500 Miles of Indianapolis: Several former Formula 1 drivers at the start

Juan Pablo Montoya (24th at the start): the South American fire

The Colombian driver had actually passed through the United States before arriving in F1.

He won the CART championship title during the 1999 season, then won the Indianapolis 500 the following year with the Chip Ganassi team.

His arrival in F1 was with Williams-BMW in 2001. His experience across the Atlantic allowed him to demonstrate all his talent, as evidenced by his magnificent maneuver on Michael Schumacher in Brazil.

The native of Bogota will have achieved seven victories in Formula 1, four for Williams and three for McLaren Mercedes.

His adventure ended -curiously- in Indianapolis in 2006. Montoya was involved in a crash and did not finish what was his last race in the elite category. He will stay in the US to join Nascar.

He joined the IndyCar in 2014 with the Penske team. The very same one that he will lead to victory at the 500 Miles the following year, starting from the 13th place on the grid. The Colombian is involved in the 2021 edition aboard a McLaren! Precisely with the Arrow McLaren team, the Indy version of Woking. Montoya starts in 24th place!

Takuma Sato (15th on the grid) and Sébastien Bourdais (27th on the grid): not much sparkle in F1

The Japanese driver raced in Formula 1 from 2002 to 2008, exclusively with a Honda engine in the back: first with Jordan, then BAR, and finally Super Aguri.

Sato did not achieve success in F1, but demonstrated aggressiveness that was sometimes successful, sometimes not. His best result in the premier category was his only podium, 3rd, in Indianapolis in 2004. Afterwards, the Tokyo driver never stepped on the podium again.

He could have continued in F1 with Toro Rosso in 2009, but his path led him to IndyCar in 2010.

After convincing seasons, Sato finally achieved the Grail: winning the 500 Miles in 2017 after starting 6th. He repeated it last year, this time starting from pole position!

For Bourdais, the story in F1 was short.

The Manceau dominated the ChampCar championship, with 4 consecutive titles from 2004 to 2007.

Toro Rosso gave him its trust in 2008. But the Frenchman lived in the shadow of his teammate Sebastian Vettel, winner at Monza that year. Vettel moved to Red Bull for 2009, Bourdais had to prove he belonged in F1. Nothing worked: he was let go by Toro Rosso during the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Bourdais made his comeback in the USA in 2011. He found his way back to success, but not at the 500 Miles. We even remember his terrible crash that occurred during the practice sessions at Indy in 2017. Fractures of the hips and pelvis: Bourdais was not seen again before the end of the season.

He is running for the AJ Foyt team this year, and will start 27th in the race.

Ericsson (9th at the start), Rossi (10th at the start), Chilton (29th at the start): back of the grid in F1

Marcus Ericsson didn’t make old bones in F1. A point-free 2014 season with Caterham, then an adventure with Sauber, lasting from 2015 to 2018. The Swede totals 18 points in F1. His last season with Alfa Romeo-Sauber was his most convincing, but end of the road for him: he didn’t measure up to his teammate destined for Ferrari, Charles Leclerc.

In IndyCar, without success in Indianapolis, he joins two former – and very short-lived – F1 residents. Max Chilton, a driver at Manor in 2013 and 2014, and Alexander Rossi, who also spent time at Manor in 2015.

All have found refuge in IndyCar since. But only Alexander Rossi has experienced great success there: victorious in the 2016 500 Miles, starting 11th, and IndyCar vice-champion in 2018!

And if one of them creates a surprise this Sunday evening for the 105th edition of the Indianapolis 500 miles? Race start at 6:30 pm, French time, to follow on Canal + Decalé.