Juan Pablo Montoya will return to drive for McLaren SP in the Indianapolis 500 again this year, the team has confirmed.
The 46-year-old, who won the race for Penske in 2000 and 2015, will rejoin McLaren SP’s regular drivers Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist. As last year, Montoya will also participate in the Indianapolis Grand Prix on the road circuit within the famous oval, which will take place two weeks before the Indy 500.Montoya finished ninth in last year’s 500, five places behind O’Ward, after qualifying 24th. “I had a great experience with the team last year and look forward to building on the progress we made in 2021,” he said. “I think we have a real shot at competing at the front of the field and challenging for the win.”
O’Ward took the chequered flag less than a second behind winner Helio Castroneves in 2021.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown described Montoya, who will make his seventh appearance at the event in May, as “an institution in motorsport with two Indianapolis 500 victories and an impressive Formula 1 career with multiple wins for McLaren.”
“He adds experience that really benefits our team, giving us another driver with the potential to win anytime he steps into the car,” said Brown.
McLaren SP plans to expand to a third IndyCar entry full-time from the 2023 season.
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The Dolphins
11th January 2022, 16:32
With Alonso’s luck McLaren/Montoya will win the 500 in 2022!
BasCB (@bascb)
11th January 2022, 17:38
:-)
Radoye
11th January 2022, 16:37
Just a quick correction Keith – in 2000 JPM was driving for Chip Ganassi, not Penske.
amian
11th January 2022, 18:02
And want a glorius win it was with Chip Ganassi as well!! Destroying the IRL field as an outsider competitor from CART.
nandy
11th January 2022, 18:41
Legend!
MacLeod (@macleod)
12th January 2022, 7:42
I only wonder if he wil fit that car as he took some pounds on around the belt…..
Qeki (@qeki)
11th January 2022, 19:17
My second favorite south american driver just after Pastor Maldonado :)
Mooa42
12th January 2022, 1:53
To plagiarise/appropriate an Australian “journalist” from 2004.
One wonders how Jaun won this drive and if Juan can win one of the Indy races.
(Sorry)
HC
12th January 2022, 4:48
My dad (a once owner of a Ferrari) truly loved Montoya, he believed that he was the only driver ever capable of taking the crown off Schumacher in that era.
It’s sad how it all ended up. My dad is now dead, Montoya gave up with F1 and Schumacher is braindead.
MacLeod (@macleod)
12th January 2022, 7:41
Note we don’t know he is braindead if we understood several sources his brain is the only part what is still working…