Montoya: No secret formula to winning

But, in the run up to the US GP, the Colombian admitted that after a string of near-misses he was relieved to have finally notched up his first triumph for Williams.

"I haven't really found out anything different by winning," said Montoya. "It's just that you work really hard for it and suddenly it just comes.

"I didn't really expect it after Rubens passed me because he was so much quicker. I just tried to keep pushing all through the race and I went into the pits really early, and it fell into my hands. "

The Italian GP was Montoya's first win in his 15th F1 race, and follows a series of leading performances that have seen him start on pole three times in the last four races.

"It was a big relief," he admitted. "We've been working for it really hard all year long and there were a few occasions we had the chance to win and it didn't happen. Now, I think that I was patient enough that it came - and it feels good."

Montoya, who turned 26 last Thursday, said the power of Williams' BMW engine should be a vital ingredient in the team's battle for victory in Sunday's US GP.

"It's going to be quite interesting racing on the road course. The track should suit the car quite well. It has long straights and we've got a lot of power so it should be quite a good race for us."

He returns to Indianapolis nearly a year after winning the legendary Indy 500 on the banked oval track that is part of the F1 course.