Friday, August 12, 2011

Montoya not concerned with loss of two crew members

   Juan Pablo Montoya said Friday he did not think the loss of two crew members - including one member of his pit crew - would adversely affect his race team.

   On Wednesday, Chip Ganassi Racing fired two employees - Trevor Lysne and Jerome "J.D." Frey - who were arrested on Tuesday by Huntersville (N.C.) Police in connection with the shipment of 10.5 pounds of marijuana from California.

   Lysne was the front tire changer for Montoya's pit crew while Frey was a mechanic who worked in the shop. Both have been indefinitely suspended by NASCAR.

   Asked if the loss of the crew members was a concern, Montoya said, "Not really. It is something that the team had to deal with it and NASCAR had to deal with it. We left it at that.

   "Personally, we made some changes in our crew. And that’s it. We get on with our business to try to win here and that’s it.”

   Lysne, 40, is charged with trafficking marijuana, possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a dwelling to distribute marijuana. Frey, 27, is also charged with trafficking marijuana and possession with intent to sell and deliver.