Tony Kanaan
Autor: Voando baixo com André Estiano | Publicado: 2012-06-07T06:42:00-07:00


He began his career in karting, with eight years of age. Accumulated five Paulista Championship titles and a Brazilian Champion. After two years of successful national championships in Formula Ford and Formula Chevrolet, Tony went to Europe to race in Formula Opel European championship. Participated in the Italian championship Alfa Boxer, sagrando a champion.Then went to the Italian Formula 3, winning nine podiums. In 1996, only 21 years old, joined the team Tasman Championship PPG Firestone Indy Lights. In his first season, won the runner-up, and has been selected as "Rookie of the Year" ("Rookie of the Year"). In 1997, Tony chose to continue in the same category, to acquire more experience and became champion.In 1998 he was hired by Steve Horne, owner of the Tasman team to be the only driver that season. Scored eleven times in 19 starts, earned two podium finishes, and finished in 9th place in the championship. Brazil was the best of the season, and have won the title of "Rookie of the Year."In 1999, he finished the championship in 11th place. After two years competing for Forsythe Championship Racing (formerly Tasman) in 2000, Tony began his third season in CART behind the wheel of Mo Nunn Racing Reynard Mercedes-Benz, number 55.The year 2000 was not one of the best for Tony, it suffered a practice crash rating in Detroit, getting out of four races and finishing the year in 19th place. Nevertheless, it was top with Mercedes engines at the end of the season.In 2001, the first time after three years, Tony went to a teammate, the Formula CART champion Alex Zanardi. In 2002, still in the Mo Nunn Racing, completed a victory and four poles in CART. Ended the 2003 season in 4th place with 476 points against 507 champion Scott Dixon. the same year, Tony as other pilots made a cameo in the film Speed.In 2004, with three victories and 15 races in the top 5, Tony won the most important title of his career, a place with 618 points. Besides being the Indy Racing League champion, set records of the class, completing all 3,305 laps of the entire season, did the most laps in the lead, and for 15 consecutive race finished in the top 5.In 2005, Tony was in 2nd place with 548 points. There were two wins (Kansas and Sonoma), beyond the pole position of the Indianapolis 500.Tony suffered a serious accident at Grand Prix Edmonton 2009: after an accident, his car burst into flames before he could get out of it. Tony just came out with burns on his nose.In 2010 he made his last season for Andretti Autosport. With the departure of its main sponsor to 7 Eleven, Tony had to leave the team. Now looking for a new team to follow in the category in 2011.In 2011, Tony Kanaan has reached a deal with De Ferran Luczo Dragon Racing, but eventually signed definitively and for all races of the season with KV Racing. In the first race of the year in Saint Petersburg, Florida (USA), Tony won an honorable and important 3rd place on the podium.[Edit] LifestyleTony Kanaan is a frequent practitioner of triathlon. The Bahia is considered one of the three pilots better prepared physically Indy grid. Combining the need for a strong preparation for the wear on the slopes above 350 km / h and passion for cycling, Kanaan began adding triathlon competitions often on your calendar. She has participated in several Ironman 70.3, and completed the most amazing challenge of his life outside of racing, the Ironman Triathlon in Hawaii, with a time of 12 hours, 52 minutes and 40 seconds (a respectable time for an amateur in his first time in this competition).