Juan Pablo Montoya prepares for Verizon IndyCar Series season with Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race

He's accomplished so much in the racing world that the career goals might change entering the 2016 season.

But that isn't the case.

Juan Pablo Montoya is still about one thing.

"I just want to win races," Montoya said.

This year's Verizon IndyCar Series begins next month in St. Petersburg, with the Firestone Grand Prix. It's a race Montoya won in 2015 en route to finishing second to Scott Dixon for the season points championship.

On Tuesday, Montoya was back in St. Pete to witness the 1.8-mile street course's construction beginning for the March 13 season-opening race.

"It's a really fun street course and it just makes it fun," Montoya said. "It's really challenging. It takes everything out of you to be good there. You really got to execute it. I mean, it's tough. You have to qualify well. You've got to race well. If you do everything right, you've got a shot at it."

Last year, the streets of downtown St. Pete represented one of Montoya's two victories for the season. The other was at the Indianapolis 500. The Indy 500 victory was his second at the famed event as he captured the title back in 2000. During the gap, the Colombian raced in Formula One and NASCAR. And he kept providing solid results. But the allure of racing for Roger Penske's team is what drove Montoya back to the IndyCar circuit.

"That was a dream for me," Montoya said. "When you get an opportunity to race for him, it's pretty special."

Montoya said his relationship with Penske is a friendship with lots of respect for each other.

To repeat at Indy later this year, which is the 100th edition of the race and marks

Penske's 50th year in racing, would be pretty special for Montoya.

"It would be unbelievable," he said. " At the end of the day, you still got to go out there and execute and get the job done."

That begins in March with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Montoya used the opening race last season toward consistent finishes that left him tied with Dixon atop the series points standings. However, Dixon's three victories versus Montoya's two was the deciding tiebreaker in who won the championship.

"I've done it before, so I'm not too worried about it," Montoya said. "I think it's just a matter of (racing) well through the year and give yourself a shot."

Montoya played soccer, tennis and other sports growing up in Colombia. But it was his ability behind a wheel that started with go-karts that he gravitated toward. Even then, there never was a moment that just clicked for Montoya on being a world class driver.

"Even when you make it, at that point you still hope you run good enough to stay there," Montoya said. "It's always a challenge."

Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017. Follow him on Twitter @Jason__Dill and like his Facebook page at Jason Dill Bradenton Herald.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Juan Pablo Montoya prepares for Verizon IndyCar Series season with Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg race ."