Kanaan retakes leadership role on AGR team
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-18 08:54 He nearly delivered on the expectations. With about 25 laps left, Kanaan was
still among the leaders — until the team made a setup change that didn't work.
It allowed Wheldon to drive into Victory Lane, overshadowing Kanaan's brilliant
month.
This year could prove tougher. AGR has struggled to keep up during the first
week of practice. Franchitti, at 226.960, and Kanaan, at 226.839, have been the
fastest in the AGR stable but both have been nearly 2 mph slower than Wheldon's
fast lap of 228.663.
"Last year, everybody was taking punches at me," Kanaan said. "This year, I
feel like we're in position to throw a few punches."
Around the track, Kanaan's brash combination of jokester and competitor have
worked well. His repertoire of pranks includes hiding the younger Andretti's
shoes, and turning around the older Andretti's locker so he couldn't get his
clothes out.
"It's a very fragile thing," Michael Andretti said of the team's camaraderie.
"When you add someone to it, it's got to complement it, and I think we've done
that."
Even if the boisterous Kanaan would rather not call himself the team's
leader.
"We have an agreement to give the two best drivers their place to win the
championship," he said. "I got my shot in '04, and Dan got his shot in '05. We
share the leadership, and right now, it's my go."
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