2016 IndyCar Preseason Power Rankings

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Jul 12, 2015; West Allis, WI, USA; Verizon IndyCar Series driver Tony Kanaan sits in his car during qualifying for the ABC Supply Wisconsin 250 at Milwaukee Mile Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Tony Kanaan

The driver of the No. 10 Chip Ganassi Racing entry comes in 11th on our list, not because he’s not a Top 10 contender but because there are so many good drivers for him to battle with – and he often gets the short end of the stick when he does. Kanaan is the 2004 IndyCar Series champion and the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner, so he has plenty to be proud of and a great team around him at CGR, aside from being one of the league’s most charismatic drivers.

But somebody always seems to get in his way. Kanaan came oh so close to victories in 2015 and couldn’t close the deal, instead becoming the runner up to teammate Scott Dixon at Texas and to Graham Rahal at Fontana. One could argue that Kanaan got short-changed out of a win in the latter case, since he and Rahal were racing within inches of one another, and Rahal wasn’t penalized earlier for the fuel nozzle that was stuck to the No. 15 until it bounced onto the track.

Kanaan also recorded a podium finish at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, one of ten Top 10 results he compiled in 2015, including a streak of four straight between Texas and Milwaukee. He may not be the flashiest driver or the most aggressive, but he always comes to compete every week and that always makes him a potential spoiler, if not an outright winner. Given one or two better breaks, Kanaan can cause some havoc in the battle for the Astor Cup this year – that’s if the No. 10 isn’t in it.

Next: 10. Simon Pagenaud