Kanaan's conflict on race day

Like many Brazillians, Tony Kanaan, from Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, likes soccer and follows the World Cup.

One problem exists. He will be behind the wheel as the IndyCar Iowa Corn Indy 250 is ready to start at 1:30 p.m. Iowa time, which is the exact tiime for kick-off in Brazil's match against the Ivory Coast.

“The Brazil game is right on top of the same time we're racing our race on Sunday,” Kanaan said. “I wasn't very happy about that.”

Kanaan is expecting score updates over the radio from his team throughout the race. He told some members of the media that he still plans to record the game on a DVR, but won't wait to find out the result. Kanaan isn't expecting the Iowa race to be on many Brazil televisions.

“For sure, I can tell Brazillians won't be watching my race by the time we start,” Kanaan said with a laugh. “I'll be asking on the radio for the score for sure.”

Kanaan, who lives in Miami, watched the United States' 2-2 tie against Slovenia. He questioned the call that canceled what would have been a game-winning goal for the U.S. late in the game.

“I think we got ripped,” Kanaan said. “I said we because living here I became an American as well. So, it's either Brazil or United States.”

Kanaan, the 2004 IndyCar Series champion, is looking for his first win since 2008 and his first finish in three previous starts at Iowa Speedway.