Montoya Wins Indy 500

Juan Pablo Montoya insisted he had the best car in the Team Penske stable—even to his three teammates, who all believed they were legitimate contenders to win the Indianapolis 500. With the same confidence he showed 15 years ago when he routed the field, Montoya sliced his way through the field twice and won his second Indianapolis 500 today. "This is too much," he said in victory lane, the winner's wreath around his neck and the traditional bottle of milk in his hand. Flanked by his children, he looked everywhere for his wife: It was a far different scene from 2000, when the fearless Colombian was single, childless and using Indy cars as a stepping stone to Formula One. But his career has been a series of ups-and-downs through F1, NASCAR, and finally back to IndyCar with motorsports icon Roger Penske.

This victory was almost certainly going to go to a Team Penske or Chip Ganassi Racing driver, which had a combined 9 cars in the field. Proving that Indianapolis is their own personal playground, Penske and Ganassi drivers led the majority of the laps today and turned the final restart with 15 laps to go into a three-car thriller between Penske teammates Montoya and Will Power, and Ganassi driver Scott Dixon. Power finished second and Ganassi drivers Charlie Kimball and Dixon were third and fourth. It was thought that the leader on the final lap would be a sitting duck, but Montoya didn't care as he charged past Power with three laps remaining and stayed out front until the checkered flag. (More Indianapolis 500 stories.)