Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Juan Pablo Montoya scored a surprise victory in the Race of Champions on Saturday, winning the individual event on his debut.
Montoya's appearance at Miami's Marlins Park was his first at the Race of Champions, as he finished runner-up in a group that included Felipe Massa, Pascal Wehrlein and Petter Solberg.
Montoya defeated rallycross legend Travis Pastrana 2-0 in the quarter-finals before beating Massa by the same scoreline in the semi-finals, the Brazilian receiving a five-second time penalty in their second match-up after hitting the wall and gaining an advantage.
Montoya met nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, taking part in his 15th Race of Champions, with the Dane also finishing as runner-up in his intial group.
Kristensen finished behind David Coulthard in the first stage, but got his revenge by beating the ex-Formula 1 driver 2-0 in the semi-final, having narrowly beaten Jenson Button 2-1 in the quarter-finals.
Montoya won the first heat of the final against Kristensen in a rallycross car before jumping into a KTM X-Bow, but very nearly jumped the start, appearing to give his rival the upper hand.
However, a scruffy second lap from Kristensen allowed Montoya to finish 0.08 seconds clear, completing a 2-0 victory and becoming the Race of Champions' 'Champion of Champions'. The result marked Kristensen's fifth final defeat at the Race of Champions.
Defending champion Sebastian Vettel was a surprise casualty in the group stage, finishing third in his group with just one victory to his name against Indianapolis 500 winner Alexander Rossi.
Montoya aside, the stars of IndyCar had a tough night as only Hélio Castroneves also made it past the group stage, with Rossi, James Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Tony Kanaan also falling at the first hurdle.
Wehrlein was another who failed to make it through the group stage, suffering a terrifying roll in his car after crashing into Massa shortly after the finish line, while NASCAR brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch had mixed nights, the latter losing out in the quarter-finals to David Coulthard.
