One big unhappy family in the IRL

Don't think for a moment that the tension between Dan Wheldon and Tony Kanaan has eased since Wheldon learned Kanaan was negotiating with team owner Chip Ganassi to take his job in the No. 10 car.

That discovery came during the first week of August — prior to the IndyCar Series race at Kentucky Speedway — and led Wheldon to pursue a ride with Panther Racing, which he landed. Wheldon continues to sidestep most questions about Kanaan and his former employer.

Kanaan, who spurned Ganassi's offer to sign a five-year contract to remain with Andretti Green Racing, made it clear at this week's tire test at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that his once-chummy relationship with Wheldon is strained.

"He is the one who stopped talking to me," said Kanaan, who did not seem worried about a reconciliation with his former AGR teammate. "I have enough friends."

Asked generally about the conflicts brewing in the series this offseason, Wheldon took the high road.

"It's just racing — there's always that every year," he said. "It kind of makes it a little more exciting, I guess. But at the end of the day, you've just got to worry about your own (team)."

Vitor Meira, who lost his ride at Panther to Wheldon, thinks Wheldon should understand Kanaan's feelings. Meira believes Wheldon should have come to him to talk about the switch at Panther.

"He could've come talk to me any number of times," Meira said. "He was very unprofessional." IndyStar

[Editor's Note: There are many other strained relationships.]