| | | | | | | 42 - Juan Montoya | Bogota, Colombia |
| | Primary Sponsor: Texaco / Havoline
Manufacturer: Dodge
Car Owner: Floyd Ganassi
Team: Chip Ganassi Racing Juan Montoya is a former Formula One driver who now drives the No. 42 for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NEXTEL Cup Series. Born in Bogota, Colombia, Montoya learned karting from his father Pablo when he was six years old.
In 1992, Montoya first raced in the U.S. while taking part in the Skip Barber Racing School. He also competed in the Copa Formula Renault Series in Colombia. The next year, Montoya raced in the Swift GTI Championship Series, where he had wins in eight starts and captured seven poles.
By 1999, Montoya was heading to the United States as part of a driver swap, an exchange that resulted in Montoya taking over for two-time Cart Champion Alex Zanardi at Ganassi’s Indianapolis-based open-wheel shop.
During his career, Montoya has earned an International F3000 title, a world title in the CART championship series, and he is the only driver ever to have won the CART title, the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 hours of Daytona, all on the first attempt. He is one of two drivers to have won the CART title in his rookie year.
Between the CART, IndyCar and Formula One Series, Montoya has made 137 starts, and racked up 18 wins, 26 poles, 60 top-five and 79 top-10 finishes. He finished sixth or better in the standings every year during five full seasons in Formula One.
In 2006, Montoya, along with Chip Ganassi, announced that he would leave McLaren and Formula One racing to partner once again with Ganassi in a stock car. He signed a multi-year deal to race the No. 42 for Ganassi beginning in 2007.
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