Tony Kanaan finally wins Indy 500
By JIM JOHNSON
ISL Correspondent
INDIANAPOLIS – Tony Kanaan has always done things right and has become a fan favorite in IndyCar. The only thing holding him back? He’s simply never been able to get over the hump and -win the big one,” so to speak.
That changed Sunday. Coming off a restart with three laps to go, Kanaan bolted around defending IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay and held on for his first Indy 500 victory.
-I knew I had to get the lead on the restart because it could be a yellow, which happened to me plenty of times here and it did,” Kanaan said. -When it went yellow (the first time), I wasn’t in the lead, I said, ‘This might be the day. Today might be the day.’”
Hunter-Reay actually knew he was in trouble and said he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time with so few laps left to go in the race.
-Right as I was getting into the tow from the traffic, the yellow came,” he said. -We were leading and the rest is history. When you’re up front leading, especially on a restart, you might as well be driving a bulldozer.”
And it was. Kanaan wiped tears from his eyes during the last laps during the final yellow when 2012’s Indy winner Dario Franchitti crashed.
Rookie Carlos Munoz finished second, Hunter-Reay was third, series points leader Marco Andretti was fourth and Justin Wilson fifth.
Kanaan adds his name to the list of winners of IndyCar’s signature race and most historic events. His name goes in the books with all the legends and winners of 97 Indianapolis 500 races.
-I’ve always admired the legends of this place,” Kanaan said. -I’m glad I’m on the other side and I can put my big nose on that trophy.”
Kanaan became a legend of the Indy 500, in some ways, long before he ever won the race. And he’s led the race nine times during his 12 starts at Indy.
