Indefinite retirement looms for racing great

1 year ago 53

IndyCar's oldest operator Tony Kanaan isn't acceptable to discontinue conscionable yet.

A seasoned of 21 starts successful the Indianapolis 500 and 22 seasons of IndyCar, the 49-year-old is simply a bonafide bid stalwart.

Kanaan's illustrious vocation includes winning the 2004 IndyCar Series rubric with the Andretti household arsenic good arsenic the 2013 Indianapolis 500 with Australian squad proprietor Kevin Kalkhoven.

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Although nary longer full-time successful the series, Kanaan remains an yearly fixture connected the grid astatine the famed Brickyard.

However, this year's contention could beryllium to beryllium his past unless helium tin unafraid a thrust for 2024.

He'll articulation McLaren successful the 2023 edition, but beyond that, there's nary warrant he'll beryllium with the team.

McLaren has already committed to a four-car programme adjacent year.

Alexander Rossi and Pato O'Ward are acceptable to pb that effort with Alex Palou expected to determination crossed from Chip Ganassi Racing and regenerate Felix Rosenqvist full-time.

The further introduction volition beryllium driven by NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, meaning that unless McLaren throws a 5th car successful the premix past Kanaan volition beryllium looking elsewhere for a drive.

"(Scott) Dixon makes amusive of maine until this day, that this is the last, last, last, past lap, the precise past lap, what it is," Kanaan laughed.

"So the reply honestly volition beryllium I deliberation I volition decidedly marque a decision, which is not conscionable each up to me.

"I mean, it's up to maine if I accidental this is it, but if not, I deliberation I'll marque the determination erstwhile we transverse the start-finish enactment connected that Sunday.

"When I win, if I win, I'll enactment everybody connected the spot and I'll say, 'I'm coming back'. This is precisely what happened past year.

"Right present I deliberation the absorption is this 500. I'm not going to enactment retired determination this is what I'm doing. It's just, fto it be."

In 2022, helium finished 3rd and relit his tendency to proceed racing.

It followed a lengthy adust spell for Kanaan astatine the Indianapolis 500.

After his 2013 triumph, the Brazilian lone finished successful the apical 5 doubly earlier his podium past year.

In immoderate case, Kanaan is lone funny successful a thrust that helium knows is susceptible of having him successful contention for victory.

"No disrespect for immoderate teams – due to the fact that I deliberation we person a beauteous bully radical of teams that tin triumph the 500 – but astatine this point, if I don't deliberation it's the close accidental for maine past I wouldn't bash it," helium explained.

"I don't privation to beryllium astatine the 500 conscionable to participate. Actually, adjacent past twelvemonth that was portion of my determination erstwhile I said, 'I privation to travel backmost this year'.

"I mean, winning, it's all. I would alternatively spot a young weapon coming in, taking spot for his archetypal Indy 500, than maine conscionable participating conscionable to adhd a car."

Most of Kanaan's beingness has been spent racing and fractional of it has been successful IndyCar.

One happening ne'er changes, and that's the thrill of racing. However, arsenic the years spell by and helium nears 50, the inevitable questions come.

"When you commencement coming up to my age, which is 48, by the way, radical inquire you that question. People uncertainty you. People say, 'maybe is it time?' All those questions," said Kanaan.

"The lone mode to reassure adjacent yourself – due to the fact that I'm not going to accidental that you don't question yourself, is it clip oregon americium I inactive up to it? – you person a effect similar we did past twelvemonth and it's like, 'wow, you cognize what? Come on, I cognize I tin bash it'.

"That weighs a lot, also, successful a batch of my decisions going forward.

"I cognize thing tin hap successful the 500, but arsenic agelong arsenic I person it successful my caput that I americium competitive, it doesn't substance if I decorativeness 3rd oregon if I could adhd one, but if I deliberation I inactive person the anticipation to win, I volition support trying.

"But besides I request different radical to spot that, sponsors and, let's look it, I'm not going to get a thrust if determination is 1 spot that is going to beryllium a one-off.

"I'm not coming backmost to bash a afloat play again anyway."

And what if it doesn't each travel unneurotic for 2024?

"I ever said, you privation to retire, you don't privation idiosyncratic to discontinue you," helium explained.

"You spot it. You spot it successful each sport. Not galore times apical guys retiring came back, due to the fact that you don't cognize however to fto it go.

"Then you person examples similar maine and Helio (Castroneves) who are 48 and Dixon who's successful his 40s and still, I privation to travel back, I cognize I tin bash this.

"I was astatine bid with myself 3 years agone erstwhile I made that decision, truthful present I'm conscionable riding it because, hey, I'm a contention car driver. Going to springiness maine a contention car to drive, I'm jumping in.

"But no… I won't beryllium bittersweet if this would beryllium my past one."

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