4 drivers who raced in IndyCar before entering F1 feat. Mario Andretti

IndyCar and Formula 1 are two of the world's most prestigious open-wheeler racing series. They attract the best talent across various functions within the teams, and naturally, only the crème de la crème can sustain their careers at the top.

When it comes to drivers, the debate of which racing series possesses the best talent continues to rage among the different fanbases. While IndyCar remains confined to the continent of North America, F1 races across the globe. F1 and IndyCar also differ from each other in a variety of aspects, but ultimately, they produce the world's best single-seaters capable of top speeds over 200 mph.

In the history of motorsport, F1 drivers retiring from the pinnacle of motorsport and joining IndyCar has been a common occurrence. But the other way around, i.e. drivers who begin their racing career with IndyCar and later joined F1, is a rarity. Let's take a look at four such drivers making this uncommon move.

#4 Juan Pablo Montoya

Juan Pablo Montoya at the Pocono IndyCat500 - Source: Getty

Juan Pablo Montoya is a Colombian racer with one of the most versatile motorsport careers. He has raced in F1, IndyCar (when it was CART), Le Mans, and NASCAR.

His CART career began in 1999 when Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) signed him on a 3-year contract. In his rookie year, he created history by becoming the youngest CART champion and only the second rookie champion after Nigel Mansell. In 2000, Montoya won the Indy 500, having led 167 of 200 laps, becoming the youngest winner since two-time F1 champ Graham Hill in 1966.

In 2001, he cut his CGR contract short and joined Williams Racing in the F1, where he spent three years and won four races. When he switched to McLaren in 2005, Montoya won three more races before calling it quits in 2006 and returning to the USA to race in NASCAR.

#3 Jacques Villeneuve

Jacques Villeneuve - Source: Getty

Jacques Villeneuve was born into a racing family to the late Ferrari legend Gilles Villeneuve. His Indy career began in the Indy Light series, which he won in 1993 before advancing to IndyCar the next year.

After a decent rookie season, he stepped up his game in 1995 to win the championship and became the first, and only, Canadian to win the prestigious Indy 500. In 1996, the world came around for him as he joined Williams F1 to carry on his father's legacy. Similar to his IndyCar heroics, he won his maiden F1 championship in his second year in the category by beating Michael Schumacher, who was later disqualified from the championship.

Though Villeneuve continued in F1 with other teams in the coming years, he couldn't replicate his championship success. He bowed out of the series in 2006.

#2 Michael Andretti

Michael Andretti at the IZOD IndyCar Series - Source: Getty

Like Jacques Villeneuve, Michael Andretti was also born into a racing family to F1 and 4-time IndyCar champ Mario Andretti. He followed in his father's footsteps and raced in the CART series, debuting in 1984.

In his CART career spanning 18 years, the Pennsylvania-born racer won 42 races. In 1991, his seventh year in the series, Andretti won the championship in a tight title fight against Bobby Rahal.

Two years after the championship high, he joined Formula 1 to race for McLaren. However, 1993 was his only year in the category. Andretti only took part in ten races and scored a meager 7 points compared to his legendary teammate Ayrton Senna's 73 points.

#1 Mario Andretti

Mario Andretti at the 107TH Running of the Indianapolis 500 - Practice and Qualifying - Source: Getty

Mario Andretti is hailed as the greatest American racing driver of all time and one of the most successful drivers to conquer both open-wheel racing worlds. After his IndyCar debut in 1964, he became a dominant force, winning two consecutive championships in 1965 and 1966 before making it three in 1969.

In his third championship year, Andretti also won the Indy 500 starting from second on the grid, leading 116 out of the 200 laps. During these years, he also dipped his feet in F1, occasionally racing for Lotus and Ferrari. In 1971, despite not being a full-time F1 driver, he won two races with Ferrari.

However, he couldn't repeat this success when he joined the category full-time with Parnelli in 1975. But when the American team exited F1 in 1976, Andretti returned to familiar territory with Lotus, with whom he won his only championship in 1978.