INDYCAR: All-American Andretti Autosport... but no Kanaan
by Tony Johns on Oct 29, 2010 9:03 PM EDT
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Andretti Autosport had good news and bad news for IZOD IndyCar Series fans today.
The good news? Ryan Hunter-Reay, the man who parlayed a four-race deal into a full-season ride and a 7th place points finish in 2010, will be back with the team for two more years.
Unfortunately, Tony Kanaan - Andretti Autosport's longest-tenured driver - definitely will not be back for 2011. The Brazilian, whose trademark outside-groove dashes to the front thrilled and frightened racing fans for years, received a buyout from the team and is now an unencumbered free agent.
Kanaan, who delivered a championship in 2004 and 14 wins along the way, was reportedly getting in the neighborhood of $3 million a year from Andretti Autosport to drive IndyCars. However, with the tough financial climate stemming from the American economic recession and changes in corporate strategy, Kanaan found himself without longtime backer 7-Eleven (who pulled back to associate sponsorship on teammate Danica Patrick's #7 Dallara).
The dearth of sponsorship available in IndyCar meant that, as of today, Kanaan also finds himself without a ride.
"When 7-Eleven notified us that they would not be returning as the primary sponsor of Tony's car in 2011, we were left with a very challenging situation," team owner Michael Andretti said in a statement released today. "Given the timing of that notification, we felt it was important to give Tony the freedom to review his options outside of Andretti Autosport.
"We understand firsthand his value as a driver in this series and we did not want to prevent him from furthering his career in the event we could not arrive at a reasonable solution for him for 2011. Today we agreed that the best option for both Tony and the team is to allow him the freedom to sign with another team."
But for fans clamoring for more American presence in IndyCar racing, Hunter-Reay's signing comes as cause for celebration. Hunter-Reay's deal means that, as things stand, Andretti Autosport is an all-American effort - at least from the cockpit - with the Florida native joining Patrick and Marco Andretti as standard bearers for the Stars and Stripes.
Incredibly, this is Hunter-Reay's first multi-year IndyCar contract - a contract that finally allows him to shed his "journeyman" tag. "Starting the job in October, rather than in March, will be a luxury I've never had before. I look to add to my four Indy car wins and become a title contender throughout the season," he said.
Every silver lining has a cloud, of course. Hunter-Reay still has no (announced) sponsorship, and Kanaan is a great example of a driver whose long-term security can evaporate in the blink of an eye and the signature on a contract buyout. Then again, Hunter-Reay's price tag is likely significantly cheaper than Kanaan's, so his job seems far more secure.
Andretti Autosport's driver announcements are the first salvos in the IndyCar silly season. The next announcement is most likely going to be regarding Graham Rahal, whose long-rumored and extensively negotiated deal to drive for a "top IndyCar team" - almost certainly Target Chip Ganassi Racing - should be revealed in a matter of days.
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Why not Kanaan to Target Chip Ganassi Racing?
Founder and site manager of SBN's NASCAR Ranting & Raving (www.4ever3blog.com) - "Filling up your rearview and headed to the front."
Two reasons...
…first, Chip won’t add a third team without sponsorship, and Rahal has it and Kanaan doesn’t. And second, Kanaan’s asking price in salary is FAR higher than Rahal’s.
You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
Pop Off Valve - A greasy hot tenderloin of IndyCar goodness!
And third...
…because TK spurned Ganassi in 2008 when Dan Wheldon was on the way out. Then Chip hired Dario Franchitti after his failed NASCAR experiment, and we all know how well that’s worked out.
by ChristopherLion on Oct 30, 2010 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. I'd be in shock if news of Chip and TK talking business ever arises.
On top of that, I don’t see Penske making a move for him either. Not with the stable he’s currently got. So the question is, where would he land.
As odd as this seems, if a new sponsor happens along and doesn’t require he signs with a specific team, I wouldn’t rule out his returning to Andretti. I actually don’t think it’d be his first choice – the team could not have felt the same to him since Dario left – but I don’t think he’d rule it out either.
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"How can a pickup truck contain enough mass to unfold into a towering machine? I say if Ringling Brothers can get 15 clowns into a Volkswagen, anything is possible."
All good points
so let’s look at the situation hypothetically; Chip is a business man and if a sponsor comes along that wants Kanaan in a Ganassi car don’t you think it would happen?
Founder and site manager of SBN's NASCAR Ranting & Raving (www.4ever3blog.com) - "Filling up your rearview and headed to the front."
Hypothetical with a capital "H".
I’d be willing to bet a large sum of money that no sponsor is going to come along and want TK in a Ganassi car. Take from that what you will.
Chip was already wary about adding a third car for Graham Rahal, going so far as to say it wouldn’t happen, until Service Central came along with $10 million or so. So, returning to hypotheticals, do you see TK putting together $10 million of funding in a very short span of time?
by ChristopherLion on Oct 30, 2010 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions
It'd have to be more than that...
…to incorporate TK’s salary.
Let’s also not forget one thing – Graham Rahal is the “hot prospect” in IndyCar still and Dario and Scott aren’t spring chickens. If Chip can get GR into the fold and build a multi-year deal around him – and if GR can actually live up to the enormous level of hype surrounding him – then when Dixon and Franchitti decide to retire, Ganassi’s team’s future will be secure.
In baseball terms, you don’t go out and sign a third #1/#2 starting once you already have a top pairing in your rotation. You go with an affordable workmanlike #3/#4 or you go with a young guy for the future.
You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
Pop Off Valve - A greasy hot tenderloin of IndyCar goodness!
TK's salary
Is it not safe to assume that he simply doesn’t get that kind of salary anymore? He has no contract. Unless the belief is that he’s done all he’s wanted, so he won’t drive unless the $$ is all there.
TN Sports fan in Hoosier Country....
He’s not getting it right now because he’s unemployed, but I seriously doubt he’s going to sign anywhere for anything less than a million dollars per annum. If he can’t find an IndyCar ride to pay him that, I’m sure he can find one elsewhere in racing. And yes, I think he would leave IndyCar before taking a ride at a lower salary.
You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
Pop Off Valve - A greasy hot tenderloin of IndyCar goodness!
Agreed. I don't see TK getting that kind of money in a few months.
Founder and site manager of SBN's NASCAR Ranting & Raving (www.4ever3blog.com) - "Filling up your rearview and headed to the front."
Kanaan
This gentleman is as American as apple pie, baseball, ridebuying, and esteemed philosopher and zoologist mentioning arachnids in commercials.
All American?
All American with more pasta fazuul!
Sadly, RHR now looks like a pellet picker. . the new standard for “All AMerican”.
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