Montoya wanted to strike first

According to F1-Racing magazine, Montoya's sudden departure from F1 was precipitated by the first-corner crash at Indianapolis just a week before he stunned the motor racing world by announcing that he had signed a deal to join the NASCAR series.

Supposedly Ron Dennis, 'livid' at the mistake at Indy where he ran into the back of McLaren teammate Raikkonen, and his 'fury fuelled throughout the Indy weekend by JPM's biggest-ever entourage, to the extent that there was sometimes nowhere left for the Mercedes board members in the McLaren hospitality area', the Colombian realized that his future in F1 was in severe jeopardy.

The magazine reports that 'Juan Pablo left knowing that a meeting had been arranged for July 11th, at which he would be asked to explain his recent shortcomings to Dennis and Martin Whitmarsh. With the McLaren door closing, Montoya panicked. Red Bull and Toyota wouldn't commit to him and, Juan wanted to reject F1 before it rejected him.'

Montoya duly phoned Chip Ganassi on the Wednesday following Indianapolis and a deal was formalized two days later.