Juan Pablo Montoya’s hopes of repeating as Indianapolis 500 champion in the 100th Running have ended on his own error.
Montoya was coming out of turn 2 on lap 64 of the 200-lap race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he lost control of his No. 2 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet-Dallara, looping the machine around and shooting up the track.
Montoya then slammed into the outside wall, shooting debris across the racing surface before slowly sliding to a stop in the infield grass. The Colombian climbed out of his machine under his own power before being transported to the infield care center for a routine review.
“I went into two and got a big push and I got out of the gas and it just came around,” Montoya said. “I am disappointed. When the clouds came over, that is when my car came to life and that was what we were hoping for.”
The two-time Indy 500 Champion entered the Month of May as one of the favorites to claim the 100th victory, having won in two of his previous three starts. Instead, it appears Montoya is en route to his first DNF at the 2.5-mile Indiana oval.
Aaron Bearden is a Frontstretch alumnus who’s come back home as the site’s Short Track Editor. When he isn’t working with our grassroots writers, he can be found talking about racing on his Morning Warmup newsletter, pestering his wife/dog or convincing himself the Indiana Pacers can win an NBA title.