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MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Juan Pablo Montoya leaned into the driver's side window of a competitor's car and sought help.

Think about that. Montoya, third in the points at the time last week, sought advice from Mark Martin, second in the points, even though they're chasing Jimmie Johnson for the championship.

Martin answered Montoya instead of yelling at him to get away from his car.

Think LeBron James gets tips from Kobe Bryant that will help beat the Laker defense? Or Terrell Owens goes to any defensive back and discuss ways he can get open?

NASCAR is different. There's a sense of sharing among drivers who are not teammates. It's no longer like years past when drivers told each other their set-ups -- there's too much at stake these days -- but a driver can still get help from a competitor. Even one he's racing against for a championship.

"There was somebody that helped us out when we first came in," Tony Stewart said. "We all do the same thing for the new guys coming."

Montoya hadn't seen anything like this. New from Formula One, he was testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway shortly before his Cup debut in 2006 when Kevin Harvick approached. Harvick, a Formula One fan, had enjoyed watching Montoya race in that series and went to help Montoya get through the corners.

"Are you kidding me?" Montoya asked Harvick. "You actually came here to help me?"

It was no joke, Harvick assured him.

"In Formula One, if you see somebody doing something wrong, you &ellipses; enjoy it and don't help them," Montoya said. "You would get a kick out of it."

A sense of respect is shared by competitors who understand the difficulties of rising to the sport's top series and joining this exclusive 43-member fraternity. Stewart said helping another driver also can help the tutor.

"If guys that you're racing with are out there making mistakes, they're putting you at just as much risk, especially in a 500-lap race," he said.

One of the drivers who helped Stewart the most early in his career, beside then-teammate Bobby Labonte, was Martin, who has become Montoya's go-to guy.

"One of the biggest forms of flattery," Martin says of being asked for advice.

Flattery doesn't help win a race, championship or the money that goes with it. While helping another driver can prevent some problems on the track, it's still about winning.

"Do I think Montoya could beat me?" Martin asked. "Sometimes. He's probably going to beat me whether I answer his question honestly or not. I'd much rather be honest than dishonest."

It was a simple question that led to a dynasty. Johnson asked Jeff Gordon for advice before a Busch series drivers meeting years ago as Johnson mulled his future. Their conversation was part of a series of events that led Johnson to Hendrick Motorsports, where he's won three championships and is halfway home to a record fourth consecutive crown entering Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Even with the openness, not everyone participates. Ryan Newman benefited from having former driver Buddy Baker as his mentor when he drove for Penske Racing. Baker helped guide Newman, who didn't need to go to other drivers as often.

Newman understands the culture in the garage and participates, but isn't as inviting as Martin.

"Buddy Baker always said it's your story, tell it how you want to," Newman said. "You can lead them down the right path or you can lead them down the wrong path. I've never done that. I've always been honest with somebody when they ask me a question, but I'm not the first one to go offer advice."

That's fine. Martin has plenty to say and plenty of experience. Montoya keeps listening.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com