Hey All,
Not likely.
Montoya is not the last once F1 is on an honest ethical basis that is not euro-centric which drove toyota and honda out and made it never worthwhile for Nissan. They all saw the writing on the wall. Honda does supply engines to McLaren today though - how they doin Hmmm?
When it is an honest game I think you will see teams interested and that will provide opportunity for drivers. There will be drivers who can and will cross over to different series. Look at Indy and NASCAR - take Kurt Busch - one open wheel race the 2014 Indy 500 finished sixth and Andretti wanted him to drive this year but Kurt wanted to focus on NASCAR - can't blame him. Point is guys who grew up drivin stick shift stock cars can handle paddle shifts (the reverse apparently not so likely) - Indy or I've no doubt F1 - but why bother? Who can blame em.
Lets look at Juan Pablo Montoya
Only 4 years in CART/Indy and had 4 wins in CART - 10 wins in Indy racing and a two time winner of the Indy 500.
6 years in F1 - 7 wins
7 full years (plus a bit) in Cup level NASCAR - 2 wins and never on an oval.
What series based on a pretty small sample size is tougher to win in?
I think Ganassi and Penske will figure out eventually that open wheel drivers are NOT inherently superior to NASCAR drivers and give some more NASCAR drivers a shot at Indy racing. I hope so. F1 opportunities will depend on where the "sport" goes in terms of equity and honesty in terms of opportunity to win - world based or euro based. The teams and drivers will follow - F1's choice.
No Juan Pablo is not the last of a kind unless the powers that control open wheel - of all kinds - make it so. Maybe NASCAR needs to be more open minded but to be honest I don't see NASCAR as that "closed" - there are drivers who started in open wheel - Hmmm 3 time champion Stewart comes to mind.
Sorry if I offend but that is how I see it
-Ed-
PS And I have no problem with the likes of Hamilton or Power trying to drive a stock car or even the baja 1000 like 6 time NASCAR champion Jimmie did. Maybe they can - maybe they can't.
You see I believe racing should be more wide open like it was in the 60s but that ain't how the world is and like in many ways - we can never (apparently) go back.