Kanaan confirmed for Indy 500

His CART team Mo Nunn Racing had always planned to run Kanaan at the Brickyard ever since it decided to enter the Indy Racing League for this season with Felipe Giaffone. Now Nunn has finally confirmed that it will aim to have two G-Force-Chevrolets on the grid on May 26.

"This is truly exciting from an owner's standpoint, taking our team to the greatest event in all of motorsports for the first time," said team boss Mo Nunn. "We have assembled a very solid two-cart entry that has ever reason in the world to run for the race win.

"Felipe is well into his second IRL season and has proven to be a very steady driver who's almost always there at the finish. And even though this is Tony's first time [at Indy] he certainly wouldn't be the first driver in recent years to pull out a top finish in his first attempt. We can't wait for the month of May to get started."

Kanaan has already tested Giaffone's IRL car at the Homestead oval. "I'm really thankful that Morris and [sponsor] Hollywood have given me this opportunity," he said. "I owe them a lot of things since I joined the team. I still owe them a victory. I can't think of a better place to do that than my first Indy 500. It's a race I've had my eye on since I was born.

"I only went to the speedway for the first time at last year's Formula 1 race, and right then I knew I would do anything to be able to race there. If I can pull off a Montoya (2000 winner) or a Helio Castroneves (2001 winner), that would make it three winners in a row by Indy 500 rookies. We have that going for us!"