This year could prove tougher. AGR has struggled to keep up during the first week of practice. Franchitti, at 226.960, and Kanaan, at 226.839, have been the fastest in the AGR stable but both have been nearly 2 mph slower than Wheldon's fast lap of 228.663.

"Last year, everybody was taking punches at me," Kanaan said. "This year, I feel like we're in position to throw a few punches."

Around the track, Kanaan's brash combination of jokester and competitor have worked well. His repertoire of pranks includes hiding the younger Andretti's shoes, and turning around the older Andretti's locker so he couldn't get his clothes out.

"It's a very fragile thing," Michael Andretti said of the team's camaraderie. "When you add someone to it, it's got to complement it, and I think we've done that."

Even if the boisterous Kanaan would rather not call himself the team's leader.

"We have an agreement to give the two best drivers their place to win the championship," he said. "I got my shot in '04, and Dan got his shot in '05. We share the leadership, and right now, it's my go."