As the IZOD IndyCar Series prepares for the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend, Team 7-Eleven driver Tony Kanaan continues his pursuit of the 2010 championship – one that he would gladly set beside the title he won in 2004.

“To talk about even chasing a championship – let alone talk about winning it – it’s way too soon for anything like that,” said Kanaan. “But, it’s a nice thought, for sure. I’m just glad we’ve put ourselves somewhere near the conversation.”

Kanaan’s 2010 season – the first contested under the Andretti Autosport name with Michael Andretti in sole ownership of the team – started slowly. Three-straight top 10 finishes to start the season in Sao Paulo, St. Petersburg and Birmingham left Kanaan out of the spotlight. But, he wasn’t discouraged and was a big believer in the potential he saw.

“Three races into the season, I was sitting there ninth in points, which was a long way from being the championship leader like I was a year ago at that point,” said Kanaan. “But, I kept telling everybody that I knew we were a better team this year than we were last year. We just hadn’t had many breaks go our way yet and I knew if we had just a couple things go right, we’d be right there.”

On cue, those things started to go right for Kanaan and the entire Andretti Autosport organization. In the fourth race of the season, Kanaan’s teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay broke through with a dominating win on a day that “TK” finished fifth. That was followed by a third-place finish for Kanaan at Kansas, a memorable run from 33^rd to 11^th at the 2010 Indianapolis 500 and then a solid finish at Texas. Next up was a trip to Iowa Speedway, where Kanaan had failed to finish in all three attempts at the Newton, Iowa-short track. But, as they say, there is a first time for everything.

In one of the most competitive and entertaining oval-track races in some time, Kanaan broke through on Father’s Day at Iowa for his first win since 2008.

“They always say that ‘to finish first, you must first finish,’ and that was definitely true for me at Iowa,” said Kanaan. “A win is always special, but a win on Father’s Day – especially for me as a pretty new father – that was amazing.”

The IZOD IndyCar Series has competed at Mid-Ohio since 2007, with Kanaan completing the race all three years. In 2007, he saw a fourth place finish, leading a total of thirteen laps.

After the inaugural IZOD IndyCar Series event and seeing nine different lead changes, TK felt Mid-Ohio was a great circuit for competition.

“Mid-Ohio is always an event you look forward to and I always have, from my Champ Car days all the way through the IndyCar races here,” said Kanaan. “It’s a great circuit and the crowds are always huge.”

While looking back on the past three years, he knows what he needs to do to be successful at Mid-Ohio.

“Mid-Ohio is a place where you can really help yourself with good track position,” said Kanaan. “And, just the same, you can hurt yourself with a mistake. It sounds obvious, but the easiest way to do it is to qualify up front, have a fast car and don’t make any mistakes. But, sometimes that’s easier said than done. To make that happen takes a lot of hard work — and a little good luck.”

As is typically the case, the 2010 IZOD IndyCar Series seen in the past, the title chase will likely come down to the final race of the year. And, also as usual, the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will have a say in who battles for it to the end. Kanaan is simply hoping this weekend takes him one step closer to that battle.