In effect I had been sacked in 1971, even though that wasn’t supposed to have happened. “By 1972 I was no longer supposed to be driving for Matra. Henri, Le Mans 1972 now looks like such a straightforward success story, but at the time there were a lot of issues in the background, some big enough that they almost stopped you from racing that year. However, he begrudgingly accepted, and in doing so secured a front-row seat for what has gone on to become a milestone in motor racing history.
#TRIPLE CROWN TRICK DRIVER#
Already seething with his former employer, the prospect of sharing with a 43-year-old ex-F1 driver didn’t fill Pescarolo with enthusiasm. He was only called back when the team expanded to field a fourth car for Hill. Pescarolo, who had been a keystone to Matra’s Formula 1 activities in the 1960s, suddenly found himself frozen out and was due to race an Alfa Romeo instead. But the result so nearly didn’t come to fruition. This was a race of huge significance for both British and French interests, especially with the Ferrari factory team opting to skip the event having already won the World Sportscar Championship, leaving Matra as the firm favourite. With 1972 being his sixth attempt at Le Mans, Pescarolo would go on to rack up a record 33 starts before his retirement after the 1999 edition, celebrating four wins along the way. It also wrote the first chapter in Pescarolo’s stunning career in the race. Pescarolo aboard the MS670 in the Le Mans pitlane. Without a French winner since 1964 (or since 1950 if you were talking about the constructor) Pescarolo and Matra’s victory broke the Anglo-Italian-German stranglehold that had lasted over two decades at La Sarthe. And the win made history for more than just Hill’s achievement. Of course, he didn’t do it alone, sharing the No15 Matra-Simca MS670 with a 30-year-old Henri Pescarolo. Graham Hill – already twice a Formula 1 world champion, five times a victor at the Monaco Grand Prix and winner of the 1966 Indianapolis 500 – became the first, and only driver, to complete the ‘Triple Crown’ by adding his name to the Le Mans roll of honour. "I think we have a real shot at competing at the front of the field and challenging for the win.The crowd figures for the 1972 Le Mans 24 Hours vary, but we can safely assume two things: firstly, that it was north of 150,000 strong and second, that few of them realised the exact measure of the piece of history they were witnessing unfold before them. "I'm excited to return to Indianapolis with Arrow McLaren SP and Mission, to once again compete in a race that holds a special place in my heart - the Indianapolis 500," said Montoya.
#TRIPLE CROWN TRICK DRIVERS#
Montoya will join full-time Arrow McLaren drivers Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist for two races, the Indianapolis Grand Prix run on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course on May 13 and the Indy 500 on May 29.
Montoya was a winner in Monaco in 2003 and while he has won the 24 Hours of Daytona on three occasions, he has not repeated that success at Le Mans.
He is also one win away from completing the "Triple Crown of Motorsport" made up of victories at the Monaco Grand Prix, or F1 world title, Indianapolis 500 and the Le Mans 24 Hours sportcar race. The 46-year-old Colombian is one of motor racing's most experienced and versatile drivers having won races in Formula One, Ind圜ar and NASCAR.
"He adds experience that really benefits our team, giving us another driver with the potential to win anytime he steps into the car." "Juan Pablo is an institution in motorsport, with two Indianapolis 500 victories and an impressive Formula 1 career with multiple wins for McLaren," said McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown in a statement. Montoya, winner at the Brickyard in 20, drove for Arrow McLaren at last year's Indy 500, finishing ninth. Juan Pablo Montoya will rejoin Arrow McLaren in a bid to complete an Indianapolis 500 hat-trick of wins, the Ind圜ar team said on January 11.
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