Daimler behind Montoya's release

"It was a team of people that came together, really," Ganassi told Colombia's RCN Radio.

"The people from DaimlerChrysler, really hats off to them, all the Dodge people and the Mercedes-Benz people. They're the ones who made the deal happen. I really stayed out of it and they were the go between the Dodge people and McLaren-Mercedes."

Ganassi initially expected Montoya to be released only after the Brazilian Grand Prix, despite initial claims from McLaren management people indicating that he was tied to the team until the end of the year.

"We basically freed Juan up four weeks ahead of the scheduled end of his contract," Ganassi said last Monday at Talladega.

"So now we have four weeks really to take full advantage of. We are going to get the most miles we can on the most types of tracks we can."

Ron Dennis told reporters in Turkey that Montoya could be released from his contract when he wanted but without being paid anymore by the team.

However, autosport.com has learned that the Colombian was not involved in the negotiations to be freed up from his McLaren contract.

Montoya will make his stock car debut at an ARCA race at Talladega on October 6, and he has already completed two tests with his new team this week.