Montoya to debut in ARCA series.

Chip Ganassi has confirmed that Juan Pablo Montoya will make his NASCAR debut in next month's ARCA RE/MAX Food World 250 at Talladega Superspeedway as he prepares for a full stock car campaign in 2007.

The Colombian will drive the #4 Texaco/Havoline Dodge in the Friday night event that opens the UAW-Ford 500 weekend at Talladega on 6 October, having finally gained clearance from former employer McLaren to begin his stock car initiation.

Montoya and the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates team tested at Talladega earlier this week in preparation for the ARCA event, which will be his first start in anything other than an F1, IRL or Champ Car since 1998. He won the CART series and Indianapolis 500 for Ganassi's open-wheel operation before securing an F1 deal with Williams in 2001.

The 31-year old will pilot the #42 Texaco/Havoline Dodge Charger in next year's Nextel Cup, becoming the first Formula One driver in NASCAR's 58-year history to make the switch to stock cars full-time.