Lure of NASCAR big threat to open-wheel racing

Juan Pablo Montoya's Nextel Cup win two weeks ago in Sonoma was the latest example of a former open-wheel driver succeeding in NASCAR. It certainly won't be the last.

As NASCAR's star rises, open-wheel racing's continues to fade, and losing its top talent to stock cars isn't helping one bit.

Montoya, who left a stellar career in both Indy Car racing and Formula One before moving over NASCAR, is just the latest talent to come over to the promised land of stock-car racing.

Like Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Casey Mears, J.J. Yeley, Robby Gordon, A.J. Allmendinger and even Jeff Gordon, Montoya decided the best path to the top of the motorsports ladder was in NASCAR.

"Obviously NASCAR has grown to become just about the biggest thing in racing," said Montoya, who is one of only two drivers to win a NASCAR Nextel Cup race, Formula One and the Indy 500, joining Mario Andretti in that accomplishment.

"I was at a point in my career where I wanted to try something challenging and do something that would get me involved with what I think still has the potential to be even larger than it is today." More at Sportsline.com