Montoya feeling 'stressed out'

The Colombian announced his switched to NASCAR earlier this season, and last month entered his first stock car ARCA race, finishing third on his maiden outing. In the second race, though, Montoya crashed out following an error.

But the real pressure begins this weekend, when the former McLaren driver makes his debut in a NASCAR event in the Busch series.

"I'm a little bit stressed out that everything has to go right," Montoya said on Friday. "I know it's about preparing myself for next year, but I want to do well. I don't want to look like an idiot out there."

But despite the nerves, Montoya made it clear he is entering the race with the aim of winning - although he admitted he does not expect the task to be easy.

"I don't want a top ten finish - we are here to do a job, and that job is to win," he said after the three-hour practice session at Memphis Motorsports Park.

"I know it's only my first race, but that has to be our focus. Is it going to be easy? No. Is it going to take time? Yes. But we've got to keep that in mind.

"We need to get in a mindset that we're not joking around here. But at the same time, I don't want to put too much pressure on myself."

Nevertheless, asked what he would consider a realistic result, Montoya replied: "I am here being realistic, and if I get a top 20 out of here that would be good."