Tony Kanaan opens up on Lundgaard, Siegel contract situation

“That's the norm. I told them that I would be straight forward.”

Additionally, though, if either deliver McLaren its first Indy 500 win since 1976, which came courtesy of the legendary Johnny Rutherford, the new deal will take care of itself.

“I said, ‘If one of you wins the Indy 500 we're not talking about contracts anymore,” Kanaan said. “So, that's a quick fix there. Don't put it on me.

“Christian is up, Nolan is up. I think I will start talking about it by Detroit, it will come up. I'm not thinking about that right now. I think we have to focus on even getting the results that we're not getting and then to evaluate. Then the challenge is, I've always raced for my job no matter what because although I had a three-year deal, if I didn't keep it up it was going to be a risk, so my deadline is I'm evaluating what's going to happen until the Indy 500 and then after that I'll look at my options. I'm trying also to keep myself focused on concentrating on giving these guys the best.”

Lundgaard on the rise

Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren

Christian Lundgaard, Arrow McLaren

Kanaan, who confessed he “can’t hide anything” and is “bad at faking,” did admit that Lundgaard’s performances could force his hand as rival teams might be keen to steal away his services.

“If Christian keeps driving the way he drove at Barber, I don't think I need to answer anything; I think I'm going to have to actually sign him quicker before somebody else offers him something else,” Kanaan said.

“But at the same time, I've got to be smart about what's out there and what the team needs for, not the short term but the long term. Right now, I'm not unhappy with none of them. The results are not there for many reasons, but I'm more realistic in saying focus on what we need to do and then by June you guys will know about it because I will talk about it, for sure. And nothing that they won't know about it, either, before I talk to you guys.”

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