Kanaan believes the highlight of his season is at one time or another, he was running in the top 10 throughout each and every race. He may not have finished in the top 10, but he spent a majority each the race competing in the top 10.
“The highlight I think was Indy when we started all the way back there, were running in the top 10 pretty much all day until we had an issue on the last stop,” Kanaan recalled. “I would say it was a very consistent season, if I can call that a season, with the five races that I did.”
This was supposed to be a year full of fanfare and celebration. Then came COVID-19, and the fans weren’t allowed to get close to their favorite drivers or even allowed to attend many of the races.
“It was nothing like I had planned,” Kanaan said. “I had a lot of plans to enjoy with the sponsors, the fans, everybody else. I would say the highlight was just to be a part of it.
I think after 23 years I feel pretty fortunate to be able to do this. It was my 384th start in IndyCar, second of all time. I have no room to complain.
“I had a good run. I made good friends. I appreciate just to be part of it. If I’m able to move forward, fine. If not, it is what it is. I had a good run.”
Kanaan will be remembered as a fierce, hard-nosed, tough guy on the race track. As he was preparing to climb into his car for Sunday’s race, rival drivers and opposing team members came up to say goodbye to Kanaan. Some put their arms around the Brazilian driver. Others gave him a hug.
It was completely impromptu.
“It was weird, man,” Kanaan admitted. “It was really tough. I wasn’t expecting that. Without the fans and people that could get access to us, I thought it was going to be a lot easier because there would be less people.
“It was tough. Especially when you have the adrenaline kicking in right before the race. You try to, like, concentrate. It was hard. I obviously got extremely emotional. But it’s nice. I didn’t expect that, I didn’t plan it.
“I’m not a type of person that needs attention or wants that attention, but it was really cool to see how people appreciate what I’ve done to the sport. It was cool. It was good to get a hug from a lot of my friends, a lot of the drivers. My engineer, Eric Cowdin, came in and I made him cry. The last time I made him cry was when we won the Indy 500.
“I was making fun of him. It was really cool.”
Sunday’s race winner, Josef Newgarden, is optimistic Kanaan will be on the starting grid for next year’s Indianapolis 500, he just doesn’t know whose car he will be in.
“I don’t believe Tony,” Josef Newgarden said. “I think we’ll see him at the 500. He has too many fans, he’s too good there. I think we’ll see him in May, which is very good.
“What’s always stuck with me is the gratitude that the fans have shown Tony at the Indy 500. Whenever you hear Tony announced, it’s quite amazing to see the response he gets. I think that speaks to what he’s done in his career, trying to make the fans very inclusive, being gracious to the fans, just really doing a great job of being an ambassador for IndyCar. He’s been one of the best.
“That’s what I’ll remember him for is his cheers. He’s one of the best that’s ever done it, always represented the sport very well. Like I said, that’s what I’ll remember him the most for.”