Juan Pablo Montoya
Perhaps no other racer in the world today has the resume and diverse racing background as Juan Pablo Montoya. The native of Colombia has produced winning seasons in Formula 1 and NASCAR to go along with his championship IndyCar Series career that is decorated with memorable victories and accomplishments. Montoya remains as hungry and as driven as ever as he competes in his 22nd season racing at the highest levels of the sport. True to form, Montoya added another chapter to his distinguished career in 2019 winning the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title in the Daytona Prototype category with Acura Team Penske co-driver Dane Cameron.Historic IMSA sports car victories have long been a part of Montoya's makeup, including three wins in one of the world's toughest races - the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Yet, remarkably, he had never before won a sports car championship in his career until he and Cameron delivered the first IMSA title for Acura Team Penske. With three wins, three poles and seven podium finishes in the final eight events of the season, Montoya and Cameron became a dominant force on their way to the 2019 championship.
In 2020, Montoya will again team with Cameron as the full-season drivers of the No. 6 Acura ARX-05 Prototype in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Simon Pagenaud returns to the team for the endurance events at Daytona, Sebring and Road Atlanta.
After claiming the CART Series title as a rookie racer in 1999, Montoya made the difficult but successful transition to Formula 1 racing in 2001. With seven victories in six seasons of F1 competition, Montoya returned to the United States to compete in NASCAR in 2006. He produced three NASCAR victories and many memorable performances before he returned to his open-wheel racing roots.
Montoya joined Team Penske for the 2014 IndyCar Series season and he quickly acclimated himself to the winning culture of the organization. He totaled four wins in his three years of full-time competition, which included a memorable win in the 2015 Indianapolis 500 for the team's 16th victory in the legendary race.
When Team Penske announced its return to sports car racing for the 2018 season, the organization turned to Montoya, who had produced some impressive victories in his select sports car starts. Over the course of the 2018 IMSA season, Montoya posted solid results for the first-year Acura Team Penske squad. After leading laps in the Rolex 24, the veteran driver helped the No. 6 team to two pole positions - including the first in Acura Team Penske history on the streets of Long Beach - and four podium finishes as he and Cameron finished fifth in the final series standings. The duo also claimed the VP Fuels Front Runner Award for the most laps led over second half of the season.
Few drivers in motorsports history can match the credentials of Montoya. He is the only driver to win a CART/IndyCar Series title, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Daytona, all in his first attempt. He is also a former winner of one of the most prestigious races in the world - the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. Legendary racers Mario Andretti and Dan Gurney are the only other drivers besides Montoya that can boast wins in Formula 1, INDYCAR and NASCAR. The determined Colombian will look to add to his legacy with Acura Team Penske in 2020.
Montoya and his wife Connie reside in South Florida with their son Sebastian and two daughters, Paulina and Manuela.
Montoya Key Accomplishments