Driver # 3 - Juan Pablo Montoya - Columbia - Age 33 - Chances of rejoining the ICS = 15%

IndyCar Garage breaks down ten drivers that aren’t driving in the IndyCar Series and what their impact would have done or could do to the IndyCar series. This list does include drivers that have raced partial schedules in years past or in the present season.

IndyCar Garage continues it’s countdown of the top ten drivers not currently driving full-time in the IndyCar Series with driver #3

JUAN PABLO MONTOYA – COLUMBIA – AGE 33

Chances of rejoining the ICS = 15%

Montoya arguably is the most complete driver in the world. He has achieved success at every level of competition he has participated in. His success began overseas as a youngster then on to CART, Formula 1, in the 2000 Indy 500, and as a current Spring Cup Series driver. In 1998 he captured the Formula 3000 Championship (minor league of F1, now named GP2 series). In 1999 he captured the CART Championship. In 2000 he captured the Indy 500 title as a crossover driver from CART. In 2003 he won the Monaco Grand Prix while racing Formula 1. In 2007 he switched to NASCAR and was the Sprint Cup Rookie of the year while capturing his first win at Sonoma. The bottom line about Montoya is that he is a good driver who can adjust to any type of car he drives.

He didn’t receive a warm welcome in the 2000 Indy 500 as a crossover driver but ultimately showed his critics that he could drive by leading 167 of 200 laps in route to the win. The 2000 win stands as his only Indy 500 he has competed in. His chances of returning to IndyCar aren’t great, but with unification keeping all the major teams in one series, including his former employer Chip Ganassi, don’t count him out down the road. In terms of open wheel drivers, he could still compete for another six to eight years.