Beyond the Flag
Fansided

IndyCar: Four possible landing spots for Tony Kanaan in 2018

By Asher Fair

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: Tony Kanaan of Brazil, driver of the #10 NTT Data Honda, leads a pack of cars during the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAY 28: Tony Kanaan of Brazil, driver of the #10 NTT Data Honda, leads a pack of cars during the 101st Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motorspeedway on May 28, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 5
Next
AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 28: Ed Jones of United Arab Emirates, driver of the Dale Coyne Racing Honda (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
AVONDALE, AZ – APRIL 28: Ed Jones of United Arab Emirates, driver of the Dale Coyne Racing Honda (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Dale Coyne Racing, Honda

Dale Coyne Racing has locked up Sebastien Bourdais in the #18 Honda for next season, but the #19 Honda does not have a confirmed driver. Ed Jones would like to be back, but again, nothing has been confirmed yet. It also has not been confirmed as to whether or not this team will remain a two-car team or expand to become a three-car operation.

Given these uncertainties, Tony Kanaan is certainly in play for a ride with Dale Coyne Racing even if they continue operation as a two-car team. With how talented the young Ed Jones his, he probably wouldn’t struggle to find a ride with another team even if indeed Kanaan takes over the duties of the #19 car he currently drives.

The team becoming a three-car team next season would really open things up, as they could retain Jones along with Bourdais and potentially add Kanaan as well. Given the speed that the team has had this season, especially relative to recent seasons, this three-car lineup would elevate Dale Coyne Racing’s status from “the little team that could” to something along the lines of “the large team that should.”

If not for the constant wrecks that have plagued this team this season, you could make the really case that they have been the fastest all-around team at all types of tracks. Sebastien Bourdais opened up the season with 1st and 2nd place finishes at the St. Petersburg and Long Beach street courses, respectively, before he finished in 8th at the Barber road course.

Through each of the first three races of the season, Bourdais was actually the leader of the championship standings. And in two of those three races, Jones finished in the top 10. Unfortunately, a first-lap crash took Bourdais out at the short Phoenix oval after he qualified in the top 10, and an engine failure took a possible top 5 finish from him at the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, another road course race.

In Indianapolis 500 practice, Bourdais and Jones were the fastest two drivers, with Bourdais turning the fastest lap on a Fast Friday since 1996, proving that Dale Coyne Racing even had great speed on superspeedways.

Unfortunately, Bourdais had a nasty wreck that fractured his hip and pelvis and caused him to be sidelined for three months. Jones did end up finished the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 3rd place, proving, once more, that the team is extremely fast on ovals in addition to road and street courses.

Then at Texas, Tristan Vautier, who hadn’t driven an IndyCar since 2015, ended up qualifying in 5th place and leading 15 laps in a replacement role for Bourdais before his bid at an upset victory was ruined by a wreck, which was, ironically, triggered by Tony Kanaan.

Kanaan coming to Dale Coyne Racing may seem somewhat far-fetched, but it makes perfect sense. The team has had great speed all season long, even on the superspeedways, which are the tracks Kanaan excels at. Could we possibly see Kanaan and four-time series champion Bourdais driving for the same team in 2018?