Kanaan was very thoughtful during his retirement press conference. Photo: IndyCar
This upcoming May, Tony Kanaan will take part in his final Indianapolis 500. It will be his 22nd attempt at the famous race, and it will likely be his last chance to earn a second coveted position on the Borg-Warner Trophy.
Nothing is absolutely certain of course, Kanaan announced his final season would be in 2020 after all, but his announcement this week struck a tone of a man who was more sure of his decision than in the past.
The veteran was very thoughtful during the media availability around his announcement, and referenced the good times he has had in the sport almost as if he were already seeing his entire career in the mirror.
He covered everything from his earliest racing days with his dad, through his decision to chase his dream after his dad passed, to speaking zero English when he first arrived in America, to eventually raising a family in Indianapolis.
The 48-year-old also fondly described his more recent endeavors, including his racing career shifting into a part-time commitment and his podium finish at his most recent Indy 500.
Kanaan has one more race ahead of him though, and he is proud of the fact that he is choosing to leave on his own terms and with a real chance to win his final race.
“You don’t,” said Kanaan when asked how he prepared to leave the sport he’s been a part of for 25 year. “You’re never ready for this. But you got to weigh your options.
“I went from a full-time to a part-time. You’re 48. You had a great career. As much as you don’t want to go, it’s there. If you’re smart, you make the right decisions at the right time.
Kanaan led six laps and finished in third during last year’s Indy 500. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
“I came to this sport to win everything I could and to do the best I could. I would hate to be coming to this place just to participate. So you weigh your opportunities.
“I think it’s going to get more difficult from now on. I’m at peace in my decision. I have a great team behind me. I think I had a great career. I have a really good shot of winning this thing. If I win, might be sitting here again next year. You never know.”
Kanaan will be driving the #66 car as Arrow McLaren’s fourth entry in the 500, adding yet another legendary team to his lengthy resume.
With as well as the team has done in recent years, and with Kanaan’s extensive experience behind the wheel, he has actual ambitions to earn his second Indy 500 win in this, his 22nd attempt.
The Brazilian went on to describe all the different considerations that went into the decision for this to be his final outing in the NTT IndyCar Series.
“We’re in the sport that you have to perform. Unfortunately or not, we’re all judged by our last result. That can drive you up or can drive you down, right? Let’s be real here. If I hadn’t done what I did last year, probably would have been my final one.
“That’s why I didn’t make any announcement. That was exactly what I thought. Then you go out and you fight for the lead and you fight for the win until the last lap, then you’re on a high. Then you get an invitation from a very good team to do it.
“I said, ‘You know what, if I win, Zak [Brown] is going to have a problem,’ but also I can look around and say, ‘All right, well, I said it was the last one. I’m happy with that.’ I’ll just come back here the following year to grab my Baby Borg in front of everybody and say, ‘Guys, have fun.’
Kanaan is a favorite among young and old fans alike. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
“I’m 48, although we keep saying we’re young. I’ve been doing part-time races for the last four years now. Let’s face it, I’m not going to get a full-time job in a top team right now. We have some young guns, these kids are unbelievable.
“I know people kept saying that for years and years. The old guys are still performing, which is good for us. Every time Helio [Castroneves] wins, trust me, as much as I hate the guy, but we fought our entire lives, it’s good, because it shows we can still do it.”
Kanaan has always been one of the most popular drivers on the grid, with fans always cheering for him while he’s on the track and asking for autographs when he steps out of the car.
It will be bittersweet for many when he turns his last lap around IMS, but he wanted to make it clear that he enjoyed every moment of his career, and that his time in IndyCar will stick with him forever.
“I’m not ready, but it’s not a sad story. It’s a really cool one. It’s nice to see how many people appreciate, which I kind of get surprised. You never think about how you set examples. You have your 15-year-old kid saying that he’s proud of you. The story, you can inspire so many people, the fans.
“What IndyCar made me, I’m an IndyCar driver, and I always will be.”
Keyword: An introspective Kanaan reflects on decision to move on from IndyCar