by Alex Johnston
I don’t even think I have to get that in depth on this one. The driver who was the first reason I fell in love with racing was one of the most naturally gifted and quick to have ever done it - Juan Pablo Montoya.
My first vague memory of ‘JPM’ is from the early 2000’s when I remember grainy onboard footage of him hustling his Williams around the Nurburgring with a screaming V10 engine in the back..ahhh, sweet nostalgia.
📸 Montoya takes his Williams wheel to wheel with Michael Schumacher.
Montoya’s aggressive driving style - not dissimilar to current World Champion Max Verstappen - saw him become a popular, albeit controversial figure but also saw him take seven Grand Prix wins in a relatively short F1 career that spanned five and small half seasons before an acrimonious departure from McLaren after becoming bored of the team failing to win races.
📸 Montoya, McLaren, Monaco.
The Colombian’s natural speed prior to F1 saw him win the Indy 500 in 2000 at his first attempt having won the title in the CART series as a rookie in 1999 - showcasing his ability from very early.
📸 Montoya holds the record for longest gap between Indy 500 wins - 15 years.
He’d join Williams in 2001, and the rest as they say; is history.
📸 Image credits: Williams Racing, McLaren, NTT IndyCar Series.
Comments