31/03/2005
NEWS STORY
The news that Juan Pablo Montoya had injured himself playing tennis, and had consequently jeopardised his entry in the Bahrain Grand Prix, definitely livened up a slow Easter weekend. Certainly Pitpass felt extremely guilty phoning McLaren's Head of Media Communications, Ellen Kolby, late on Sunday afternoon to confirm the story.
Let's not forget, with a 19-race calendar and 30 days of testing in between, team personnel need - and deserve - as much free time as they can get. Hassle from news-hungry journalists on a non-event Sunday is the last thing they need.
However, Ellen was sweetness itself and insisted that contacting her at such a time was "no trouble".
On Wednesday came the official confirmation that Juan Pablo will indeed miss this weekend's race and will be replaced, as predicted, by Pedro de la Rosa.
What's interesting however is that in recent days a number of alternative stories have begun appearing in the media, suggesting that tennis isn't the real reason for the Colombian's non appearance this weekend.
Earlier in the week it was rumoured that Juan Pablo is merely pretending to be injured in order that he can spend time with wife Connie, who is expecting their first child any time now. Not very professional, and highly unlikely.
Then, British newspaper The Independent claims that "team sources" have denied that the Colombian injured himself whilst making a 50 mph jump on one of his "beloved motocross".
Pitpass is happy to believe McLaren, and accept that Juan Pablo simply slipped during a tennis match.
That said, this picture of what appears to be Juan Pablo and Jarno Trulli attempting to break into a McDonalds in Barcelona throws up yet another possibility. The Colombian got into a fight over a Happy Meal.
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