Four-time NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Jeff Gordon praised Juan Pablo Montoya's progress as the Colombian tested alongside him at Daytona in preparation for the season opener.Gordon was close to the former Formula One race-winner on the track during a drafting session at Daytona. He was impressed by how fast Montoya has learned his new ropes.
"Believe it or not, I deliberately tried to draft with him just to evaluate his progress," Gordon said at Daytona.
"Unfortunately he was behind me, and not beside me or in front of me. He gave me a big push and I took the lead in the draft so I was happy about that.
"The one thing I've learned about Juan is that he is extremely talented and he is a very fast learner."
Gordon believes Montoya will raise the bar at Chip Ganassi Racing this season, where he is replacing Casey Mears. The team didn't win a single race last season.
"He is extremely competitive and he brings a lot to that team, where I think you're going to see them be forced to step up and be motivated in ways that they never have been before.
"Obviously in this sport, like any other motorsport, you've got to have the car behind you to be able do it. But he brings a lot to the table."
The three-time Daytona 500 winner also claims Montoya, who was at the 2.5 mile oval for the first time this week, will perform well once the serious drafting starts in the season-opener.
"There's only so much that you can learn in draft practice, until you get out there with a group of cars and you get into those races. I don't care how much racing you've done around the world and how talented you are.
"Drafting takes experience and laps, but I think if there's any guy who's going to come in the sport and is going to pick it up fast and do it well, I think Juan is top of the list."
Montoya starts his first season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup on February 18 with the Daytona 500.
