INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum announced the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Class of 2024, which includes Indianapolis 500 winning drivers Tony Kanaan and Juan Pablo Montoya.
The inductees will be formally celebrated at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner supported by The National Bank of Indianapolis, held on Thursday, May 23, at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.
The two were chosen from a ballot of 14 nominees by a national panel of more than 150 journalists, participants and historians. This was the first year Kanaan was eligible for the Hall of Fame.
Brazilian native Kanaan amassed an impressive career in open-wheel racing. With 389 career starts, Kanaan had 15 poles and 17 race wins. In addition, he had 79 top-three finishes and 134 top-five finishes during his career.
In 2004, driving for Andretti Green Racing, Kanaan impressively completed all 3,305 possible laps, becoming the first IndyCar driver in modern history to complete every lap of every race in a season.
This led Kanaan to secure the 2004 season championship.
Kanaan’s success in the series was known and respected. However, the Indianapolis 500 was a race that had eluded him until 2013. Driving for KV Racing Technology, Kanaan qualified in 12th place. He moved through the field and battled for the lead.
On lap 197, Kanaan passed Hunter-Reay for the lead on a restart. The race finished under caution, but Kanaan won at an average speed of 187.433 miles per hour, breaking the record set by Arie Luyendyk in the 1990 race.
Kanaan, a perennial fan favorite, won the series’ Most Popular Driver award in 2013. He can often be found greeting and thanking fans at races and is known for being a leader and mentor in the paddock. Outside of racing, he is a dedicated family man and philanthropist serving on the boards of various organizations.
A multi-discipline race car driver, Montoya found success in open-wheel, sports car and stock car racing.
The Columbia native made a name for himself at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he became the first rookie winner of the 2000 Indianapolis 500 since Graham Hill in 1966. Montoya led 167 of the 200 laps to take the checkered flag and earned the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year.
Montoya competed in Formula 1 racing, including the United States Grand Prix, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In the 2001 race, Montoya recorded the fastest lap at 202.707. In the 2002 race, he had his highest finish at fourth, closely behind the top finishers.
Montoya continued his career by moving to stock car racing full-time in 2007. He competed in the Brickyard 400 from 2007-2014, with his highest finish being second in 2007. He took pole in 2010 and had another top-10 finish at ninth in 2013.
In 2014, Montoya joined Team Penske for the IndyCar Series and finished fifth at the Indianapolis 500 that year. In 2015, Montoya claimed his second Indianapolis 500 victory after battling Will Power and Scott Dixon in the final laps. He competed in four additional Indianapolis 500 races.
Montoya has received numerous awards for his successful career. A philanthropist, he and his wife established a foundation providing children with sports opportunities.
In addition to honoring the inductees, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum will celebrate Mark Miles, CEO and President of Penske Entertainment, for his contributions to the racing industry, support of the Museum and as a leader in the community.
Veteran IndyCar driver and current NBC Sports analyst James Hinchcliffe will return as emcee for the event, with special guests scheduled throughout the evening. All proceeds benefit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, a 501c3 non-profit organization that aims to celebrate the cultural and historical significance of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through storytelling and educational programs.