Montoya's Father Happy with Birthday Gift

Pablo Montoya, father of today's Italian Grand Prix winner Juan Pablo Montoya, was ecstatic after his son presented him with "the perfect gift " for his 57th birthday.

"I can't believe it," an emotional Montoya said in the Monza paddock after the race. "This morning I made a wish to get this kind of gift for my birthday today, and I kept praying for a present like this. It finally happened, we did it!"

Juan Pablo Montoya won his first ever Grand Prix, in his 15th attempt. It's also the first time a Colombian wins a race in Formula One, and both father and son were visibly emotional when the Colombian anthem was heard playing on the podium.

"My heart was flowing with emotions when they played it," Montoya senior said. "I can't even remember what was the first thing Juan Pablo and I said when he got off the podium - I was so emotional, all I could do was hug him."

Father Montoya also paid tribute to Alex Zanardi, who was seriously injured yesterday in a CART crash. Zanardi preceded Montoya in both the Ganassi team in CART, and Williams in Formula One. "Alex is really a nice person," Montoya's father said. "I was always his fan and I was really proud the first time I met him.

"On that occasion, Alex was teaching Juan Pablo the secrets of ovals and CART cars, and I remember that meeting as something special, because for us he was this great Champion and one of the most impressive guys in American racing.

"Alex was exceptionally nice to Juan Pablo so for us what happened to him this weekend is really really sad. Fortunately, he is alive."