Montoya urged to target Chase

The Colombian finished 20th in the standings after his first full season in NASCAR last year, and his team boss Chip Ganassi has said that their approach will be 'Chase or bust' in 2008.

Also, his crew chief Donnie Wingo believes that both team and driver are now in a position to compete for a Chase spot.

"I think making the Chase is something we can definitely do," said Wingo. "I think we've got the tools, I think we definitely have the driver, and I think we have the team to do it."

Montoya believes that getting into the top 12 shootout for the title at the end of the season is a realistic aim, but he is wary of focusing too much on one goal.

"Do we think we can make the Chase? Yeah," said the former Formula One driver. "Do we think we can have a chance at winning a race on an oval? Yeah.

"But there are so many things that can happen. That's why I say you can't think about the Chase. You have to take it a week at a time.

"One side is for the whole company to improve, the other side is, we have to deliver when the car is right. If you had a top car and you finished 20 th, it's your fault."

Montoya has joined some of his Sprint Cup rivals for the start of Daytona pre-season testing this week, where two-time champion Jimmie Johnson has been one of the regular pacesetters.

JJ Yeley set the overall pace on Tuesday though, while Jacques Villeneuve has set top 10 times in three of the four sessions over the past two days.