Throughout the season, NTT DATA driver Tony Kanaan will offer his takeaways on the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, as well as other aspects of his life and career, exclusively for the NTT INDYCAR Mobile App.

Behind the wheel of a race car, Kanaan was an extremely fierce competitor with an intimidating presence. He won the 2004 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship when he completed every lap of every race in the series. A fan favorite at Indianapolis Motor Speedway because of his personality and tenacity, Kanaan won the 2013 Indianapolis 500.

Kanaan’s career is winding down as the Brazilian has a five-race schedule in 2020, known as "TK Last Lap." All of Kanaan’s races will be on the oval tracks on the schedule in the No. 14 Chevrolet for AJ Foyt Racing.

Kanaan will still be at the track, however, serving as the NTT Ambassador and working with the title sponsor of INDYCAR at every race. He will give NTT guests and INDYCAR fans behind the scenes access to the sport, including his insight on “TK’s Takes.”

The following is the first installment from the INDYCAR Open Test at Circuit of The Americas.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Thanks to NTT and INDYCAR, I got a chance to help with the streaming video of the preseason test for INDYCAR.com and the INDYCAR Mobile App. I have to admit, it was a little weird on the first day to not be in a car, but there were not many cars on the track. It was a completely different dynamic for sure. I was part of the live stream, so it was a lot longer days than I’m used to and different things for me to tackle.

Once we started the show, it felt natural. I knew what I was talking about so that made it much easier. We started to have fun. We can talk about things to educate fans even more. Paul Tracy and Kevin Lee were there and that is what they do for a living. Because I’m more current in the cars than PT, I have more things to add. I saw some positive feedback from the fans.

The second day was easier than the first day. I think this year, the first few races will be weird. This was the first test. The next time I’m at the track will be for the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (March 15). To watch the drop of the green flag and not be in the car will be different, but that is part of the new chapter of my life.

But I want to be in the race car.

Journalists have always said to me that I would be good on television. My relationship with the media has always been extremely good. We even became friends. Here and there, over the years, I kept hearing that I would be good at this. But until you do it, you don’t know how good or bad you are. I need some guidance because I have no experience.

I would love to be part of the broadcast, because I love INDYCAR. I would love to stay around. I’m not really retiring. I will slow down a bit and do some races here and there. But the races I’m not running, I will help the fans understand the sport better. We have a wonderful group of guys already on the broadcast. If I can help, that would be awesome. I’m not here to take anybody’s job, but I’m available because I have more time.

On TV, I experienced the producer speaking in my ear for the first time while I’m talking, but it’s no different than listening to a spotter in an Indy car. You just have to time it and deal with it. Those are the things you have to get used to. The more you do; the better you will get.

NTT has played an extremely important role in my career. We started the relationship with NTT DATA through Chip Ganassi Racing and once we left the team, they kept a relationship with me and by sponsoring Felix Rosenqvist. To me, I’m extremely thankful to them. Every single personal sponsor of mine has stepped it up. Bryant Heating and Cooling, 7-Eleven, ISM, Big Machine Vodka and NTT. Those are the things when you look back, you know you did good things for those people because they are still sticking around.

I have to thank NTT because they are bringing me to every race to entertain their guests. If it wasn’t for that, I’m not sure I could come to every race because you don’t want to sit around if you aren’t doing anything.

I’m now hanging out in the media center, which is something I’ve never done. If it wasn’t for NTT keeping me busy at the race track, I don’t think I would be at every race.

We’ll be signing a lot of autographs and INDYCAR has a lot of plans for me on the weekends. I’ll be at more autograph sessions and in the FanZone with the fans. I think it’s a plus for the fans. People who are my fans probably won’t see me on the track in the car, but they will see me a lot more on race weekends. I’ve signed a lot of autographs in my career, but I’m ready to sign a lot more now.

Because of the inclement weather during the first day of the test, we won’t really know the ins and the outs of the car and the aeroscreen until later. We didn’t have a lot of time over the winter to test the aeroscreen as they were being shipped to the teams, but it is safer, it’s there, it’s ready to go. Now, we will go back to the shop and tweak it.

Jimmie Johnson stopped by on Tuesday and that was great. He is a legend with seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, and he is interested in INDYCAR. That shows how we have grown the series back to where it belongs. We are in a place now that is creating a lot more interest. It was awesome to see him here.

I can assure you, he wasn’t here all day, just to watch. Something is going on, and that is awesome. I want to know where he is racing an Indy car so I can come back and race against him. For Johnson to want to run some INDYCAR races in 2021, this is great for the series.

I’ve already had a great career, but I don’t take anything for granted. I don’t want to be selfish and say, I can still race five more years, which I can. But it gets to the point where you have to make choices. It’s a new chapter. I can still do a few races and do other things, like spend time with the family.

Twenty-three years of racing, I’ve had some broken bones, but I’m still healthy and I can do whatever I want to do as far as workouts. My body is in perfect condition to do anything I want. Those are things that you don’t think about it, but I can say I’m lucky.