Colombian ace Juan Montoya’s stake on the IndyCar Series has received a shake after he suffered an early exit from the Iowa Corn 300.
Montoya had kept his nose clean all season before he slammed into the Turn 2 barrier at the short oval with suspected suspension inside the first dozen laps.
Up until the green flag in Iowa, Montoya had completed all but one of the laps in the 2015 season which has seen him spear to wins in the opening race at St Petersburg and the showpiece Indy 500.
“It’s just disappointing. The first couple of laps I was taking it easy and biding my time,” Montoya, who suffered a bruised hand, said in a TV interview shortly after the crash.
“Something broke as soon as I loaded up. As soon as I loaded up the car just went right.”
“It sucks when it’s completely out of your hands and something fails.”
Montoya still clutches the lead, albeit reduced, heading into the final three rounds of the series at Mid-Ohio, Pocono and the double-points closing event at Sonoma.
Graham Rahal is now second, 42 points behind Montoya, while Dixon is third 48 points behind.