Juan Pablo Montoya

Juan Pablo Montoya was never upset by the "taco" remark that got ESPN announcer Bob Griese suspended. The network this week suspended Griese from broadcasting a college football game on Saturday for the remark he made last week about Montoya. During a spot for NASCAR, the top five drivers in the standings were shown and Griese was asked where Montoya was in the promotion. Griese replied Montoya was "out having a taco." "At the end of the day, it's not my responsibility, it is not our sport, it is completely out of my hands," Montoya said Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. "I never paid attention ... Read Full Story

ESPN broadcaster Bob Griese apologized at the end of Saturday's Ohio State-Minnesota football game for a remark he made about NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Earlier in the telecast, during a promotion for coverage of NASCAR's Chase for the championship, a graphic listed the top five drivers in the points race. Fellow analyst Chris Spielman asked where was Montoya, who is Colombian. Griese replied that he was "out having a taco." As the telecast was wrapping up, Griese, the Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Miami Dolphins quarterback, apologized for the remark and said that Montoya is one of the best drivers in ... Read Full Story

ESPN broadcaster Bob Griese has been suspended one week for a remark he made about NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya. ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz says Griese will not be working a game this week. Krulewitz says ESPN has spoken to Griese and "he understands the comment was inappropriate." During ESPN's broadcast of the Minnesota-Ohio State game Saturday, a graphic was shown listing the top five drivers in NASCAR's points race. Fellow analyst Chris Spielman asked where was Montoya, who is Colombian. Griese replied he was "out having a taco." He has twice apologized on air for the remark. Montoya is declining to comment on ... Read Full Story

As a former sportswriter who still absorbs as much college football as each autumn affords, I’ve been intrigued by the sudden manifestation of NASCAR as a sub-text in the on-air coverage of various games. At some point in recent games, the boys in the booth have been devoting air time to speculation concerning who would win NASCAR’s Chase for the Cup. Prior to this season, I can’t recall stick-and-ball sportscasters expressing even the slightest interest in any form of motorsports, NASCAR or otherwise. But suddenly these guys are finding time to natter on about the Chase contenders as though it was at least as ... Read Full Story

If the first round of the Chase for the championship is any indication, NASCAR is in for a doozy of a title race. That practice of riding around for a few hundred miles in cruise control before turning it up at the end of the race? There's clearly no time for that now. The contenders went all-out from the drop of the green flag Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where they were racing three-wide early and gambling on pit strategy to pick up every possible position. The result was an entertaining race that saw Chase drivers take the top four spots and 10 ... Read Full Story