understand what a big challenge this style of racing is. Michael Schumacher, just take him to Homestead (Florida) and tell him to stay half a second off the pace. He would have a heart attack," Montoya said. Montoya is proving to be a fast study, pacing Tuesday's morning test session with a fast lap at 184.574 mph (296.979 kph). David Stremme, his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate, was second at 184.479 mph (296.826 kph). The two held their own in the afternoon drafting session, with Montoya running 15th and Stremme 18th. The confident Colombian, who won a CART championship and the Indianapolis 500 before moving to F1, said he believes experience would give him the edge on Schumacher should the two ever compete in Nascar.