2005:
Juan Pablo Montoya
McLaren
Mercedes
Silverstone winner
 Juan
Pablo Montoya, winner of the Silverstone
Grand Prix 2005 (born September 20, 1975) is a Colombian
Formula One motor racing driver. He was born in Bogotá where
his father, Pablo, worked as an architect - inspired by renowned
Colombian architect Rafael Acosta - and raced karts in his free
time. Montoya resides in the principality of Monte Carlo, Monaco;
and Miami, Florida.
Early Career
Montoya began racing karts in 1981 at the young age of six, and
by age nine he won the Children's National Kart Championship. In
1986, he won the junior division of the National Championship. For
the next three years, he won many local and national titles in the
Kart Komet Division. Montoya capped off his spectacular karting
career by winning the Kart Junior Championships in 1990 and 1991.
Montoya moved to the Copa Formula Renault Series in 1992. The same
year, he also participated in a U.S. series operated by Skip Barber.
1993 saw Montoya switch to the Swift GTI Championship, a series
he dominated by winning seven of eight races. The following year,
1994, was a very busy year for the 19-year-old Colombian, as it
saw him race in three separate series: the Sudam 125 Karting, USA
Barber Saab, and Formula N in Mexico (a series in which he won the
title). As his success continued year after year, Montoya came to
be known for his uncanny ability to win pole positions (as well
as races), in some cases taking 80% of a season's poles.
For the next three years, Montoya raced in various divisions, continually
progressing upward. He raced in the 1995 British Formula Vauxhall
Championship, and he won the 1996 British Formula 3 crown, as well
as taking part in events in Zandvoort, Netherlands and at Silverstone.
In 1997, while driving in the Formula 3000 series, Montoya's manager,
David Sears, brought Montoya to the attention of the Williams F1
team, which signed him to a multi-year testing contract.
Entry into F1
The championships continued to roll in, as Montoya won the FIA
International Formula 3000 Championship. The next year, Williams
sent Montoya to America to compete in the 1999 CART tournament,
where he won the championship in his rookie season. He won seven
races that year, secured seven pole positions, and at the age of
24, was the youngest driver ever to win the series. The following
year, his team, Chip Ganassi Racing, struggled because they made
the switch to Toyota engines, and he finished a disappointing ninth
in the Championship — despite these struggles, he still won
an amazing seven pole positions. He also claimed victory in the
2000 Indianapolis 500, the only year he participated in the event.
He became the first driver (since Graham Hill in 1966) to win at
Indy on his first attempt.
Montoya qualifying in the 2005 US GP.
Formula 1 career
Montoya made his Formula One debut for the BMW-powered Williams
team on March 4, 2001 at the Australian Grand Prix. Less than a
month later, he shocked Michael Schumacher — and the F1 world
— in Brazil by overtaking the World Champion on a daring move.
Montoya was on course to win the race when he collided with a backmarker.
In his first season in F1 Montoya established himself as a favourite
with fans and commentators as a natural racer. Although Williams
struggled with reliability that year, Montoya nevertheless won three
pole positions, stood on several podiums, and claimed his maiden
F1 victory at the 2001 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
He started driving for the McLaren team in 2005, but after only
the first two Grand Prix, he injured his shoulder while in Spain,
taking himself out of contention for the Grand Prix of Bahrain and
Imola. The official reason given for the shoulder injury was that
he had injured himself whilst playing tennis; it has been rumored
by some that the cause may have actually been something else, possibly
a motorcycle accident. David Coulthard who Montoya had replaced
at McLaren, suggested the driver's fitness was not up to standard.
In practice for the Monaco Grand Prix Montoya was penalised by race
stewards for causing an avoidable accident. At the Canadian Grand
Prix Montoya was on course for a win when the safety car was deployed.
As race leader at the time the safety car was deployed Montoya could
have pitted and rejoined the race in the lead. The team failed to
call him into the pits first and after refuelling Montoya was sent
out under a red light in the pit lane exit leading to disqualification.
After a non-start at the US Grand Prix Montoya was on track for
a possible win at Magny-Cours when his suspension failed. At the
British GP on July 10, 2005, Montoya achieved his first win for
McLaren at Silverstone. Despite spinning in qualifying, he came
from 20th on the grid to finish second in the German GP, then retired
with a broken drive shaft whilst in the lead of the Hungarian GP.
For the first ever Turkish GP, he was set for the second position
and his first one-two result of the season right next to his teammate,
but a mistake on the penultimate lap ruined his chances and finished
on third behind Alonso. However, recovered well during the Italian
GP to take his second win with McLaren and also his second victory
at the same circuit. He continued his well form and took his "first
proper" pole for McLaren at the Belgian GP, however Antonio
Pizzonia misread Montoya's driving line and ran into the back of
his car with few laps left in the race. This ruined McLaren's chance
at its first one-two finish of the season.
Formula 1 results
Championship qualifications
Juan Pablo Montoya driving for the Williams Formula One team in
early 2004/2001: 6th, 31 points, 1 win, 3 poles (Williams)
2002: 3rd, 50 points, 0 wins, 7 poles (Williams)
2003: 3rd, 82 points, 2 wins, 1 pole (Williams)
2004: 5th, 58 points, 1 win, 0 poles (Williams)
2005: 4th, 50 points, 2 wins, 1 pole (McLaren) (still in progress)
Podiums and wins
2005:
Britain 1st
Germany 2nd
Turkey 3rd
Italy 1st
2001:
Spain 2nd
Europe 2nd
Italy 1st
Japan 2nd
2002:
Australia 2nd
Malaysia 2nd
Spain 2nd
Austria 3rd
Britain 3rd
Germany 2nd
Belgium 3rd
2003:
Australia 2nd
Monaco 1st
Canada 3rd
Europe 2nd
France 2nd
Britain 2nd
Germany 1st
Hungary 3rd
Italy 2nd
2004:
Malaysia 2nd
Imola 3rd
Brazil 1st
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