KVRT Confirms Barrichello, Kanaan

KV Racing Technology confirmed today the signing of veteran racers and friends, Rubens Barrichello and Tony Kanaan. Kanaan's contract included a 2-year deal.

After 19 season in Formula One, Barrichello will pilot the #8 BMC | Embrace Chevrolet-powered Dallara full-time in the IZOD IndyCar Series.

“I am thrilled, it is something very new to me,” Barrichello said.  “I need to thank everyone involved, especially Tony because he has been involved for a long time.  I would also like to thank my sponsors, BMC, Embrase and Locaweb for their help.  This is a new experience, but I am very very happy.  With all my experience I will start as a rookie, but I think I will get better as the year progresses.  My main thing is to be an addition to KV Racing Technology.  They have been doing very well and Tony brought the team to a different level last year, so I hope with my contribution we can build on this and take the team to another level.  I am extremely happy and have a big smile on my face."

Kanaan, a key player in the signing of Barrichello, was also confirmed today as returning to KVRT for a second season. With varying sponsorship packages including the Geico | Mouser Electronics sponsored Dallara at 10 events, Mouser Electronics | Geico livery at 4 races, ITAIPAVA sponsored car in Brazil and a co-primary sponsored machine at the Indy 500 by both Geico and Mouser, TK will run his classic #11.

"I am very excited to be returning to KV Racing Technology not only with a two year deal but also to have Rubens Barrichello as my team mate,” Kanaan said.   “We have always dreamed about racing together but never imagined it would actually happen and certainly not in the near future or in IndyCars.  So I am looking forward to the start of the season, I think its going to be a very exciting year.”


Kanaan and Barrichello will join E.J. Viso, who was announced last week, creating a 3-car team for KVRT.



"It's an exciting day for the IZOD IndyCar Series and a positive step to start 2012," said INDYCAR CEO, Randy Bernard. "We've said all along that one of the most important factors that will make the IZOD IndyCar Series successful is having the best drivers in the world, and there's not a person in the world who knows racing that wouldn't tell you that Rubens Barrichello is one of the greatest drivers of all time. I think it's been interesting to hear the response of the other drivers. It's been 'This is great for us because it will show how good all of our drivers are.'


"That, to me, is important because the best in the IZOD IndyCar Series are saying 'Bring him on. We want this guy.' That will create great competition and expands our international platform. There will be millions of fans that will want to see what Barrichello can do. The other factor, which we saw last weekend at Infineon Raceway as he talked with fans attending the Chevy test, is that he's such a great guy. That will resonate with our fans." 

Posted in: