Kanaan is a free agent (KV isn't re-signing him for 2014) and people in Indycar know he has the talent to be a competitive driver. He now has a bargaining ship to use to either secure the 2nd TCGR seat at TCGR's B team (the one with Charlie Kimball) or a return to AA (Andretti Autosport) if James Hinchcliffe isn't retained there or to a second Schmidt seat and be a teammate of Simon Pagenaud. The worst in all of this is that Simona de Silvestro will be losing the one thing she needs most: a seasoned veteran for a teammate that she can learn from. While her results aren't indicative of that, she has learned a lot from Tony. It's more a sign that KV simply sucks. Tony Kanaan only won the 500 because he is far and away the best driver at Indy that currently races in that race. If Kanaan had had Penske caliber equipment and thrown off the yoke of Andretti luck he would no doubt be a 3 or 4 time winner of that race.

Just goes to show why motorsports of all levels is hurting. "At this point in my life, if you still have to prove yourself you make have to re-think what you are doing," he said on Aug. 20. "I love open-wheel but maybe I need to look at NASCAR as an option."
"Kanaan was understandably miffed that every team he's talked to about a job needs him to bring money."

Talent seldom plays a role anymore, $$$$ is all that matters.

....... $

RT@Dave Furst ‏@DaveFurst
.@TonyKanaan tells me there's an 80% chance he'll return to #IndyCar next yr. #NASCAR a "long shot" but talks are serious. Tonight on @rtv6

Didn't say anything about being smart, just talented! Bob

Did anyone think about TK's retainer that he requires? Both in Nascar and Indy Car all drivers sign a contract that pays them a salary for there services. The rumor on the street is, he's asking 3+ mil. Between the owners and drivers, they get a big chuck of the sponsorship (partner) money. Even the special treatment (rooms, dining, transportation etc.) that the team supplies for the sponsor at the track comes out of that money. Yep the sponsor paid for his own way. So it stands to reason, that whoever gets TK is going to have to have deep pockets. Indy Car teams can't get that much money to support the whole team and driver.
Racing today mimics the ball sports and we all know what it takes to keep players. Most (not all) race team owners do not own a fleet of dealerships or manufacturing business to support their lifestyles. Their business is owning a race team, and they get a paycheck too.
Here's idea. Ask TK to offer his services to a team for what a sprint car driver gets. 40-50 percent of the earnings the car makes that day! Back in my day we started sprint cars with oxen and got paid with beaver pelts.