So when Montoya turned solely two laps in 41 mph winds on “Quick Friday,” and when he lagged behind in observe classes or logged a disappointing qualifying run, a few of his rivals puzzled if the Colombian even desires to be within the race.

Rapidly “that’s simply Juan” began shifting to “Juan’s checked out.”

Requested by The Related Press about fellow rivals assuming Montoya’s not placing forth full effort at Indianapolis, he stared silently out the window of the Chevrolet Camaro shuttling him from an look.

“Good for them,” he lastly replied. And that was it.

Montoya is an enigma — all the time has been over a profession spanning three-plus a long time — in that he does what he desires when he desires. He’s blunt, hard-headed and as soon as was thought of probably the greatest drivers on this planet.

Like that point he confirmed up on the Indy 500 as a rookie in 2000 and led all however 33 of the 200 laps for the win. Or, simply weeks later within the CART race at Michigan, when Montoya went wheel-to-wheel with Michael Andretti over practically a dozen closing laps to win what’s thought of one of many best duels in American open-wheel historical past.

Montoya moved to Components One the subsequent season and in simply his third race gained a recreation of hen with Michael Schumacher. Montoya refused to carry whereas racing for the lead, stubbornness that ran Schumacher astray.

Montoya collected seven F1 victories, profitable at Monza, Monaco and Silverstone, earlier than he bored with the politics and known as Chip Ganassi to see if there have been any seats for him in the USA. Ganassi stated certain, come to NASCAR, and Montoya did that for seven seasons and a pair of Cup Collection wins.

Then it was again to IndyCar and a return to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the primary time in 14 years. Montoya completed fifth in his second Indy 500.

The following 12 months? Montoya gained in 2015 for his second Indy 500 victory in three profession begins.

Montoya’s Indy 500 stat line is unreal: two wins in six begins and just one end under ninth; he didn’t end in 2016 when he was concerned in a crash.

So if Montoya doesn’t suppose he wants to show lap after lap at Indy to arrange for race day, he’s going to inform Arrow McLaren SP that the race isn’t till Sunday and he’s not risking his automobile. Montoya will drive for Arrow for a second consecutive 12 months after ending ninth final 12 months. He’s admittedly smarter, calmer and extra calculated than he was at his heyday.

“I’m good. I don’t have to fake. The window the place this automobile works may be very small, and it’s very arduous to determine,” Montoya instructed AP. “I’m the third driver on this crew, I’ve the third automobile. If I wreck it earlier than the race, then the fourth automobile I do know isn’t going to be nearly as good because the one I’ve now.

”Why take that likelihood? That’s simply silly.”

He nonetheless carries himself with the identical confidence he had as a fearless 23-year-old new to American open-wheel racing. The one time he softens is when speaking about his 17-year-old son, Sebastian, who can be racing in Monaco this weekend as Montoya makes what may very well be his closing Indy 500 begin.

Requested if he’s nonetheless bought the identical need, Montoya replied: “Did you watch Mid-Ohio final week?”

Certainly, he traveled from the highway course race at Indianapolis on Saturday night time two weeks in the past to Ohio the subsequent day to run an IMSA sports activities automobile occasion. Montoya rallied from a penalty to earn the category victory.

Montoya begins thirtieth on Sunday, his lowest ever within the Indy 500. He should cross an terrible lot of automobiles to win a 3rd Borg-Warner trophy, however he cautions anybody counting him out.

“I’ve by no means been an enormous believer of using a very excessive wave and pondering ‘I’m one of the best.’ No, I simply drive as arduous as I can and do one of the best I can,” Montoya stated. “You’ve bought to recollect, I’m 46 and racing children who’re like 22. The youngsters who’re 22 really feel like they’re invincible they usually don’t get the larger image. The larger image is you want to have the ability to handle your automobile for 500 miles to have any likelihood to win.”

Montoya shrugs. He doesn’t see any state of affairs through which he races in opposition to his son within the Indy 500 — the 2 had been sports activities automobile teammates at Sebring earlier this 12 months — however he doesn’t know what’s subsequent.

“I gained’t come again and run Indy simply to run Indy,” Montoya stated. “It needs to be with a crew that wishes to win. If McLaren desires me to do it once more, then I’ll do it once more as a result of I like this crew and I gained’t come right here if I don’t imagine I can win the race.”

Extra AP Indy 500 protection: https://apnews.com/hub/indianapolis-500 and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports