JOLIET, Ill. -- Juan Pablo Montoya's move to NASCAR could recharge his career as it enhances the sport's diversity efforts and lifts stock-car racing internationally.

The Colombian-born Montoya becomes the first driver to leave Formula One for a full-time NASCAR ride. The move is a coup for a series that traces its origin to moonshiners but longs to grow outside the U.S.

Car owner Chip Ganassi announced Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway that the 30-year-old Montoya will replace Casey Mears next season. Mears is headed to Hendrick Motorsports to replace Brian Vickers, who left to join Team Red Bull.

Montoya is expected to compete in some Busch or Cup races after the Formula One season ends in October.

Montoya comes to NASCAR with minimal stock-car racing experience, but that didn't stop NASCAR president Mike Helton from calling the driver's arrival "historic.''

Montoya has won the Indianapolis 500, an Indy-car series title, and seven Formula One races. His biggest asset, though, is a worldwide fan base and diversity. All 43 drivers in Sunday's race were white and American. Only twice this season has that not true. That's when African-American Bill Lester raced.

The lack of diversity is something actor Michael Clark Duncan noticed as he co-starred in Will Ferrell's upcoming NASCAR-themed comedy movie.

"I was definitely not a NASCAR fan at all because I didn't see too many African-Americans out there,'' he said. "Once I did the movie, I was the only African-American again.''

Montoya becomes the first foreign-born driver to run more than a few races since Brazilian Christian Fittipaldi ran 15 races for Petty Enterprises in 2003.

NASCAR has focused on expanding its fan base the past few years. The series moved a Busch race to Mexico City last year to attract a wider Hispanic audience.