Montoya beats Power for second Indy 500 win

Juan Pablo Montoya, of Colombia, leads the mythical race

His career at a crossroads, his confidence shot, Juan Pablo Montoya received a lifeline from The Captain. Roger Penske called the driver in late 2013, when Montoya found himself without a job after seven frustrating seasons in NASCAR that had turned one of the baddest drivers on the planet into a struggling also-­ran.
The catch? Penske’s offer was a return to Indy cars, which Montoya had left behind years ago. The Colombian jumped at the opportunity and cashed in on it Sunday [U.S. time] with his second Indianapolis 500 victory. The first one was 15 years ago and a stepping stone to Formula One. The second one came for a 39-year-old man who proved JPM is back.
In a moment of sincerity following his win, flanked by Team Penske President Tim Cindric, Montoya briefly suggested how much this one meant to him.
“I’m glad I am proving them right, that they made the right choice,” he said, pausing and lowering his eyes. “I’m loving racing right now.”
Oh, that was evident for two weeks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where Montoya confidently boasted to his three teammates that he’d win the race.
On Sunday, he twice drove from the back of the field and fearlessly charged into the final few laps as the leader in a race where few wanted to be out front with the checkered flag looming, and held off teammate Will Power.
That 2000 victory was easy, he’s always said so, and when a driver leads 167 of the 200 laps, it clearly was a relaxed Sunday drive.
Win No. 2 was a battle from the very beginning. Montoya started 15th but an accident on the first lap brought out the caution and Montoya was hit from behind by Simona de Silvestro under yellow. He had to pit to repair the damage and restarted second-to-last in the field.
After working his way back through the field, he was penalized for running over his air hose during a pit stop — and again was sent deep into the pack.
“Montoya coming from all the way in the back — I’ll tell you, you give that guy the bit and put it in his mouth… he doesn’t give up,” Penske said.
His victory gave Penske his 16th Indianapolis 500 win, and first since Helio Castroneves in 2009. Penske also joined Chip Ganassi as the only owners to win the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 in the same year. Ganassi did it in 2010; Joey Logano won the Daytona 500 for Penske in February.
The 15 years between Indy 500 victories are a record for a driver, surpassing A.J. Foyt, who needed 10 years between his third and fourth wins.  Jenna Fryer, Indianapolis, AP