Come on Over, Montoya Tells Da Matta

Former CART champion Juan Pablo Montoya says Brazilian Cristiano da Matta, current leader of the U.S. series, should take the plunge and follow him into Formula One.

Da Matta, who drives for the Newman-Haas team in America, is the front runner to join Japanese manufacturer Toyota in Formula One next season.

Toyota, debutants this year, named French veteran Olivier Panis as one of their drivers for 2003 on Wednesday and said an announcement on the other vacancy would come later. Both Briton Allan McNish and Finland's Mika Salo are leaving at the end of the year.

"I think Toyota have got a lot of potential for the future. They are a huge manufacturer and 100 percent behind the project," Montoya told a news conference at the Belgian Grand Prix on Thursday.

"In a few years time they could be a great team. I worked with them before and I know they can do the job," added the Colombian, CART champion in 1999 and now with BMW-powered Williams.

"If you want to come to Formula One, come. If it doesn't go well I'm pretty sure he could get his seat back in CART. But I would think he could do well here."

Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, World Champion Michael Schumacher's teammate at Ferrari, said he had encouraged his friend to move to Grand Prix racing when he had sounded him out about a career change.

"He went the other route to the States but his dream was always to come into Formula One," said Barrichello. "I think he's a talented guy and he asked me if it (Formula One) was good fun and I told him that yes, it is. If he has a chance to drive for Toyota, which I think is going to be a really good team in the future, he should do it."

Da Matta's move has been complicated, according to media reports, by negotiations to buy him out of his Toyota-powered Newman-Haas team's contract for next season. However the Brazilian has also sounded lukewarm recently about Formula One.

"I may want to try it," Autosport magazine quoted him as saying. "But if I'm in a good position driving for Newman-Haas, winning races and fighting for the Championship like I am today, it would be a difficult decision.

"We have something very good going on here and I wouldn't exchange it for just any offer."