Kanaan lets emotions loose after 3rd-place finish at Indy

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Tony Kanaan celebrated another Indianapolis 500 begin Sunday as the group roared,.

One other shut name left him emotional as he took maybe his last lap on Indy’s historic 2.5-mile oval.

The favored 47-year-old Brazilian isn’t certain what comes subsequent — a return in in 2023 or or whether or not it’s time to name it a profession. Clearly, Kanaan is torn.

“It’s so lame that individuals suppose we’re outdated at 47, we are able to’t drive anymore. It’s crap,” he stated. “To return again right here, particularly within the final two years with the crew that I’m at, if it’s not there, I’m going to judge my probabilities. I don’t wish to simply be right here to take part. I’ve carried out that loads of occasions.”

Kanaan’s future has been debated ever since he introduced a farewell tour in January 2020.

However when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the five hundred was moved to August and run in entrance of empty grandstands, Kanaan determined he owed it to followers to offer it another shot. He returned with Chip Ganassi Racing final yr and secured sufficient funding to run as soon as extra this yr.

At testing in April, he acknowledged he wouldn’t announce any extra retirement plans after suspending them twice and whereas third-place end Sunday had followers pondering he would possibly exit with a second Indy win it could have been his final greatest probability.

On Thursday, Kanaan talked concerning the mentors who helped him turn out to be the motive force and individual he’s who helped him be taught English and his want to remain in form to defy the critics. And he defined why these previous couple of years meant a lot to him and his household.

“It conjures up me that my children perceive what this place means, to see me profitable once more,” he stated within the lead as much as the race. “I feel really what I simply stated there, I’m in all probability driving extra for them than myself at this level. I’ve carried out all the pieces I’ve needed to do, am in a extremely good place in life.“

As Sunday confirmed, Kanaan hasn’t misplaced his contact.

Tony Kanaan, entrance, of Brazil, will get a hug from an engineer following the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, Might 29, 2022, in Indianapolis.

He certified sixth, completed third and was in place to win his second 500 when the race restarted with two laps left. He simply didn’t have enoughttime to move Marcus Ericsson or Pato O’Ward.

Two different earlier champions of their 40s additionally fared properly. 4-time winner and 2021 champ Helio Castroneves began twenty seventh and completed seventh. Two-time winner Juan Pablo Montoya wound up eleventh after qualifying thirtieth. All three might nonetheless be competing subsequent Might.

Or maybe, Kanaan was simply savoring the group’s sendoff.

“After all I informed them, ‘Guys, I attempted, I’m sorry, I did my greatest, thanks very a lot for all the pieces,’“ Kanaan stated. “It was somewhat little bit of a flashback, pondering perhaps that was the final time I turned some laps round this place, as properly. It was a mixture of all the pieces.”

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Extra AP Indy 500 protection: https://apnews.com/hub/indianapolis-500 and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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