ROC: Montoya, Kanaan for Miami's Race of Champions

Indianapolis 500 winners Juan Pablo Montoya and Tony Kanaan will compete in the Race of Champions in Miami next January. Montoya and Kanaan have been announced to join the likes of IndyCar rival Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ferrari F1 driver Sebastian Vettel, nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen and NASCAR's Kurt Busch in the Jan. 21-22 event.

The home of the Miami Marlins baseball team, Marlins Park stadium, will be the host for event's first visit to America.

"I actually won my first international race in America in Miami, in the Barber Pro Series in 1994," Montoya said. "The Race of Champions is such a unique event, bringing together the top drivers from the main series around the world and from different generations.

"When I was racing in Formula 1, Sebastian Vettel was a young talent in Formula BMW, now he is a four-time world champion. We are all top drivers, all very competitive and with lots of respect for each other."

Kanaan will be contesting the event for the second time, his other appearance made in Paris in 2004, the year he won the IndyCar title.

"I absolutely loved when I raced at the Race Of Champions in France back in 2004 and I always wanted to do it again," Kanaan said. "I live in Miami, so having the race here in my backyard is the perfect opportunity to be part of it and to race against the biggest names from motorsport around the world.

"I’m looking forward to seeing what ROC has put together for us to race at the Marlins Park. ROC is going to be a great addition to the roster of events hosted in Miami."