During a press conference yesterday to announce that 2020 will be the last year he will compete in IndyCar, Tony Kanaan expressed his continued passion for the sport and gave hints about the next chapter of his career.
“I live INDYCAR, I love INDYCAR,” said Kanaan. “I want to be involved. I still want to do — I still want to race. I’m still capable. I’m in the best shape of my life.”
After struggling for the past few seasons, Kanaan was unable to secure sponsorship for the entire season and will only contest the five oval courses on this year’s schedule driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises.
“We decided that this year I’m only going to do five races. I’m doing the ovals only. Not by choice.
“Obviously, we’ve been working together through all this winter with IndyCar, with my sponsors, the team, trying to get the funding to do a full season, but unfortunately, we came short.”
Fans will notice some familiar livery on the #14 this season, as a few of Kanaan’s major sponsors over the years including 7-Eleven and ABC Supply Co. have given their support to the veteran in his final season.
Kanaan admitted that although he still wanted to be in the car full-time, he has accepted that after 23 years at the top level of American open-wheel racing it was time to make way for some of the young talent.
When asked about what his future holds, Kanaan revealed that he has already been in discussions to continue racing after this year.
“First of all, I still can drive. We’ve been in talks. We’ve been in talks with IMSA and a bunch of other series. Even Formula E, you talk about stock car in Brazil.
“Now I think I can do all those things.”
Over the years Kanaan became known for his fair yet aggressive driving style. He learned to embrace his reputation and has no plans to change anytime soon.
“I was always on the attack. I had to be extremely determined, and I’ve learned from the get-go, when it’s green, it’s green. You’re going. You’re going after what you want.
“It’s something that I think that’s the way I lived my life, my entire life, not just my racing career, very intense.
“[I’m] excited for the future. It’s the unknown, what’s going to happen, opportunities that will come, and we’ll see.”
