Tony Kanaan Does Indianapolis

<em>IM</em> spotted the popular former Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar champ— ‘TK’ to fans—around Indy today, ahead of hosting the racing series’s media dinner tonight.

First, Tony Kanaan was signing autographs and mugging for photos on Georgia Street, at Workout Wednesday, the weekly exercise session organized by Downtown Indy and the YMCA. Kanaan, an advocate of physical fitness, wanted to encourage and congratulate participants on their hard work.

“I work out everyday, three hours a day, when I’m not on the racetrack, so I’m a huge workout freak,” said Kanaan. “I don’t do it just because I have to to drive the racecar. I think it’s a way of living, a way of keeping yourself healthy.”

Next, the 2013 Indianapolis 500 winner and former IndyCar series champion was on Mass Ave., posing with an as-of-recently iconic “-ndy” sculpture. (Nice touch: His racing helmet, held aloft over his head, dotted the ‘i’.)

An all-around busy day—and month—for TK, who will host IndyCar’s media dinner tonight at Fogo de Chao, then prepare for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indy 500, his 299th and 300th career IndyCar starts.