The first-time playoff entry for Watkins Glen saw more than just one change. The second race of the 1st round of playoffs just concluded in Watkins Glen, and what a battle it was to the finish. Rumble strips on turn one were added. A new tire compound with a claimed tire wear-off of 3 seconds and Juan Pablo Montoya made a comeback at the track, where he holds fond memories.

The last time the Bogota, Colombia native competed in the Cup series was in 2014 at the Brickyard 400. Since then the sport has evolved in quite a few ways, with the most significant change being the racecar. The Next Gen model, subject to much debate and controversy debuted in 2022 and is miles apart from the sixth-gen that Montoya drove back in the day. So how does he feel about returning to a sport that he left a decade ago?

Montoya, coming to Go Bowling at the Glen wasn’t new to the track. In fact, he won here, back in 2010. However, the major change since then is the ‘car’. A few drivers also expressed their doubts about him coming back to the track after a long time away. However, in the end, he enjoyed the experience. After starting 34th, the Columbian finished his race in the 32nd position.

The two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time Cup race winner drove the No. 50 Toyota Camry for the 23XI Racing. Speaking after the race to Daniel McFadin for Frontstretch about his experience he said, “We had uh the last two sets when like for the final stage we had blisters on the rear tires and that killed us. We had pretty good pace. I don’t think we had a car to win. But we had like a seven-place car to be honest. And you know I mean it just died and that’s what it is. But I had a blast you know everybody at 23XI did really cool job and mobil one you know, make everybody proud.”

When asked about how the next-gen car was, he said, “Good. I loved it! It’s not that hard.” Montoya also added, “I thought like you guys have said, ‘Oh it’s so hard.’ It’s the coolest I’ve been in a Cup car in my life.”

Before taking the wheel at the Glen, Montoya drove 40 laps at Virginia International Raceway “just to get comfortable — make sure the seat and everything was working.” Montoyo was in conversation with many drivers and  according to him Michael McDowell told him, “It is much easier to drive — it is more like a GT3.”

Many wondered what led the 48-year-old to wake up from slumber. But there is no particular reason. According to Montoya, he just came back to racing because he felt like it.

Speaking on September 14 ahead of the race he said, “It is kind of funny, because [if] you would [have asked] me last year, and I would be like, ‘No, no way,.Then the idea comes, and I’m like, ‘Huh. I honestly think it is pretty cool.’ The idea behind it is pretty cool, and the cars are really competitive — so why not? I really don’t have a reason not to do it.” But there was another factor at play.

Montoya received a call in May from 23XI Racing President Steve Lauletta to seek his interest in returning to the track. Lauletta was president of Chip Ganassi Racing when Montoya ran for the team, so that could have played a role in the Colombia driver coming back for the one-off race.

So after having a taste of the Next Gen car and a pretty decent outing after a long hiatus, will we see Montoya on the track again? When he was asked this question before the race, he left the door open. “I don’t know. Let’s do this weekend and then we will see. Honestly, if someone comes to me one day and asks if I want to do a one-off, I would probably say yes, but it is Saturday morning, so we will see.”

While Montoya had no qualms about racing in the more challenging Next Gen, some NASCAR veterans had expressed their reservations about his return.

NASCAR veterans had their concerns about Juan Pablo Montoya’s return

Juan Pablo Montoya, back in the day, was one of the most versatile drivers, having won seven races in Formula One (3 with McLaren and 4 with Williams).

• In 94 race starts in Fi, he scored 30 podium finishes.
• Finished 3rd in the championship consecutively in 2002 and 2003.
• He made 256 starts (including the one in Watkins Glen this season) in NASCAR with different teams, ending his career with Team Penske in 2014.

Ahead of his comeback, his old competitors, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr., were excited to be on the track with him again, but the JGR drivers did have their concerns. Hamlin, before the race, had said, “I know Juan very well he’s probably going to be like, ‘Ah, simulation, whatever. I’m just going to go out there and run.’ I think that uh, we said this a few weeks ago, I think he’s probably underestimating how good and fast the Cup field has gotten over the last decade since he ran last, but it will be entertaining nonetheless.”

Even MTJ was thrilled to share the same track with his old friend. According to Turex Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya would have been bored being home and hence thought of coming back. He said, “I think it is really cool. He must have gotten really bored or something (laughter) – to come back after that many years of being in a stock car, and these things are so different. He’s an exceptional talent. It was teammates with him for a while, and just raced with him a lot. Unbelievably talented at road racing, and I’m sure he will adapt quickly.”

No matter how easy Montoya thought the car was to drive, it must take some time to get used to it. Montoya needs to race in more races for him to come back in his old form. Would you like to see more of Juan Pablo Montoya?