Tony Kanaan: “Respect the racetrack” key to McLaren’s Indy 500 redemption

staff principal stated his staff is “not doing something totally different” in its strategy to this 12 months’s 109th operating of the Indianapolis 500, regardless of its driver Pato O’Ward dropping out to ’s within the closing phases of the 2024 race.

Kanaan, who gained in 2013, will lead McLaren’s four-car lineup at this 12 months’s race, with O’Ward lining up alongside , , and . The staff is chasing an final victory on the Brickyard, and Kanaan says he speaks from expertise relating to the staff’s strategy to successful the historic race.

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“I feel the best way I took it all through my profession was, each time that I got here to this race, I needed to put myself ready to win,” Kanaan stated. “And first is by taking part, it’s primary. After which working in direction of your objective.

“I can’t pinpoint one factor why we misplaced the race with two corners to go. I can solely look forward and say, ‘alright, let’s have a look at what we predict we have to enhance, how we will play the race strategy-wise,’ and we’ll see if we’re there on the finish.

“It’s important to watch out the way you strategy it, and also you [can’t] let it get into your head. It may possibly make you immortal, a forever-winner. However it will probably additionally destroy you.

“So, we’re approaching with the identical strategy: we respect the racetrack, we’ve quick race automobiles, and we’re going to go away all of it on the market.”

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When requested what he’ll be doing on his facet to assist O’Ward, Kanaan added that he would “do every thing I can.”

Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren Chevrolet

Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren ChevroletJosh Tons / Motorsport Photos

Josh Tons / Motorsport Photos

“I advised Pato, ‘if I might drive the automotive’, however I feel I’m worse than him, so he’s one of the best man on the wheel,” he stated.

“After which inside the entire staff and Pato, [we have] the instruments and the mindset, and every thing to win a race, which is type of a giant duty on my finish. As a race automotive driver, I had my crew solely to fret about.

“We’ve got 4 automobiles within the race, 4 possibilities. I’m not placing all my cash on Pato, however he was the one which has the great document right here.”

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However Kanaan is hesitant to assume an excessive amount of about what an Indy 500 win would imply to him and the staff, including that he’ll attempt not to consider it.

“I feel over time, I’ve discovered that this sort of expectation can actually destroy you,” Kanaan stated. “You already know whenever you, like, take into consideration the way you’re going to have a good time, and that anticipation? I’ve by no means favored that, as a result of I feel it must be pure.

“However it might imply loads to the staff, proper? McLaren has a historical past. We’re a race staff, our staff this 12 months has by no means stopped racing. Look how a lot we’re dominating in System 1.

“Now, this staff grew, so it was a race staff that turned this empire.”

Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren

Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLarenPenske Leisure

Penske Leisure

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Forward of the Indy 500, Arrow McLaren has two drivers within the prime 5 of IndyCar’s standings, with Lundgaard third with 150 factors, only one level behind in second, and O’Ward following with 148. ’s is dominating up to now, nevertheless, and leads Kirkwood by 97 factors.

Whereas dealing with the gulf to Kirkwood up entrance, Kanaan is practical about his staff’s objectives as he seems forward to the remainder of the 2025 IndyCar season.

“We’ve acquired to maintain it the identical,” he stated. “Nothing has to vary.”

“That’s the ups-and-downs, or a nasty consequence, or an excellent consequence, couldn’t change the main target and the objective.

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“I feel we’ve a tough process on Palou, that has been extraordinarily robust. I imply, his worst end has been second. So, we’ve acquired to capitalise on it and hold it as shut as we will.

“We are able to’t second-guess one another. We’ve got a plan. If it’s going to be sufficient or not, I can reply you in a number of months when the season is over. However that is not at all an excuse. I acquired on this 12 months, I’m dedicated, I’m a racer, I’ve been a race automotive driver my complete profession.

“Folks say, ‘do you’re keen on successful races?’ I say, ‘truly it’s the other. I hate dropping greater than I really like successful’.

“We’re working fairly exhausting, however racing isn’t honest, it’s by no means been honest. Life’s not honest.

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“Outcomes-wise, you say ‘effectively are we comfortable?’ After all, no. We’re by no means going to be comfortable if we don’t win every thing. However I feel it’s been very optimistic.

“We had a number of issues over the past 12 months that we needed to deal with, which was the consistency, but in addition having zero mechanical failures, which – knock on wooden – up to now we’ve been in a position to accomplish, after which simply hold constructing like that.

“I feel we’re on the best path, and racing doesn’t forgive you, you’re solely nearly as good as your final race.”

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