TEAM McLAREN MERCEDES CHANGES DRIVER LINE-UP FOR THE 2006
FRENCH GRAND PRIX
Team McLaren Mercedes and Juan Pablo Montoya have mutually
agreed for him to step down in the forthcoming races of this
year's Formula 1 World Championship. The team has decided
that Pedro de la Rosa will join Kimi Raikkonen in the race
driver line-up.
Juan Pablo has been an energetic member of the team since
2005, but will now spend the next few months based in Miami
with his family and wife Connie who is expecting their second
child in September. Following his agreement with Chip Ganassi
Racing for next year, Juan Pablo will also be making initial
preparations for his debut in a Chrysler Dodge NASCAR.
Pedro will make his second race appearance for the team following
a thrilling points scoring debut in the 2005 Bahrain Grand
Prix.
"Juan Pablo is an exciting driver and immensely likeable
character who will undoubtedly make a successful transition
to the NASCAR scene," said Ron Dennis, CEO and Chairman
of the McLaren Group. "We have agreed that with so many
things happening in Juan Pablo's life right now, he should
take some time out of the car and prepare professionally and
personally for the future."
"We believe that Juan Pablo's decision to move to NASCAR
is very important for him professionally and we will give
him every support to ensure that it is a successful transition,"
said Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.
"I know that it will be a tough transition but I'm really
excited about the opportunity to move into the NASCAR championship,"
said Juan Pablo Montoya. "I have enjoyed most of my time
in Formula 1 and I'm grateful for this opportunity to settle
my personal life and concentrate on my future career."
"I'm of course extremely thrilled to have this opportunity
to race the MP4-21 – a car in which I'm really comfortable,"
said Pedro de la Rosa. "I know the MP4-21 better than
anyone else and I'm confident that I can achieve important
World Championship points for the team."
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