Antoine Rizkallah "Tony" Kanaan Filho (born 31 December 1974), nicknamed "TK", is a Brazilian retired racing driver who is the team principal of Arrow McLaren. He is best known for racing in Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) from 1998 to 2002, and the IndyCar Series from 2002 to 2023. He is the 2004 IndyCar Series champion, and the 2013 Indianapolis 500 champion.
Karting and junior formula racing
Kanaan debuted in karting at the age of eight. He won multiple São Paulo championships from 1988 to 1990, and also won the Brazilian junior karting championship in 1988. He jumped to formula racing in 1991, finishing 6th in points at the Brazilian Formula Ford 1600. He also won the inaugural race at Ayrton Senna's kartodrome in Tatuí. The following year he finished 5th at the Brazilian Formula Chevrolet.
In 1993, Kanaan competed in the Formula Opel Euroseries, where he placed 10th; he also finished third in the 1993 EFDA Nations Cup with teammate Luiz Garcia Jr. In 1994 he entered the Formula Europa Boxer, where he claimed the title with five wins. In 1995, Kanaan competed in the Italian Formula Three Championship for Tatuus in a Dallara 395-Opel. He won a race and secured nine podiums to rank fifth in points.
Kanaan left Europe for North America in 1996 to race at Indy Lights for Tasman Motorsports, becoming runner-up with two wins and three second pace finishes. He won the title in 1997 with two wins and seven podiums.
Championship Auto Racing Teams
Kanaan began to compete in CART in 1998 for Tasman Motorsports. He finishing out the season ranked ninth in points, with two podiums, and won the Jim Trueman Rookie of the Year award. In 1999, he signed to drive for Forsythe, and won the pole at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach as well as the U.S. 500 to finish the season ranked 11th.
In 2000, Kanaan moved to Mo Nunn Racing. His best results were a trio of eighth place finishes at the Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix at Nazareth Speedway, the Motorola 220 at Road America and the Honda Indy 300 on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit. He finished the season ranked nineteenth.
Kanaan stayed with Mo Nunn Racing for the 2001 season. He got his first podium since winning at Michigan in 1999. Kanaan later qualified on the pole position at the Target Grand Prix at Chicago Motor Speedway. He finished the season ranked ninth.
In 2002, Kanaan's highlight through the first three races of the season was a second-place start at the Bridgestone Potenza 500 at Twin Ring Motegi. Kanaan's best finish in these races was fifteenth at Motegi. At the Miller Lite 250 at the Milwaukee Mile, Kanaan and Mo Nunn Racing switched chassis types to the Lola B02/00. Kanaan qualified on the pole position at both the Grand Prix Americas at Bayfront Park and The 500 Presented by Toyota at California Speedway, and finished third at both the Molson Indy Vancouver on the Streets of Vancouver and the Molson Indy Montreal at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Kanaan finished the season in 12th.
In 2002, Kanaan and Mo Nunn Racing competed in the Indy Racing League (IRL), making a one-off entry into the Indianapolis 500. Kanaan was the highest-starting rookie in the race, qualifying in fifth place. During the race, Kanaan led for 23 laps, when on lap ninety both Jimmy Vasser and Bruno Junqueira had mechanical problems, slowing on the track. An oil leak on the track was not caught by IRL officials and Kanaan crashed, finishing 28th.
In 2003, Kanaan joined IRL full-time, signing with Andretti Green Racing. Kanaan won the Purex Dial Indy 200 after leading for 79 laps. The victory moved Kanaan to first in the point standings. In the Indianapolis 500 finished third behind Gil de Ferran and Hélio Castroneves. Kanaan finished the season ranked fourth.
In 2004, Kanaan returned with Andretti Green Racing to drive the No. 11 7-Eleven Dallara IR03-Ilmor-Honda Indy V8 HI4R. He won the Copper World Indy 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. Kanaan won the Bombardier 500 at Texas Motor Speedway and the Firestone Indy 200 at Nashville Superspeedway. Kanaan completed all 3,305 laps during the season. His 618 points secured the championship.
For 2005, Kanaan returned with Andretti Green Racing in the No. 11 7-Eleven Dallara IR05-Ilmor-Honda Indy V8 HI4R.
Kanaan returned with Andretti Green Racing in the No. 11 7-Eleven Dallara IR05-Ilmor-Honda Indy V8 HI4R in 2006. Kanaan's only win was at the ABC Supply Company A. J. Foyt 225 at the Milwaukee Mile. On 28 May, Kanaan's friend Rubens Barrichello wore Kanaan's helmet livery during the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and Kanaan wore Barrichello's helmet during the Indianapolis 500. The pair created a charity offering financial and technical aid to institutions within the voluntary sector, the Barrichello Kanaan Institute. Kanaan had an issue with another friends and former teammate from his time at Tasman Motorsports, Hélio Castroneves. Kanaan and Castroneves had developed an intense rivalry that resulted in hard feelings. Castroneves accused Kanaan of costing him the 2006 series championship by racing him too hard for position in the final race. Kanaan countered that he was not paid to let other people pass him for the position. Kanaan finished sixth with 384 points.
Kanaan had his winningest season during 2007 in the No. 11 7-Eleven Dallara IR5-Honda Indy V8 HI7R for Andretti Green Racing. Kanaan won the Indy Japan 300 at Twin Ring Motegi. At the Indianapolis 500 Kanaan won the Scott Brayton Award for showing the spirit of the late Scott Brayton, who was killed while practicing for the 1996 Indianapolis 500. After a complicated race with cautions and a temporary stop, Kanaan was often referred to, along with team owner Michael Andretti, as one of the best drivers never to win the Indianapolis 500. Kanaan won the ABC Supply Company A. J. Foyt 225. Kanaan won again at the Firestone Indy 400. Kanaan dominated the following race, the Meijer Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway. Kanaan's fifth win came at the Detroit Indy Grand Prix. Kanaan infamously got into a fight with Hornish that eventually involved Michael Andretti and fifteen to twenty others. Despite winning a season-high number of races (five) Kanaan finished third in points, behind Franchitti and Dixon.
In 2008, Kanaan returned with Andretti Green Racing in the No. 11 7-Eleven Dallara IR5-Honda Indy V8 HI7R. Kanaan rose above the controversy to finish third in points with 513 points.
Kanaan returned with Andretti Green Racing for 2009 in the No. 11 7-Eleven Dallara IR5-Honda Indy V8 HI7R. Kanaan suffered bruised ribs in Indy 500. Despite the injuries, Kanaan did not miss any races. Kanaan finished sixth in points with 386 points.