Tony Kanaan interview: On IndyCar, sportscars and career longevity

IndyCar legend Tony Kanaan spoke to FanSided about his 2017 season, racing the 24 Hours of Le Mans and enjoying 20 years of open-wheel competition.

Tony Kanaan is one of the biggest names in IndyCar. He’s a series champion, an Indy 500 winner and in 2017, is celebrating his 20th year in racing.

Yet where other drivers might be tempted to retire, TK remains one of the toughest competitors in his field. He finished second in a hard-fought Texas race and recently returned from driving in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans.

FanSided spoke to Tony Kanaan just after his return from France to discuss his still very busy schedule, why so many IndyCar drivers also find enjoyment in sportscar racing, and how he looks back on his two decades of success — and counting.

TK certainly had his hands full recently; not only was IndyCar running four races in the span of just a few weeks between the Indy 500, Dual in Detroit and Texas, but he had to fly to Le Mans. What was that impossible schedule like?

“Obviously it’s a good problem to have,” Kanaan laughed, “But for sure I’m feeling the time change and all these races. The last 45 days, since the beginning of May, I slept two nights in my house.

“So it’s been really crazy but it’s alright. We get used to it.”

He’s one of many IndyCar drivers, including teammate Scott Dixon as well as Graham Rahal, Sebastien Bourdais, Mikhail Aleshin and Simon Pagenaud, who have participated in sportscar races along with their open-wheel duties. We asked Tony what about sportscar racing appeals to him and his colleagues.

“I think as a race car driver, if anyone gives you an opportunity to drive something different and cool you’re going to do it,” Kanaan explained. “But for me it’s something I’m looking towards in the future. I think once my IndyCar career is over, that’s where I want to be.

“So for sure having the opportunity to do a little bit before I make a full transition is good, because I get the experience and to get to know some of the tracks. I’ve never been to Le Mans, so it was a good experience for me to get.”

Hopefully it will be a few more years before Tony Kanaan leaves IndyCar, because he’s still one of the top drivers in the league. He earned his first podium of the 2017 IndyCar season at Texas and is hoping for more in this weekend’s Iowa Corn 300.

“You’ve just got to keep the momentum,” he said. “The team’s morale is up. We just had our best result of the year. So that’s all we’ve got to do. We’ve got to keep digging and keep trying to win races.”

The entire Chip Ganassi Racing organization has looked fast in 2017, highlighted by Dixon’s win at Road America and Max Chilton’s career best finish at Indianapolis. What does Tony Kanaan attribute the extra speed to?

“The new aero kit and the new engine with the Hondas helped us out,” he said, “but it was [also] a lot of hard work over the winter to raise the bar, so I think it’s a combination of both.”

Kanaan currently sits within the Top 10 for another IndyCar championship. But wherever he ends up finishing, this season will be memorable for him because both he and Helio Castroneves are in their 20th year. How does he feel about reaching such a milestone?

“It’s overwhelming sometimes,” he admitted, “but it’s a nice thing to hear. I’ve been around for a long time and I do have a job so I’m good. It’s a great feeling and I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can, because every year that goes by, it’s one more year I have under my belt and one less year that I have to race.

“It’s a huge accomplishment and that’s why we’re celebrating a lot. Every race, we try to give back to the fans and celebrate a little bit.”

What’s the one piece of wisdom Kanaan would pass on to the other drivers hoping to reach 20 years in IndyCar?

“I would say one of the best things I’ve learned is … not trying to worry about things I have no control over,” he reflected. “I think over the years, you start to realize sometimes you waste your energy on things that you can’t control.”

Tony Kanaan is firmly in control of his own destiny in the second half of the Verizon IndyCar Series season. Perhaps he’ll celebrate his 20th year with a trip to Victory Lane or, better yet, a new Astor Cup for another championship title.

Next: Max Chilton talks about his Indy 500 success

Fans can watch Kanaan in the Iowa Corn 300 this Sunday, July 9 on NBCSN. For the latest news from throughout IndyCar, follow the Motor Sports category at FanSided here.