Us Ace Kanaan To Get Bar Test

[Senna 0]

US ACE KANAAN TO GET BAR TEST

ITV

Reigning Indy Racing League champion Tony Kanaan will test for the BAR-Honda team at Jerez next week in recognition of his achievements for the Japanese car-maker in US motorsport.

The team confirmed on Tuesday that the 30-year-old Brazilian will join BAR in Spain for its final test of the season.

"I feel honoured to have this opportunity," said Kanaan.

"My relationship with Honda is quite long-standing and having this chance means a lot to me.

"Honda is and will always be part of my life. We did a great job together last year and this is recognition of the really hard work that went into that."

Honda, which powered Kanaan and the Andretti Green Racing team to the IRL title in 2004, said that the test was a reward for last year.

Kanaan set several records in his championship season including the most points in a single season (618), highest number of top five finishes (15) and number of laps led (889).

Former rival and now BAR sporting director Gil de Ferran commented, "I was aware of Tony's close relationship with Honda whilst we were competing against each other in the United States and using the same Honda engines.

"I am very pleased that we are able to give Tony his first taste of an F1 car and it will certainly be an honour for us to run a reigning champion from the extended Honda Racing family."

BAR has also confirmed that it has signed long-term agreements with two more members of the team's Young Driver Programme.

South African Alan van der Merwe, a former British Formula 3 champion, and Brazilian Danilo Dirani join Adam Carroll and James Rossiter who already have deals with the team.

de Ferran is yet again helping his friends

[Buttonfan 0]

This should be good for Kanaan.

[pumpdoc 2]

A waste of time if you ask me, he's been IRLified for to long.

[Ferrariphile 0]

A waste of time if you ask me, he's been IRLified for to long.

He did a pretty good job at St. Pete and Sonoma, I think he's getting tired of oval racing, even though he's doing pretty well and probably won't want to give up the tons of dough he's raking in at IRL. I base this on no evidence whatsoever but my own opinion.

[KoolMonkey 0]

I don't see this as anything other than an early Honda Christmas present to Kanaan. He's not gonna get a seat at BAR, nor will he want the Friday/testing job either.

Makes me ask why the US doesn't get it's act together and merge the two Indy series into one again and goto proper race circuits and such. Why the stupid obsession with ovals? Nascar does it's job very well, so what's the use in even having Indy.

[ecapdeville 0]

Makes me ask why the US doesn't get it's act together and merge the two Indy series into one again and goto proper race circuits and such. Why the stupid obsession with ovals? Nascar does it's job very well, so what's the use in even having Indy.

USA loves ovals...like in the white house...(the oval office)

[Kennye 0]

USA loves ovals...like in the white house...(the oval office)

ECAP, I love it...... It's also the shape of our eyes if you watch those Japanese cartoons on Sat morning...

I remember a discussion in the pits when Kanaan visited an F1 race a few weeks back. He and Gil were talking to a SPEEDTV reporter and Tony said, he loved F1 racing and would want to drive a car to see what the differences were. Neither one mentioned testing for a possible switch into F1 racing. Tony and Gil are good friends and stay in each others houses when in town. He is just doing Tony a favor letting him drive the car, it is not a test to lure him away from the dark side of IRL/CART to the light side.

As far as round racing, the whole split was driven by good old Tony George, the owner of IMS. If they started driving road courses, he was afraid that round racing would become second rate and since he owns one of the most well know round tracks, it would mean decreased tix sales. Translation, less money for him.

Now that CART is running on more and more road courses and the round racing has not suffered, he is changing his mind. The details of who is going to be on top and who has the most say in the re-united organization is where the merger is going to either fail or take a long time to resolve. Again, politics.....

[AutoRacer5 0]

USA loves ovals...like in the white house...(the oval office)

Or the strip club in the Family Guy episode when Peter goes to Washington: The Oval Orfice

[ecapdeville 0]

You see?

USA loves ovals... thats why!

I used to like oval races when CHAMP CARS were at their best...and of course in PC simulations...

but I dont like NASCAR.

[Senna 0]

A waste of time if you ask me, he's been IRLified for to long.

A complete waste of time and money...

[ecapdeville 0]

A complete waste of time and money...

No so much, HONDA wants more USA people buy their cars...

[Senna 0]

No so much, HONDA wants more USA people buy their cars...

Honda is a curse.

[pumpdoc 2]

ECAP, I love it...... It's also the shape of our eyes if you watch those Japanese cartoons on Sat morning...

I remember a discussion in the pits when Kanaan visited an F1 race a few weeks back. He and Gil were talking to a SPEEDTV reporter and Tony said, he loved F1 racing and would want to drive a car to see what the differences were. Neither one mentioned testing for a possible switch into F1 racing. Tony and Gil are good friends and stay in each others houses when in town. He is just doing Tony a favor letting him drive the car, it is not a test to lure him away from the dark side of IRL/CART to the light side.

As far as round racing, the whole split was driven by good old Tony George, the owner of IMS. If they started driving road courses, he was afraid that round racing would become second rate and since he owns one of the most well know round tracks, it would mean decreased tix sales. Translation, less money for him.

Now that CART is running on more and more road courses and the round racing has not suffered, he is changing his mind. The details of who is going to be on top and who has the most say in the re-united organization is where the merger is going to either fail or take a long time to resolve. Again, politics.....

Please refer to his Highness as "King Tony George"

[ecapdeville 0]

I dont like that Mr.George

[pumpdoc 2]

I dont like that Mr.George

nor do I.

[AutoRacer5 0]

But he didnt deserve what happened on June 19, 2005.

[pumpdoc 2]

But he didnt deserve what happened on June 19, 2005.

Of course not but he deserves all of the hate that can be for what he did to open-wheel racin in the U.S.

[ecapdeville 0]

Of course not but he deserves all of the hate that can be for what he did to open-wheel racin in the U.S.

Exactly!

[Senna 0]

This is just further evidence of Gil de Ferran

[nojvnof1 0]

Honda is a curse.

tell me about it!!!

[Buttonfan 0]

De Ferran just wants his buddy on his team, but I truly think that Kanaan can do good in an F1 car, his true test will be this weekend at Watkins Glen where IRL will be racing this weekend

[bajo39 0]

De Ferran just wants his buddy on his team

I agree. Of course, you'll recall that I predcted just this sort of incompetence from the Brazilian...