The first race was held on January 27, 1996
source:
irl.racing-live.com
A decade after Tony Kanaan was getting his feet wet
in the Italian Formula 3 Championship, he is drinking in the adulation accorded
the reigning IRL IndyCar® Series champion.
"It's a dream come true," said Kanaan, whose gusto for life is superseded only
by his passion for driving a high- tech race car at more than 215 mph inches
from competitors. "It makes you proud of all the hard work you put in through
the years."
Kanaan, 30, also has respect for the IndyCar Series, which kicks off its 10th
season of competition March 6 with the Toyota Indy 300 at Homestead-Miami
Speedway. Some of the greatest names in auto racing - Foyt, Mears, Andretti,
Rutherford, Unser, de Ferran, Castroneves, Hornish and Rahal - are associated
with the series, and Kanaan considers it a privilege to share their company.
"I see it growing and getting better every year," said Kanaan, one of four
drivers in the Andretti Green Racing armada. "I'd say the competition level is
the highest it's ever been. The series has survived the tough times and I think
we have the product, the cars and the drivers to grow it further.
"In another 10 years, and another 10, we'll be old and watching young
kids racing in the IRL."