Patience was key for Tracy, Montoya in winning races

DETROIT - Two of motor racing's most excitable boys earned hard-fought victories during the weekend, showing uncommon restraint and plenty of poise in the process.

Juan Pablo Montoya (stock car) won the NASCAR Nextel Cup race at Sonoma and Paul Tracy (open wheel) the Champ Car event at Cleveland.

When skill was handed out, Montoya, the former Formula One star and Indy 500 champion, and Tracy, the brilliant but erratic Canadian, were at the head of the class.

Patience: Well, let's say Montoya and Tracy never cared much for it until Sunday. Many times the pair let their emotions do the driving, winning races but wrecking themselves and others just as frequently.

Montoya, 31, who is driving for Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, stretched his fuel and used his head to win the road course event at Infineon Raceway, his first Nextel Cup victory in his 17th start.

Tracy, 38, one of Champ Car's most aggressive and talented drivers in the past 20 years, overcame two early accidents to record his first series victory for Forsythe Racing since Cleveland in 2005.

Montoya, who won the Busch race in Mexico City earlier in the year, has had a tough season, often running well only to hit the wall or someone else. In F1, he was blindingly fast but also prone to mistakes.

Tracy, who should have gone to F1, notched his 31st career victory at Cleveland but could probably have had 20 more had he not driven into and over people.

"It was a good day _ it was tough," Montoya said following his win. "I was patient. I picked up the pace a little bit (toward the end) and at the same time, I was trying to roll the car as much as I could. I was just being very patient."

Tracy, who appeared headed to NASCAR a couple of seasons ago, was elated with his long-overdue victory.

"I had to fight for that one - it feels good," said Tracy, the Forsythe Championship Racing veteran.

With 10 races left before the start of the Chase for the Championship at New Hampshire Sept. 16, Montoya (No. 42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge) is tied for 20th in points, 259 behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 12th position, the cut-off for NASCAR's playoff-like format.

He could certainly make the Chase, although it won't be easy.

"Victory is sweet. We've been waiting for this win and knew we'd see Juan Pablo in victory lane before the end of the year," said Dodge Motorsports boss Mike Accavitti. "I was literally on the edge of my seat for the last 20 laps of the race."

Added Montoya's crew chief, Donnie Wingo: "Juan did a good job. He kept the fenders on and passed what he needed to pass and fuel mileage is what saved us."

Tracy is just 10th in points, with 68. Sebastien Bourdais (117) leads the series. The hard-nosed driver with the bleached hair and fiery temper is feeling a lot better today following his Cleveland revival.

"My spirits were down for six or seven laps (after the accidents)," said Tracy, who drives the No. 3 Indeck Cosworth/DP01 car. "I kind of stayed at the back and didn't do anything.

"The team really rallied and said, 'Come on, let's go.' And we did."