Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya Wins Monaco Grand Prix Auto Race

Topics:  JUan Pablo Montoya, Monaco Grand Prix

VOA Sports
Voice of America
June 1, 2003

Colombian race car driver Juan Pablo Montoya has captured the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo by holding off a charge from Kimi Raikkonen of Finland in the final laps. Montoya covered the course in his BMW-powered Williams car in just over one hour, 42 minutes and 19 seconds, at an average speed of almost 153 kilometers per hour. His win Sunday was the second Formula One victory of his career, after a victory at the Italian Grand Prix in 2001.

Raikkonen was second in a McLaren-Mercedes, finishing the 78-lap street course just 0.6 seconds back. The second place finish also allowed Raikkonen to extend his lead over German driver Michael Schumacher in the season standings. Raikkonen has 48 points, while Schumacher, who finished third, has 44.

Montoya's teammate, Ralf Schumacher, the younger brother of Michael, came in fourth. He had earned the pole position and led for the first 20 laps of the race.