5, 4, 3, 2 – among the finishing positions for Tony Kanaan in 11 consecutive Indianapolis 500 Mile Race starts. Maybe this year he’ll complete the straight flush with a victory in his 201st consecutive Indy car race.
But as he and other drivers through the years have said that the Indianapolis Motor Speedway picks you, you don’t pick it.
“I don't feel this place owes me anything,” said Kanaan, who will start 12th in the Chevrolet-powered No. 11 Hydroxycut KV Racing Technology/SH Racing car in the May 26 race. “I have had great times here. Although some people would say I'm making an excuse, I can only say every time I've been here I put myself in the position to win this race. That’s all I can do.”
Click it: Kanaan's Indianapolis 500 results
Kanaan has qualified in the top 10 nine times, with a best finish of second to Buddy Rice in 2004 (he led 28 laps). Two of his most memorable races at the Speedway included blazing a path through the 33-car field in 2010 (starting 33rd and finishing 11th) and ’11 (advancing 18 positions relative to his starting spot to finish fourth). Last year, he finished third after starting eighth.
“The way the fans treat me and the privilege that I have to be here every year -- I've led eight out of the 11 times I've been here (for a total of 221 laps) -- so I don't think it owes me anything,” Kanaan added. “I love the way the fans think like that, because I think they know how much I work for it. It will be really unfair for me to say I deserve to win this thing because there are 32 other people there looking for that as well.”
Scott Goodyear, who had his share of disappointments in 11 Indianapolis 500 starts (finishing second in 1992 and ’97, and being penalized to 14th place late in the ’95 race after leading 42 laps), understands Kanaan’s contention. But will he feel that way five years after he retires?
“I felt that way when I was still driving because as competitive as you are you think you have a shot at it,” Goodyear said. “You always feel that you’ve learned, you think you understand what it takes to be competitive. You think you know how to get your car ready for that final shootout. When it doesn’t happen, you still feel like you’re going to get it done.
“For me, maybe it’s because of the close finishes or maybe it’s because of the (penalty), I hear every day about ’92 or ’95 or ’97. You feel good that you were competitive, but there’s still something that’s bothersome. This is not just another race course or another race. This is what it’s all about.”
In the moment, Kanaan said the cheers of the crowd mask personal disappointment.
“To me, the best memories I have it's every time I drive my golf cart out there I can hear my name big time,” Kanaan said. “The year that I started that last, we went all the way to the lead and we ended up finishing 11th because of a strategy at the end. I got out of the car and the entire place was screaming my name and Dario (Franchitti) had won the race.
“If I never win this thing, I think I got the feeling like from the people around here how is it to win. Obviously it will be a lot different if I would have my face on the trophy and stuff like that, but I don't take it like that, I don't think it owes me anything.
“I am not going to go away years from now if I never win regretting or being a little bit bitter about it.”