‘I’d love to put the No. 48 car in victory lane’
Indiana Legionnaire Dave Sassman has been coming to the Indianapolis 500 since 1957. A member of American Legion Post 497 in Indianapolis – located just over two miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) – the U.S. Air Force veteran wasted no time in finding an American Legion No. 48 car/Tony Kanaan shirt in one of the gift shops at IMS last week and wore it for the final days of 500 qualifications on May 23.
Sassman also got a chance to talk with Kanaan last weekend, presenting the 2013 Indy 500 champ with a good-luck coin and words of thanks. “I thanked him for representing us,” Sassman said.
For Kanaan, who qualified the Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) No. 48 car fifth overall for the May 30 race, in the middle of the field’s second row, being able to represent The American Legion and its 1.8 million veterans – especially on Memorial Day weekend – will be special.
“I am sure I will be emotional about it – the pre-race ceremonies give you goose bumps,” Kanaan said. “All week, people have come up to me saying, ‘Tony, I am so glad to see you racing for The American Legion,’ or ‘I’m a member and I’m pulling for you,’ or ‘I’m a veteran.’
“I feel like my fan base has grown so much because of this sponsorship. It’s been really incredible. To win with this car, it will mean a lot to a lot of people.”
Kanaan was talking about making 2020 his last season in racing before he was contacted by Chip Ganassi and Jimmie Johnson in late 2020 about joining the team as its No. 48 car oval driver. Not too long after that, The American Legion and (CGR) entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement for the No. 48 Honda in the NTT INDYCAR Series. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson is driving a No. 48 car featuring American Legion branding prominently in its paint scheme during this season’s road races, while Kanaan is competing in oval races.
“I can’t thank Chip and The American Legion, Bryant, NTT and all our sponsors enough,” Kanaan said of the opportunity. “Jimmie Johnson called me in September and said, ‘How about sharing this 48 with me’, and it’s been the perfect scenario. This has been so much fun, these cars are so strong, and I know we are capable of winning on Sunday.”
In addition to winning the 500 eight years ago, Kanaan also has seven top-five finishes in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” So he knows what it takes to be competitive, and to win it.
“Everything will have to go our way,” he said. “We have to race smart, be fast and be good on pit road. These races are so hard to win, there is so much pressure. It takes so much.”
There’s little doubt he’ll get his share of crowd support. The fans’ reaction for his qualification runs and post-run interviews were among the loudest throughout IMS last weekend.
And Kanaan noticed. “To have the fans back in the stands, I heard them cheering when I took the checkered flag at qualifying,” he said. “It’s so energizing. It’s hard to describe. To have my family there, and to qualify fifth – it’s just truly the best feeling in the world.”
After watching the No. 48 car on television, American Legion National Commander James W. “Bill” Oxford will be rooting for Kanaan in person. “I will be cheering for Tony Kanaan and The American Legion No. 48 car from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend,” he said. “I hope that American Legion Family members across the nation – and the world – can tune in and feel the same sense of pride I feel when I see this driver and car representing 1.8 million veterans pull onto the most iconic oval race track in the world.”
Kanaan has had the opportunity to meet with some of those Legionnaires, saying they’ve been “great, and I am sure this weekend and in the weeks to come, I will meet many more. I welcome it. They are so proud of the Legion, it makes me proud.”
Pride is the feeling Oxford has experienced watching the No. 48 car being driven by Kanaan, Johnson and Alex Palou this season. “We’re sharing The American Legion brand and what we’re all about with an audience of millions that include many we’ve not previously reached,” he said. “We are very thankful for Chip Ganassi Racing in working with us to make this opportunity happen.”
And Kanaan wants to the most of the opportunity he’s been given. “This is the greatest race in the world. Every driver dreams of winning this,” he said. “Just to be here and experience it is beyond description. I’d love to put the No. 48 in victory lane. It’s the best feeling in the world.”