Montoya regretful after Pruett clash

Montoya bumped front-running Pruett with eight laps to go at Mexico City's Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, a 2.518-mile road course.

Pole-sitter Pruett spun out and had trouble refiring his engine. He finished fifth out of 43 drivers while Montoya went on to score his maiden win in NASCAR.

"Of all the people to take out, your teammate," Pruett told ESPN television after the race. "That was just no good, low, nasty, dirty driving. I can't put it into words. It's just so disappointing."

Montoya apologised to Pruett, but the Colombian said the incident was "terrible".

"With Scott, we had great racing all day and for this to happen, it's terrible," Montoya said on NASCAR's official website. "It's horrible because it could have been a one-two Ganassi finish."

Denny Hamlin, who finished second behind Montoya in the race, said the Colombian had been too aggressive, but dismissed suggestions of dirty driving.

"I wouldn't say it was dirty driving. I just thought it was too aggressive at the time," Hamlin said. "[Montoya's] car was so much faster than everyone else and he was half that much faster over [Pruett].

"He was going to pass him. It was a matter of time. I just thought he got a little overzealous right there."

Team boss Chip Ganassi congratulated Montoya's for his drive, but did not want to comment on the incident.

"That was a vintage Montoya drive from back there," Ganassi said. "Obviously, the incident down there in Turn 1 with our teammate Scott, I probably need to take a good look at it to see what happened before I make any comment."