Luminox 1140 Series User Manual
Page 4
Tony made an impressive debut in North American racing, he won two races
(Detroit and Laguna Seca), the Sea Doo/Ski Doo Pole Award, earned the Rookie
of the Year title and finished second in the Indy Lights Championship.
In 1997, Tony opted for another season in Indy Lights to gain more experience,
with his sights firmly set on the champion‘s crown. He accomplished this feat,
winning the PPG-Firestone Indy Lights Championship and adding two more races
to his list of victories (Detroit and Trois-Rivieres).
In 1998, having his talent recognized, added to his accumulated experience
earned with Tasman, Tony was hired by Steve Horne, owner of the team, to be
the only driver of the team on the 1998 season on the FedEx CART Champi-
onship Race Series. Tony surprised everyone in the category on his inaugural
season: scored PPG Cup points in 11 of 19 starts – the most for a rookie since
1993 – scored two podium finishes, finished ninth-place ranking, highest placed
among the Brazilian drivers and earned the Rookie of the Year 1998 title.
1999 was Tony‘s second year with Forsythe Championship Racing –
McDonald‘s Championship Racing Team (formerly Tasman Motorsports). Finished
11th in points with a victory at the U.S. 500 and nine other top 10 finishes:
Motegi (Japan), Rio de Janeiro (Brasil), Madison (Ill), Elkhart Lake (Wis), Detroit,
Vancouver, Houston, Surfers Paradise (Australia), and Fontana (Calif.). Was
also a pole sitter at Long Beach, California.
After a two-year run with Forsythe Championship Racing, in 2000 Kanaan,
who scored his first victory at the 1999 U.S. 500, Tony began his third CART
season behind the wheel of the #55 Nunn Racing Mercedes-Benz Reynard.
The 2000 season was not Tony’s best year, although he finished the season as
the best driver powered by Mercedes engines in the final point standings. The
Brazilian suffered an accident during the qualifying for the Detroit Grand Prix
and could not compete for four races. Tony fractured the left forearm and had
four broken ribs. He finished in 19th place in the final point standings.