Reigning Indy 500 champion Tony Kanaan will join Chip Ganassi Racing as the team switches from Honda to Chevrolet power in 2014.
After eight years which have netted four driver’s championships three Indy 500s and more than 40 individual race wins, Honda Performance Development confirmed the association will end after the final race this year.
Ganassi will switch to Chevrolet engines for its four-car assault in 2014 with Kanaan joining incumbents Dario Franchitti and Scott Dixon.
Kanaan moves to Ganassi, which will also field Mid-Ohio break-through winner Charlie Kimball, after spending several seasons with KV Racing Technology.
“We’ve been trying to put this thing together for a long time,” Kanaan said.
Ganassi’s line-up is now bristling with a string of championship and Indy 500-winning racers.
“It’s not all the time that you can find yourself as an owner with drivers that represent seven championships, five Indianapolis 500 victories and over 75 wins,” eponymous team owner Ganassi said.
Meanwhile Dixon was second fastest in opening practice this weekend for the Houston double-header behind Will Power (Penske) after the session was delayed for several hours.
Track officials were forced to add a temporary chicane to avoid severe bumps near the first corner.
