Tony Kanaan has had much to adapt to in the past months: a sponsor pull-out, the lost of his seat at Andretti Autosport and the start of a new collaboration with De Ferran Dragon, a one car operation.
Andretti Green has been a four car operation while Kanaan was with them. The driver remembers asking his new boss and former rival, Gil de Ferran, where the rest of the team was during Sebring's test.
I asked Gil, 'where are the guys?' He said, 'this is it...' I was like, 'oh, okay...'" illustrates Kanaan who is likely to be the only driver or the team in 2011 unless additional funding is found for 2009-2010 driver Raphael Matos.
"Obviously it has been eight, almost nine, years with a big team. So it took me a little bit to get used to it. But in a funny way, I think it's great. It's a big challenge for both of us," he added.
Although the team has not been a regular frontrunner so far, the 2004 IndyCar Champion hopes to win races in 2011.
"I don't think I would be sitting here and Gil wouldn't hire me if we didn't believe we could win. The goal is to build the team and the attitude of the team that we're capable of winning."
De Ferran believes that Kanaan's hiring will be a great addition to the team, one that might help it settle on the front line.
"I have no doubt that not only he'll bring his speed and determination, but his experience will help us shortcut a lot of the development process and hopefully bring us a little closer to our dream of becoming a major force in the IndyCar Series," he said.
Andretti Green has been a four car operation while Kanaan was with them. The driver remembers asking his new boss and former rival, Gil de Ferran, where the rest of the team was during Sebring's test.
I asked Gil, 'where are the guys?' He said, 'this is it...' I was like, 'oh, okay...'" illustrates Kanaan who is likely to be the only driver or the team in 2011 unless additional funding is found for 2009-2010 driver Raphael Matos.
"Obviously it has been eight, almost nine, years with a big team. So it took me a little bit to get used to it. But in a funny way, I think it's great. It's a big challenge for both of us," he added.
Although the team has not been a regular frontrunner so far, the 2004 IndyCar Champion hopes to win races in 2011.
"I don't think I would be sitting here and Gil wouldn't hire me if we didn't believe we could win. The goal is to build the team and the attitude of the team that we're capable of winning."
De Ferran believes that Kanaan's hiring will be a great addition to the team, one that might help it settle on the front line.
"I have no doubt that not only he'll bring his speed and determination, but his experience will help us shortcut a lot of the development process and hopefully bring us a little closer to our dream of becoming a major force in the IndyCar Series," he said.