Juan Pablo Montoya to race in 2021 Indy 500 with McLaren SP

Indycar Racing News

Juan Pablo Montoya will reunite with McLaren for next year's Indy 500

Juan Pablo Montoya

Montoya will join forces with McLaren for another Indy500 attempt in 2021

Greg Doherty/Getty Images

Two-time Indy 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya will compete at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next year with McLaren SP for the 2021 race.

Montoya will make his return with the team he last raced for in Formula 1 back in 2006, with his final race for the team coming at Indianapolis.

The Colombian will drive the third Chevrolet alongside full-time Arrow McLaren IndyCar drivers, Pato O’Ward and new recruit Felix Rosenqvist.

“I’m very excited to be joining Arrow McLaren SP for the Indianapolis 500,” Montoya said of the announcement.

“I have some great history with McLaren from my F1 days and I’m looking forward to making some more at next year’s Indianapolis 500.”

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Montoya won the Indy 500 in 2000 as a rookie, and repeated the feat 15 years on with Team Penske.

Should he add a third Borg-Warner Trophy to his CV, it would make him the fifth-oldest winner of the famous race, two years younger than the overall record holder, Al Unser who was victorious at age 47 in 1982.

“I’m delighted for Juan to rejoin the McLaren family and return to the Indianapolis 500 with Arrow McLaren SP,” said CEO of McLaren Racing Zak Brown.

“He is an intensely competitive, highly versatile driver, with deep experience at the top level of motorsport and a big following. Having him with us at the 500 next year will be great for the team and IndyCar fans everywhere.”

From the archive

Montoya has five IndyCar victories to his name including the two successes at Indianapolis, the latest coming in his final full-time season in the series back in 2016, coming at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Former F1 rival Fernando Alonso made an attempt to win the race with McLaren earlier this year in a one-off appearance but ended up a lap down in 21st by the chequered flag.

“Arrow McLaren SP is thrilled to have a driver of Juan’s calibre join the team for next year’s Indianapolis 500,” Arrow McLaren SP co-owner Sam Schmidt said.

“His experience will elevate the entire team, including our young, talented lineup of Pato and Felix. When you think that he’s only started the Indy 500 five times but won it twice, that’s impressive.”

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