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CART: Kanaan pulls out of Motegi race with 12 laps to go

14 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

#55 Hollywood/Mo Nunn Racing Mercedes-Benz Reynard
May 14, 2000 Race Notes/Quotes
Round 5 of 20 on the 2000 CART FedEx Championship Series
Twin Ring Motegi Motegi, Haga gun, Japan

Tony Kanaan and the #55 Hollywood/Mo Nunn Racing Mercedes-Benz Reynard battled with the leaders until retiring 12 laps from the end of todays rain-delayed Firestone Firehawk 500. Having started from the ninth spot on the grid, Kanaan worked his way up to fifth by Lap 35 and the first round of pit stops. He fell back to eighth, then moved up to seventh, where he stayed for most of the rest of his run. He was sixth before pitting for what was supposed to be the final fuel stop on Lap 173 of a schedule 201 laps. He came in shortly thereafter to replace a punctured left-rear tire on Lap 184. Then, while working Lap 189, smoke poured from the back of the car and he came to a stop on the front straight, ending his day.

The next stop on the 20-event CART FedEx Championship Series for 2000 is at Nazareth, Pa., on May 27, the make-up date for the Round 2 event that was postponed due to snow on April 9.

TONY KANAAN

"We definitely had a race car that was heading for a top-six perhaps a top-five finish. But to finish in the top six, you have to finish. Its a disappointing way to finish the weekend, to say the least. We were running very well, hanging with the leaders all day. The only time I got passed on the racetrack was when my (left-rear) tire went flat. Morris gave me a great race car once again. One of these times were going to put together a complete race and start scoring some points. Its certainly not for lack of trying that were not. Its been a nice stay, but now its time to get back home to the States and get ready for Nazareth and Milwaukee."

MORRIS NUNN

"Were certainly showing promise for what is still a very new race team, but we still have a way to go. What we have going for us is that on race day we always seem to find a way to mix it up with the leaders, and that definitely makes us hungry to come right back and do it again. In racing, you have good days, and not-so-good days. Today was a good day that could have been a great day. Well get em next time."

Text provided by Laz Denes

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