Streak ends: Montoya back in Victory Lane

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - Juan Pablo Montoya finally had a race without a mistake, and he proved invincible.

The hard-driving Colombian erased 113 races of futility Sunday, winning a duel with Marcos Ambrose and the Sprint Cup race at Watkins Glen International.

"It's about time," Montoya said after celebrating with his crew in Victory Lane. "We've lost a lot of them, gave away a lot of them. It gets frustrating, everybody fighting.

"There's so many things I have to learn. I still make a lot of mistakes. It's experience. We've just got to learn from it."

Frustration mounted when crew chief Brian Pattie's pit strategy backfired at the previous two races. A late four-tire call likely cost Montoya a win at the Brickyard 400, and he finished 16th a week ago at Pocono after starting second, another questionable pit call the culprit that led to harsh words over the radio.

A prerace talk at Watkins Glen with team co-owner Chip Ganassi helped clear the air. Montoya went out, withstood repeated stalking and challenges from Ambrose and won going away.

Montoya led 74 of 90 laps and beat Kurt Busch to the line by nearly 5 seconds for his second career victory, the other coming on NASCAR's other road course at Sonoma in 2007, 113 races ago. Montoya gave Earnhardt Ganassi racing just its third victory of the season.

Ambrose was third, his third straight top-three finish at Watkins Glen, followed by AJ Allmendinger and pole-sitter Carl Edwards. Jamie McMurray, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton and Jeff Gordon rounded out the top 10.

It was the first career victory for Pattie, who fought back tears after watching the No. 42 take the checkered flag.

"It's huge," Pattie said. "I still want to win on an oval. He wants to prove his point.

"The Brickyard was my fault. Hope this makes up for it. Trophies mean a lot. It's pretty cool."

Montoya made the Chase for the Sprint Cup last year, made a strong run early in the 10-race postseason, and finished eighth in points. His chances of making the Chase this year vanished early. He's failed to finish seven of the first 21 races and is well out of contention.

"Last year, we were so hung up on making the Chase that it was all about numbers, it wasn't about being fast or slow," said Montoya, who dominated the 2009 Brickyard 400, only to lose a chance at his first victory on an oval by speeding on pit road. "It was about bringing the car home every week.

"I think this will really bring the team together. It's a great thing for the future."