Tony Kanaan, in the No. 11 GEICO | MOUSER ELECTRONICS – KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone entry, started eighth on the 2.5-mile superspeedway oval and ran a spectacular race.  He spent the majority of the race inside the top-seven and patiently bid his time.  Getting flawless pit work from his GEICO | MOUSER ELECTRONICS crew he was in seventh place on lap 166 when the team decided to make a strategic stop for fuel during a yellow flag gambling that they could go the remaining 34 laps and potentially fight for the win.  The move paid off when ensuing yellow flags guaranteed Kanaan could run at full power until the end and also gave the talented Brazilian the opportunity to utilize his unquestioned skill during restarts. Kanaan took the lead, going from fifth to first, for just under a lap following a restart on lap 185.  Then, with the crowd roaring, retook it again on lap 187 and led the next seven laps.  Unfortunately, he relinquished the top spot to eventual winner Dario Franchitti, who got help from his teammate Scott Dixon, during a restart on lap 194.  Kanaan dropped to fourth, but when Takuma Sato crashed on the final lap of the race, Kanaan moved up to third.

“It was an awesome day with a very close finish again,” Kanaan said.  “It was a beautiful race and I think the fans enjoyed themselves.   A third place finish is not bad, but I would have liked to of won here today.”

Kanaan’s third place showing is the best for KVRT in five races at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (total of 12 starts).   Townsend Bell in 2010 and Kanaan in 2011 both finished fourth.  It is the third best combined finish by the team behind Bell’s fourth and a ninth by Paul Tracy in 2009 and the fourth by Kanaan and an eighth by Tomas Scheckter in 2011.

Next up for KVRT is the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, June 1-3, on the temporary street circuit on Belle Isle in Detroit, Michigan.  The race will be broadcast live starting at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.