Tony Kanaan facts for kids

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In this Portuguese name, "Filho" is a generational suffix meaning "son", which is used for someone whose name is the same as their father, like "Jr." in English.

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Tony Kanaan

Tony Kanaan at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2022

Nationality

Brazilian

Born

Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho
31 December 1974 (age 50)
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

IndyCar Series career

296 races run over 23 years

Team(s)

No. 66 (Arrow McLaren)

2022 position

26th

Best finish

1st (2004)

First race

2002 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)

Last race

2023 Indianapolis 500 (Indianapolis)

First win

2003 Purex Dial Indy 200 (Phoenix)

Last win

2014 MAVTV 500 IndyCar World Championships (Fontana)

Wins	Podiums	Poles
16	73	11

Champ Car career

93 races run over 5 years

Years active

1998–2002

Team(s)

Tasman Motorsports (1998)
Forsythe Racing (1999)
Mo Nunn Racing (2000–2002)

Best finish

9th (1998, 2001)

First race

1998 Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami (Homestead)

Last race

2002 Gran Premio Telmex-Gigante (Mexico City)

First win

1999 U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota (Michigan)

Wins	Podiums	Poles
1	6	4

Championship titles

1994
1997
1999
2004
2013
2015

Formula Europa Boxer champion
Indy Lights Series champion
U.S. 500 winner
IndyCar Series champion
Indianapolis 500 winner
Rolex 24 at Daytona overall winner

Awards

1998

2007
2013

CART Championship Series Rookie of the Year
Scott Brayton Award
IndyCar Series Most Popular Driver

Antoine Rizkallah "Tony" Kanaan Filho (born December 31, 1974), often called "TK", is a famous Brazilian racing driver. He is currently the team principal for Arrow McLaren. Tony is well-known for his time racing in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) from 1998 to 2002. He also competed in the IndyCar Series from 2002 until his last race in 2023. Tony won the 2004 IndyCar Series championship and the exciting 2013 Indianapolis 500 race.

Tony Kanaan's Racing Journey

Early Racing Days

Winning in Formula Europa Boxer

Tony Kanaan started his racing career in 1994. He competed in the Formula Europa Boxer series. Tony drove for Cram Competition and won the championship. He achieved this by winning five races that season.

Racing in Italian Formula Three

In 1995, Tony raced in the Italian Formula Three Championship. He drove for Tatuus. Tony won one race and earned nine podium finishes. He ended the season in fifth place with 111 points.

Indy Lights Series

Tony began racing in the Indy Lights series in 1996. He joined the Tasman Motorsports team. He returned to compete in the 1997 season as well.

Racing in CART Series

Tony Kanaan started racing in the CART series in 1998 with Tasman Motorsports. He finished ninth in points that year. Tony also won the Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year Award. In 1999, he joined Forsythe Racing. He earned a pole position at the 1999 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Tony also won the Michigan 500 race. He finished the season in 11th place.

In 2000, Tony moved to Mo Nunn Racing. His best results were three eighth-place finishes. These happened at the Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix, the Motorola 220, and the Honda Indy 300. He finished the season in 19th place.

Tony stayed with Mo Nunn Racing for the 2001 season. He earned his first podium finish since his win in Michigan in 1999. Tony also started from the pole position at the Target Grand Prix. He finished the season ranked ninth.

In 2002, Tony's best start was second place at the Bridgestone Potenza 500. His best finish in the early races was 15th. Later in the season, Tony and Mo Nunn Racing changed their car chassis. Tony earned pole positions at the Grand Prix Americas and The 500. He also finished third at the Molson Indy Vancouver and Molson Indy Montreal. Tony finished the 2002 season in 12th place.

IndyCar Series Success

In 2002, Tony Kanaan and Mo Nunn Racing also raced in the IndyCar Series. They entered just one race, the 2002 Indianapolis 500. Tony was the fastest rookie, starting in fifth place. He led for 23 laps. However, an oil leak on the track caused him to crash. He finished 28th in that race.

In 2003, Tony joined Andretti Green Racing full-time in the IndyCar Series. He won the Purex Dial Indy 200 race, leading for 79 laps. This win put Tony in first place in the points standings. In the 2003 Indianapolis 500, he finished third. Tony ended the 2003 season in fourth place overall.

The car Tony Kanaan used to win the 2004 IndyCar Series championship.

For the 2004 season, Tony continued with Andretti Green Racing. He drove the No. 11 7-Eleven car. He won the Copper World Indy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Tony also won the Bombardier 500 and the Firestone Indy 200. He completed every single lap during the season, all 3,305 of them. His 618 points helped him win the championship.

Tony returned with Andretti Green Racing in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, his only win was at the ABC Supply Company A. J. Foyt 225. Tony's friend, Rubens Barrichello, wore Tony's helmet design during a Formula One race. Tony wore Rubens' helmet during the 2006 Indianapolis 500. They also started a charity together. Tony finished sixth in points in 2006.

Tony Kanaan practicing for the 2007 Indianapolis 500.

Tony Kanaan talking with his teammate Dario Franchitti in 2007.

Tony Kanaan congratulating his teammate Dario Franchitti after winning the 2007 Indianapolis 500.

Tony Kanaan's car on pit lane in 2007.

The 2007 season was Tony Kanaan's best for wins. He won the Indy Japan 300. At the 2007 Indianapolis 500, Tony won the Scott Brayton Award. This award is given for showing great spirit. Tony won four more races that year. Despite winning five races, he finished third in points.

In 2008, Tony continued with Andretti Green Racing. He finished third in points with 513 points.

Tony Kanaan at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2009.

Tony Kanaan raced with Andretti Green Racing again in 2009. He had some bruised ribs after the Indy 500. Even with injuries, Tony did not miss any races. He finished sixth in points that season.

In 2010, Tony continued driving the No. 11 7-Eleven car. In October, he left Andretti after 7-Eleven stopped being his main sponsor. Tony won 14 races and one championship in eight years with Andretti.

Tony then drove for KV Racing Technology-Lotus. He was involved in a big crash in 2011. His car flipped down the track and hit a portable toilet. He finished fifth in points that year.

Tony returned with KV Racing Technology in 2012. He finished second in the oval standings.

In 2013, Tony Kanaan continued with KV Racing Technology. At the 2013 Indianapolis 500, he started in 12th place. Tony moved up through the field and fought for the lead. On lap 197, he passed Ryan Hunter-Reay for the lead. The race finished under a caution flag. Tony won the race, setting a new speed record. He later said, "I was known for not winning and now I am known for winning." Tony tied Sam Hanks as the most experienced driver to win the Indy 500. He finished 11th in points that year. Tony also won the series' Most Popular Driver award.

Tony Kanaan (left) at Texas Motor Speedway in 2019.

In 2014, Tony Kanaan drove for Chip Ganassi Racing. He finished seventh in points, his best result since 2011.

Tony Kanaan in the No. 10 NTT Data IndyCar in 2015.

Tony Kanaan during the 2023 Indianapolis 500, his final IndyCar race.

In 2015, Tony started driving the No. 10 NTT Data Chevy for Ganassi. In 2017, he had his last season with Ganassi. In 2018, Tony drove for A. J. Foyt Racing. In 2018 and 2019, he finished no better than 15th. He announced that 2020 would be his last full-time season. In 2021, he returned to Chip Ganassi Racing for some oval races.

Sports Car Racing

United States Road Racing Championship

Tony Kanaan competed in the United States Road Racing Championship in 1998. He raced only in the 24 Hours of Daytona. Tony drove a Ford Mustang Cobra. He finished 19th in points in the GT1 class.

American Le Mans Series

Tony competed in the American Le Mans Series in 2007. He drove for Andretti Green Racing in the LMP2 class. He shared driving with Bryan Herta and Dario Franchitti at the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring. They won their class and finished second overall. Tony came 17th in points.

He returned in 2008 for Andretti Green Racing. Tony drove at the Monterey Sports Car Championships. His car started fifth in class and won, finishing third overall. Tony finished 22nd in the LMP2 standings.

Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car Series

Tony Kanaan first raced in the Rolex Sports Car Series in 2013. He finished 58th in the DP standings.

Tudor United SportsCar Championship

He first competed in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship for Chip Ganassi Racing. Tony finished 38th in the P class.

24 Hours of Le Mans

Tony Kanaan made his first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017. He drove the #68 Ford GT.

Formula Nippon

Tony Kanaan racing in Japan in 2007.

Tony Kanaan competed in Formula Nippon in 2007. He raced for Kanaan Racing. Tony only competed in one race at the Suzuka Circuit. He finished in sixth place.

Prelude to the Dream

In 2010, Tony Stewart offered the winner of the 2010 Indianapolis 500 a chance to race in his charity event. Tony Kanaan participated after Dario Franchitti chose not to. Tony drove a Cadillac for GRT Race Cars. He represented the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He finished 24th.

Tony returned in 2011 and 2012 for the same charity race.

Touring Car and Stock Car Racing

International Touring Car Championship

In 1996, Tony Kanaan drove an Opel Calibra in a race in Brazil. This was part of the 1996 International Touring Car Championship.

Stock Car Brasil

Tony Kanaan's car in Stock Car Brasil in 2023.

In 2012, Tony Kanaan started racing in Stock Car Brasil. He drove a Peugeot 408. He finished 19th in his first race. He raced full-time in the 2021 season, driving a Toyota Corolla.

Superstar Racing Experience

In 2021, Tony Kanaan entered four races in the Superstar Racing Experience. This is a series where famous drivers compete. His best finishes were seventh place at Stafford and Eldora.

Personal Life

Tony Kanaan has family roots in Lebanon. He was part of a group of close friends who were also CART drivers. This group included Dario Franchitti, Max Papis, and the late Greg Moore.

Tony is also a triathlete. He believes that triathlon training helps him stay in shape for racing. Tony has completed half Ironman competitions. He also competed in the Ironman World Championships in 2011. Tony has been married twice and has four children.

Media Appearances

Film and Television

Tony Kanaan appeared in the 2001 movie Driven. He played himself in a scene where drivers prepare for a race. The movie was about the FedEx CART Championship Series, which Tony was racing in at the time.

The first episode of the TV show IndyCar 36 was about Tony Kanaan. It showed his weekend leading up to a race in St. Petersburg.

Tony also appeared on the TV show Celebrity Family Feud with other drivers.

Racing Record

American Open–Wheel Racing Results

Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires

Year	Team	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Rank	Points
1996	Tasman Motorsports	Lola T96/20	Buick V6	MIA 10	LBH 2	NAZ 12	MIS 17	MIL 7	DET 1	POR 5	CLE 19	TOR 24	TRO 2	VAN 2	LS 1		2nd	113
1997	Tasman Motorsports	Lola T97/20	Buick V6	MIA 6	LBH 5	NAZ 5	SAV 23	STL 10	MIL 3	DET 1	POR 3	TOR 2	TRO 1	VAN 2	LS 2	FON 9	1st	156

CART World Series

Year	Team	No.	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	Rank	Points
1998	Tasman Motorsports	21	Reynard 98i	Honda HRK	MIA 29	MOT 6	LBH 5	NZR 9	RIO 27	STL 24	MIL 17	DET 8	POR 4	CLE 14	TOR 22	MIS 11	MOH 8	ROA 4	VAN 18	LS 3	HOU 3	SRF 7	FON 19			9th	92
1999	Forsythe Racing	44	Reynard 99i	Honda HRS	MIA 21	MOT 6	LBH 22	NZR 23	RIO 5	STL 7	MIL 18	POR 15	CLE 22	ROA 6	TOR 17	MIS 1	DET 6	MOH 23	CHI 11	VAN 9	LS 21	HOU 9	SRF 6	FON 8		11th	85
2000	Mo Nunn Racing	55	Reynard 2Ki	Ilmor-Mercedes-Benz IC108F	MIA 10	LBH 16	RIO 18	MOT 16	NZR 8	MIL 10	DET DNS	POR	CLE	TOR	MIS 24	CHI 16	MOH 13	ROA 8	VAN 14	LS 22	STL 13	HOU 10	SRF 8	FON 18		19th	24
2001	Mo Nunn Racing	55	Reynard 01i	Honda HR-1	MTY 7	LBH 7	TXS NH	NZR 16	MOT 3	MIL 6	DET DNS	POR 24	CLE 16	TOR 10	MIS 21	CHI 8	MOH 5	ROA 12	VAN 4	LAU 7	ROC 8	HOU 12	LS 8	SRF 17	FON 5	9th	93
2002	Mo Nunn Racing	10	Reynard 02i	Honda HR-2	MTY 16	LBH 20	MOT 15																			12th	99
2002	Mo Nunn Racing	10	Lola B02/00	Honda HR-2				MIL 16	LS 12	POR 8	CHI 8	TOR 17	CLE 8	VAN 3	MOH 14	ROA 4	MTL 3	DEN 6	ROC 15	MIA 9	SRF 5	FON 4	MXC 8*			12th	99

IndyCar Series

(key)

Year	Team	No.	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	Rank	Points
2002	Mo Nunn Racing	17	G-Force	Chevrolet	HMS	PHX	FON	NZR	INDY 28	TXS	PPIR	RIR	KAN	NSH	MIS	KTY	STL	CHI	TX2					50th	2
2003	Andretti Green Racing	11	Dallara	Honda	HMS 4	PHX 1	MOT 14	INDY 3	TXS 2	PPIR 2	RIR 5	KAN 4	NSH 9	MIS 16	STL 2	KTY 6	NZR 18	CHI 6	FON 3	TX2 14				4th	476
2004					HMS 8	PHX 1	MOT 2	INDY 2	TXS 1	RIR 5	KAN 3	NSH 1	MIL 4	MIS 2	KTY 5	PPIR 5	NZR 2	CHI 3	FON 2	TX2 2				1st	618
2005					HMS 3	PHX 3	STP 2	MOT 6	INDY 8	TXS 3	RIR 19	KAN 1	NSH 19	MIL 4	MIS 4	KTY 20	PPIR 3	SNM 1	CHI 5	WGL 2	FON 2			2nd	548
2006					HMS 11	STP 3	MOT 3	INDY 5	WGL 11	TXS 7	RIR 18	KAN 5	NSH 12	MIL 1	MIS 4	KTY 5	SNM 11	CHI 7						6th	384
2007					HMS 5	STP 3	MOT 1	KAN 15	INDY 12	MIL 1	TXS 2	IOW 16	RIR 4	WGL 4	NSH 18	MOH 4	MIS 1	KTY 1	SNM 4	DET 1	CHI 6			3rd	576
2008					HMS 8	STP 3	MOT¹ 5	LBH¹ DNP	KAN 2	INDY 29	MIL 3	TXS 5	IOW 18	RIR 1	WGL 3	NSH 4	MOH 7	EDM 9	KTY 8	SNM 3	DET 3	CHI 4		3rd	513
2009					STP 5	LBH 3	KAN 3	INDY 27	MIL 19	TXS 8	IOW 14	RIR 6	WGL 8	TOR 17	EDM 21	KTY 3	MOH 10	SNM 8	CHI 13	MOT 11	HMS 4			6th	386
2010	Andretti Autosport				SAO 10	STP 10	ALA 8	LBH 5	KAN 3	INDY 11	TXS 6	IOW 1	WGL 21	TOR 4	EDM 12	MOH 17	SNM 7	CHI 5	KTY 4	MOT 7	HMS 3			6th	453
2011	KV Racing Technology-Lotus	82			STP 3	ALA 6	LBH 8	SAO 22	INDY 4	TXS 11	TXS 5	MIL 19	IOW 2	TOR 26	EDM 4	MOH 5	NHM 22	SNM 28	BAL 3	MOT 17	KTY 17	LVS² C		5th	366
2012	KV Racing Technology	11	Dallara DW12	Chevrolet	STP 25	ALA 21	LBH 4	SAO 13	INDY 3	DET 6	TXS 11	MIL 2	IOW 3	TOR 4	EDM 18	MOH 6	SNM 10	BAL 20	FON 18					9th	351
2013	KV Racing Technology	11			STP 4	ALA 13	LBH 20	SAO 21	INDY 1	DET 13	DET 12	TXS 3	MIL 10	IOW 3	POC 13	TOR 5	TOR 24	MOH 24	SNM 13	BAL 15	HOU 21	HOU 24	FON 3	11th	397
2014	Chip Ganassi Racing	10			STP 6	LBH 18	ALA 9	IMS 10	INDY 26	DET 3	DET 9	TXS 6	HOU 13	HOU 10	POC 11	IOW 3	TOR 3	TOR 2	MOH 21	MIL 3	SNM 13	FON 1		7th	544
2015					STP 3	NLA 6	LBH 5	ALA 13	IMS 7	INDY 26	DET 20	DET 13	TXS 2	TOR 6	FON 2	MIL 6	IOW 21	MOH 5	POC 19	SNM 4				8th	431
2016					STP 9	PHX 4	LBH 6	ALA 8	IMS 25	INDY 4	DET 9	DET 7	ROA 2	IOW 7	TOR 4	MOH 12	POC 9	TXS 3	WGL 19	SNM 13				7th	461
2017				Honda	STP 12	LBH 15	ALA 7	PHX 6	IMS 20	INDY 5	DET 15	DET 10	TXS 2	ROA 21	IOW 9	TOR 19	MOH 16	POC 5	GTW 16	WGL 20	SNM 16			10th	403
2018	A. J. Foyt Enterprises	14		Chevrolet	STP 11	PHX 8	LBH 8	ALA 18	IMS 14	INDY 25	DET 14	DET 7	TXS 21	ROA 14	IOW 17	TOR 6	MOH 18	POC 17	GTW 13	POR 11	SNM 12			16th	312
2019					STP 15	COA 12	ALA 18	LBH 19	IMS 20	INDY 9	DET 15	DET 22	TXS 16	ROA 21	TOR 17	IOW 10	MOH 20	POC 8	GTW 3	POR 12	LAG 16			15th	304
2020					TXS 10	IMS	ROA	ROA	IOW 18	IOW 11	INDY 19	GTW 9	GTW 19	MOH	MOH	IMS	IMS	STP						24th	106
2021	Chip Ganassi Racing	48		Honda	ALA	STP	TXS 11	TXS 15	IMS	INDY 10	DET	DET	ROA	MOH	TOR	NSH	IMS	GTW 13	POR	LAG	LBH			28th	96
2022	Chip Ganassi Racing	1		Honda	STP	TXS	LBH	ALA	IMS	INDY 3	DET	ROA	MOH	TOR	IOW	IOW	IMS	NSH	GTW	POR	LAG			26th	78
2023	Arrow McLaren	66		Chevrolet	STP	TXS	LBH	ALA	IMS	INDY 16	DET	ROA	MOH	TOR	IOW	IOW	NSH	IMS	GTW	POR	LAG			32nd	18
2025	Arrow McLaren	17		Chevrolet	STP	THE	LBH	ALA	IMS	INDY³ DNS	DET	GTW	ROA	MOH	IOW	IOW	TOR	LAG	POR	MIL	NSH			NC	–

¹ Run on same day.
² The Las Vegas Indy 300 was stopped after Dan Wheldon passed away from injuries in a crash.
³ Tony Kanaan was a backup driver for Kyle Larson. Tony completed a test on May 15, but was not needed on race day.

Years	Teams	Races	Poles	Wins	Top 5s	Top 10s	Indianapolis 500 wins	Championships
14	4	206	11	16	104	141	1 (2013)	1 (2004)

Indianapolis 500

Year	Chassis	Engine	Start	Finish	Team
2002	G-Force	Chevrolet	5	28	Mo Nunn Racing
2003	Dallara	Honda	2	3	Andretti Green Racing
2004	Dallara	Honda	5	2	Andretti Green Racing
2005	Dallara	Honda	1	8	Andretti Green Racing
2006	Dallara	Honda	5	5	Andretti Green Racing
2007	Dallara	Honda	2	12	Andretti Green Racing
2008	Dallara	Honda	6	29	Andretti Green Racing
2009	Dallara	Honda	6	27	Andretti Green Racing
2010	Dallara	Honda	33*	11	Andretti Autosport
2011	Dallara	Honda	22	4	KV Racing Technology
2012	Dallara	Chevrolet	8	3	KV Racing Technology
2013	Dallara	Chevrolet	12	1	KV Racing Technology
2014	Dallara	Chevrolet	16	26	Chip Ganassi Racing
2015	Dallara	Chevrolet	4	26	Chip Ganassi Racing
2016	Dallara	Chevrolet	18	4	Chip Ganassi Racing
2017	Dallara	Honda	7	5	Chip Ganassi Racing
2018	Dallara	Chevrolet	10	25	A. J. Foyt Enterprises
2019	Dallara	Chevrolet	16	9	A. J. Foyt Enterprises
2020	Dallara	Chevrolet	23	19	A. J. Foyt Enterprises
2021	Dallara	Honda	5	10	Chip Ganassi Racing
2022	Dallara	Honda	6	3	Chip Ganassi Racing
2023	Dallara	Chevrolet	9	16	Arrow McLaren
2025	Dallara	Chevrolet	DNS**		Arrow McLaren

2010: Tony Kanaan started 33rd because he switched back to his main car.
2025: Tony Kanaan was a backup driver for Kyle Larson. Tony completed a test on May 15, but was not needed on race day.

24 Hours of Daytona Results

Year	Team	Co-drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1998	Tom Gloy Racing	Mike Borkowski Robbie Buhl	Ford Mustang Cobra	GT1	624	11th	3rd
2013	Dener Motorsport	Rubens Barrichello Nonô Figueiredo Felipe Giaffone Ricardo Maurício	Porsche 911 GT3 Cup	GT	352	46th	28th
2014	Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates	Scott Dixon Kyle Larson Marino Franchitti	Riley Mk. XXVI-Ford	P	667	15th	8th
2015	Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates	Scott Dixon Kyle Larson Jamie McMurray	Riley Mk. XXVI-Ford	P	740	1st	1st
2016	Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates	Scott Dixon Kyle Larson Jamie McMurray	Riley Mk. XXVI-Ford	P	708	13th	7th
2017	Ford Chip Ganassi Racing	Harry Tincknell Andy Priaulx	Ford GT	GTLM	652	9th	5th

Complete American Le Mans Series Results

Year	Entrant	Class	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Rank	Points
2007	Andretti Green Racing	LMP2	Acura ARX-01a	Acura 3.4L V8	SEB 1	STP	LBH	[[2007 Lone Star Grand See also In Spanish: Tony Kanaan para niños

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