Montoya in the spotlight

Montoya did not expect to win in his debut season

BBC motor racing correspondent Jonathan Legard reports on Juan Pablo Montoya's aims ahead of the US Grand Prix.

Juan Pablo Montoya could not have chosen a more opportune moment for the US Grand Prix organisers to notch up his first victory.

As the winner of last year's Indy 500, his smiling face on television and in print is instantly recognisable.

Now, at a time when sport in America is resuming in the name of normality, Montoya returns to the land he calls his second home as Formula One's hottest property after winning in Italy two weeks ago.

Montoya's personal bubble of happiness is floating even higher because he was engaged last week to his trainee lawyer girlfriend, Connie.

There was, he admitted in Indianapolis this week, "a big relief" that he had achieved his landmark victory.

He's still the man to beat - the best driver in the world

Montoya on Michael Schumacher

"I didn't expect to win in my first season in F1," he said.

He's been saying for the last few weeks that this breakthrough would help change the perceptions of people inside and outside the BMW Williams team.

Now you wonder how much Montoya's maiden success added to Michael Schumacher's discomfort at Monza.

The world champion must have glimpsed the future.

And while it bodes well for the neutrals wanting prize-fighting competition, it is not the safe passage to further glory many Ferrari followers had been planning.

"He's still the man to beat, still the best driver in the world," Montoya said of Michael Schumacher.

But you're left with the distinct impression that this feisty Colombian does not intend saying that for longer than he absolutely has to.

Montoya after his 2000 win at Indianapolis

He's beginning to look as if he is already well on the way to having the measure of the younger Schumacher, his team-mate at Williams.

But Montoya declines to be drawn on the pair's reportedly frosty relationship.

"I've been more competitive than him in the last four races and we're pushing each other," he said.

"People say we don't talk but we talk in team meetings and that's all you need."

Maybe that is the case.

The cartoon pinned up in the Williams factory to universal amusement - and apparent official approval - immediately after Monza was a revealing insight into how the partnership is seen to be developing.

On the top step of the podium is a stick character with a beaming smile. To his left is the archetypal Mr Grumpy.

Montoya has apparently visited the factory floor more often this season than Ralf Schumacher has in his entire Williams career.

The atmosphere in Formula One is a lot more intense

Montoya compares F1 with Cart

Brother Michael surely would not let himself be caught out in such a key battleground like team building.

Montoya has already identified it as crucial to success in F1 which can be a lonely world.

"The atmosphere in Formula One is a lot more intense," he said. "You have to be much stronger mentally than in Cart."

"There, the atmosphere is more friendly but in F1 you have to do it all by yourself."

Winning over mechanics and engineers, therefore, becomes just as important as winning races.

Winning more F1 fans in America will be harder to gauge in the light of the events of 11 September, 2001.

The novelty value of last year's US return was a guaranteed crowd-puller.

F1 drew its biggest ever attendance, more than 250,000 people.

Tickets remain commendably priced, with general admission on race day costing £20.

Distress and uncertainty

This time, though, the recent events in New York will act as an inevitable and understandable distraction.

The absentees may also have reflected that their day out last year was entertaining, but not exciting enough to come back for more.

Amid a national mood of distress and uncertainty. there must be concern over the race.

With the championship already settled, it may be too much to expect of a familiar face in the self-styled "racing capital of the world" to pack the grandstands as healthily as last season.

But Montoya believes F1 is right to play its part in renewing the routine of daily life.

"It's very sad what happened but the way I look at things, you can't stop life."

"This week will be important for people to come and give themselves something to cheer about, and those who come, I can tell you, will love it."

When they hear about the incredible journey via Iceland and Canada endured by various Minardi engineers en route to Indianapolis, they might appreciate F1's commitment and the weekend's racing even more.