Wednesday will be a busy day for Tony Kanaan, but it will certainly be worth it.
The 2004 IZOD IndyCar Series champion will test at Watkins Glen International that day in his No. 11 Team 7-Eleven car for Andretti Autosport, and then compete that evening in the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Prelude to the Dream charity race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
“I’m thrilled to have the chance to compete in the Prelude to the Dream,” said Kanaan, the first IZOD IndyCar Series regular to compete in the event hosted by 1997 IZOD IndyCar Series champion Tony Stewart. “It’s an amazing lineup of drivers and we’re all competing for such a good cause.”
Kanaan, who advanced 22 positions to finish 11th in the Indianapolis 500 on May 31, will join drivers from all types of motorsports disciplines—Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Travis Pastrana, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Carmichael, Jeff Gordon and others - to race 2,300-pound Late Model stock cars on the dirt track. The field will be broken up into four teams (each representing a children’s hospital), with drivers competing in hot laps, qualifying, heat races and a 30-lap feature.
Kanaan’s team, captained by NASCAR star Denny Hamlin, will race for St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
“It’s very rare for me to get a chance to drive something other than my Team 7-Eleven IndyCar (Series car) and to not have to race with points in mind,” Kanaan said. “I’m not saying I’m going to do anything crazy because the goal is to help my team win, but I’m definitely going to have some fun.”
| 
|