Tony Kanaan `looking for a new start'

TOM STRICKLAND/AP

Tony Kanaan of Brazil talks with teammate Danica Patrick during practice on the final day of qualifications for the Indianapolis 500 last May. Both are in Toronto for the Honda Indy.

Kevin McGran

SPORTS REPORTER

Tony Kanaan isn't your typical celebrity Twitter user.

First, he'll tweet about anything, from flight delays to autograph sessions. Second, he'll tweet in English and Portuguese, keeping fans back home in Brazil up to date. And third, if you've signed up for his account, he might follow you right back.

"It's a great way to keep in touch with fans, I know what they're doing," said Kanaan. "They follow me, I follow them. I'm a follower, too."

Of course, one thing he won't be tweeting about are the secrets Michael Andretti divulged after the two walked the Honda Indy Toronto course yesterday. Andretti, co-owner of Andretti-Green Racing, won seven times as a driver on this track. Kanaan, a former series champion struggling through 2009, was all too happy to pick the brain of his boss.

"I'm going to handcuff him until he tells me the secrets, for sure," said Kanaan.

Andretti wasn't about to get specific with reporters the way he would with his drivers like Kanaan, Danica Patrick and his son, Marco.

"Everybody thinks I'm doing something different here," said Michael Andretti. "There are tracks where I never had the luck. Indianapolis was one of them. But I'll point out a few things – what I did anyway that helped me – and hopefully will help them."

Kanaan and the Andretti-Green team could use a little help; the season has been a disappointment for them. While the drivers from Target Chip Ganassi (five wins) and Team Penske (three wins) dominate, the Andretti-Green team has gone winless.

"We need a good result," said Kanaan. "We've been very inconsistent this year."

Rumours abound that Patrick will jump ship at the end of the season for NASCAR, rumours Andretti hopes don't come to pass.

"She wants to be here, I want her to be here, the team wants her to be here, so we're working towards that," Andretti said. "Hopefully we can get it done."

Marco Andretti has been inconsistent. "He's had a weird year," father Michael said. "He gets hot and cold, hopefully he gets hot here in Toronto. It's the place to do it. He's got the talent, all he needs is a little bit of luck."

Kanaan is the most accomplished of the Andretti-Green drivers. But the former series champion (2004), who has 13 careers victories, hasn't won since last season at Richmond.

"It's mid-season and I'm looking for a new start. I think we need to definitely step up our game. We set the bar high. We've finished top four every season, we won the championship. But I haven't won a race (this season)," said Kanaan.

"Our standards are much higher. The competition is really tough. We've had a few mechanical problems, we've made a few mistakes that cost us. From now on, we'll stop doing that and get back the consistency we always had on our side since 2003."

Drivers get their first official practice runs today on the street course through the CNE grounds. Points leader Scott Dixon has won three times this season with Target Chip Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti winning twice. Helio Castroneves has won twice and Penske teammate Ryan Briscoe has won once.

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