Montoya eyes a return to Victory Lane
Juan Pablo Montoya has never finished on the podium in a United States Grand Prix, but unless Michael Schumacher has a failure this weekend, he's going to have to repeat his visit to Victory Lane at the Indy 500 three years ago to stay in serious title contention.
In addition to his Drivers' Championship charge, he will have to be careful not to jeopardise Williams' four-point lead in the Constructors' table. However, now would be a fine time to score the team's first win on American soil since Keke Rosberg won in Detroit in 1985.
There is just one race left after Indianapolis battle, the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
"I have to close the 3-point gap to Michael and if possible get ahead of him," said Montoya. "We need to keep this ball rolling and make the most out of this race because Suzuka is a circuit that really suits Michael's driving style.
"I have some great memories of Indianapolis. First and foremost, my Indy 500 victory back in 2000 was very important to my career. And my CART team was based in the city. There will be many Colombians in the stands and I actually consider Indy to be a home race for me."
After taking some criticism for backing off in the final stint last time out at Monza, Montoya has made clear that he'll still be a thinking man's racing driver at Indy.
"If Rubens is leading a race, I am P2 and Michael P3 then I won't be going for it. But if Michael is P1 and I am P2 and I can go for it, then I will. It all depends on whom I am up against.
"If I'm racing against David Coulthard then it wouldn't be the same thing as if I'm racing against Kimi Raikkonen. Why? Because Coulthard doesn't care and Kimi does."
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