But six years’ later Juan Pablo Montoya’s F1 career has ended with a whimper, not a bang.

The loss of the world’s most exciting driver to a rival series – and the rumours that another may follow - is a blow for the world’s number one motor sport, says Keith Collantine.

Juan Pablo Montoya’s Formula One career was never boring.

When Michael Schumacher was collecting championships for Ferrari with total ease, you could count on Montoya to liven up the races whenever his Williams allowed it.

He lacked finesse, mental discipline and patience. But he made up for it by pulling off some of the most outrageous and unpredictable overtaking moves F1 has ever seen – in cars that really weren’t made for it.

After one such move in 2003 – around the outside of Schumacher at the Nurburgring – Ferrari team chief Ross Brawn slammed Montoya for having “no class”.

But that was exactly why so many people liked Montoya. He would always try to overtake if he could.

And he didn’t toe the PR line - when he felt the stewards were favouring Schumacher, he said it out loud. If other drivers thought he often overstepped the mark, he was a hero to millions of fans who were sick of seeing Ferrari win all the time.

After a slagging match with Williams in 2003 an angry Montoya signed for McLaren, even though he had a year left at Williams.

He has now left F1 in similar circumstances. Unhappy at McLaren, he shocked them by signing for old team boss Chip Ganassi to race in the American NASCAR series (featured in the forthcoming Disney film, Cars).

It’s true that he hasn’t had the results in an uncompetitive McLaren that team mate Raikkonen has.

But in a press conference in Chicago to announce his move, Montoya revealed that a desire to get back to real racing was at the heart of his decision.

He talked about how he had discussed the move with NASCAR legend Casey Mears. Montoya said: “Racing in NASCAR is so close and exciting. ‘I talked to Casey and he said, 'I've done a lot of racing, but I've never had so much fun like here.' That's the reason I came here. I came here to learn and have fun.”

He couldn’t have found a more different motor sport to F1 – NASCAR is designed to create as much racing as possible. The cars are technologically crude and very heavy, they race on ovals, and the organisers regularly bunch the pack together to encourage passing.

As a result, it’s phenomenally popular in America. Montoya is the first truly top-line F1 driver to move to it, and rumours suggest BMW racer Jacques Villeneuve may follow.

The message is loud and clear: if you want racing, go to NASCAR. If you want a procession of expensive cars, like yesterday’s French Grand Prix, watch F1.

The powers-that-be in F1 should think long and hard about that.

Racing round-up

F1, French Grand Prix

Michael Schumacher won a tedious French Grand Prix ahead of Fernando Alonso, cutting the Spaniard’s championship lead to 17 points.

David Coulthard finished out of the points in ninth and Jenson Button’s Honda failed him again.

GP2, French Grand Prix

British championship leader Lewis Hamilton suffered a poor weekend after hitting compatriot Adam Carroll in race one. Ex-F1 drivers Timo Glock and Giorgio Pantano were the race winners.

Hamilton’s lead over Nelson Pquet Jnr in the championship was cut to 17 points.

Indy Racing League, Nashville

A thrilling four-way title fight was set up in Nashville after championship leader Sam Hornish Jnr crashed out. New Zealand’s Scott Dixon won from British team mate Dan Wheldon.

The top four of Hornish, Dixon, Helio Castroneves and Wheldon are covered by just 16 points in the championship.

British Touring Car Championship, Croft

Jason Plato, Matt Neal and James Thompson won a race each. Reigning champion Neal extended his championship lead over Colin Turkington to 39 points.

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