INDYCAR: Project 2016 - Juan Montoya

RACER talks with some of the likely contenders for this year's Verizon IndyCar Series championship about how they're approaching the coming season.

Don't bother asking Team Penske's Juan Montoya about goal-setting. The 1999 CART IndyCar Series champion is rarely lacking in strong opinions, and when it comes to discussing any goals he may have for the upcoming season – areas he wants to improve – the cantankerous Colombian's views, like his stature, are delightfully short and pointed.

"I don't believe in goals. Goals are bulls**t," the defending Indy 500 winner told RACER.

The 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series runner-up is among the sport's greatest natural talents. His canny wit and intelligence is always present, but when it's time to strap in and race, Montoya says his instincts, rather than preset goals and milestones for the task ahead, will steer him in the right direction.

"You do what you can and see what comes out of it," he added. "Of course you go into every weekend and want to win, but there's no kind of super plan that's going to get you there. You just want to beat the s**t out of everybody, you know?

"You have to. You go there and do the best you can. If you can't, you've gotta figure out what's missing and work on it. And if you beat the hell out of everybody, you've gotta figure out how to do it again. You don't want to overthink it. You've just gotta do it."

Montoya, 40, led the points from the start of last season where he won at St. Petersburg, won again at Indy, and sat atop the point standings until the end of the final event at Sonoma Raceway. By the numbers, his average starting position (6.4) and average finishing position (6.9) were impressive. Eventual champion Scott Dixon (6.1, 7.7) trailed Montoya in the latter category, and despite the two drivers ending the season tied on points, Dixon earned the title based on having more wins (3 to 2).

Montoya came up short by the slimmest of margins – which, he says, makes finding shortcomings more of a challenge to identify.

"Last year was a good year; we were fast. If we can be as good as last year, all I'd want to do is win more races," said the goalless Colombian. "We were close to a few more wins, but it is what it is. We're well prepared, but as good as we had it last year, it makes it hard to find things to do better. All you can do is continue the next year, do your best, and see where it takes you."

• Project 2016 - Scott Dixon