Published: May 30, 2008 10:44 pm            

Tony Kanaan goes for threepeat at Milwaukee Mile

MILWAUKEE — Tony Kanaan goes for a threepeat at The Milwaukee Mile in IndyCar Series action Sunday afternoon.

The 33-year-old driver for Andretti Green Racing is on the rebound from disappointment in the Indianapolis 500 for the third straight year and hopes Sunday’s results are the same — a race win — in Sunday’s ABC/A.J. Foyt 225 scheduled for a 4 p.m. start (ABC-TV).

Kanaan was knocked out of Sunday’s race in Indy when he and Sarah Fisher made contact after what he termed a “stupid move” and pass by teammate Marco Andretti, who finished third in the race.

It’s not the first time AGR drivers have had run-ins during races.

Kanaan commented on the activity in a teleconference. He said he has not talked with his teammate but he says the two will sort it out “for sure” for the good of the team. “We don’t have a choice. We represent a big team … and have a championship to win,” he said.

Danica Patrick, another teammate, made news with her reaction to being knocked out of the race late when her car was hit by one driven by Team Penske driver Ryan Briscoe. Kanaan said he has talked to Patrick.

“My whole point to her was ‘I understand you’re frustrated and probably wanted to chat with him [Briscoe] but you’re a lot better than that. You represent this sport so well … maybe you need to try to cool down before you do something because it can cost us later on,’” he said.

Sunday’s race in Milwaukee will be the fifth for the Indy Racing League in Milwaukee. Dario Franchitti and Sam Hornish Jr. both won at the track before Kanaan took the checkered flag the past two years. More cars (27) than ever will be in the lineup since Champ Car Series drivers have joined the league.

Ryan Hunter-Reay was the top-finishing rookie in the 500 and won at the track in 2004 in Champ Car action. Bruno Junqueira, Oriol Servia and Justin Wilson all have had top-five finishes in the former series at Milwaukee.

Scott Dixon has a 15-point lead over Helio Castroneves in the series point totals going into the sixth race of the season as he seeks his second series championship. Kanaan was the champ in 2004 and is in fourth place behind the two leaders and Dan Wheldon.

No 500 winner has won in Milwaukee following Indy in recent years but the 500 winner has finished second three times since the IndyCar Series event was started. Juan Pablo Montoya was the last driver to win at Indy and Milwaukee in the same year, doing it in 2000.

Four-time 500 winners A.J. Foyt and Al Unser also both won at both tracks in the same season.

        

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