Montoya to leave Formula One

July 09, 2006 23:29 IST

McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya will leave Formula One at the end of this season to drive in NASCAR, reuniting the Colombian with car owner Chip Ganassi, it was announced on Sunday.

Ganassi announced the surprise move ahead of Sunday's NASCAR race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois.

Montoya won the Indy 500 in 2000 and the CART championship in 1999, driving for Ganassi, but has never driven in a NASCAR event.

The 30-year-old Colombian moved to Formula One with Williams in 2001 before switching to McLaren Mercedes in 2005.

Montoya signed a multi-year deal, becoming the first F1 regular to move to the Nextel Cup.

Source: REUTERS
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